CFB insider predicts realistic Bowl game pathway for Deion Sanders' Colorado in the 2024 season
Deion Sanders is among the most talked-about coaches in the country. The Colorado Buffaloes started the 2023 season on a high, bagging three back-to-back victories against teams like TCU, Colorado State and Nebraska. However, their winning streak was interrupted by coach Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks, followed by a disappointing 4-8 season.
In 2024, Deion Sanders is expected to do better than last year, and many observers are even predicting a position for the Buffs in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
During his podcast on Tuesday, college football insider JD Pickell made the case for Deion Sanders' Colorado to secure a bowl game spot while predicting a 6-6 season in 2024.
"Starting out with the opener against North Dakota State, sneaky opponent, but I think you win that game," Pickell said. "Then you go to Nebraska under the lights in Lincoln, I think you dropped that game, but you get back on the winning side of things at Colorado State, and again against Baylor coming back home.
"Then you go to UCF. I think you get a massive win there heading into the bye week. Then you play Kansas State. I think Kansas State probably a touch too physical for Colorado, lose that game. But then you go to Arizona, get a huge signature win for Coach Prime and company, followed with another big win at home against Cincinnati.
"Now this stretch is tough here in November, I think you lose at Texas Tech. I think you lose against Utah, at Kansas and against Oklahoma State to finish with a record of six and six. However, going bowling in Deion Sanders' second year at Colorado."
A look at Deion Sanders' new offensive line at Colorado
The Colorado Buffaloes find themselves in a good spot owing to talent powerhouses like quarterback Shedeur Sanders, cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter and safety Shilo Sanders. All three of them are preparing to play their last season of college football and stack up their draft spot.
One of the Buffaloes' biggest hurdles in 2023 was their offensive line, as Shedeur Sanders got sacked more than 50 times throughout the season, compared to Oregon's Bo Nix, who was only sacked a total of six times.
Deion Sanders has seemed to solve this problem by building a whole new offensive line at Colorado featuring talents like five-star Jordan Seaton, UTEP transfer Justin Meyers and the fifth-highest-rated interior lineman in the transfer portal, Tyler Johnson.
Fans would be interested to see if the new offensive line gives Shedeur Sanders a fair chance to showcase his quarterback abilities and ride the Colorado Buffaloes to a 2024 bowl game matchup.