#14 Houston vs. Colorado Prediction, Spread, NCAAF Picks – Friday, November 13

Week 12 of the 2026 college football season features an important Big 12 matchup as the #14 Houston Cougars travel to Boulder to take on the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. For Friday, November 13's 10:15 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN, Houston is favored by 9.5 points on the spread, per PrizePicks.

Houston enters Friday's matchup at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play, coming off a 31-24 win over Cincinnati, with RB Re'Shaun Sanford II rushing for 126 yards and scoring the go-ahead touchdown.

Colorado has struggled to find consistency this season. The Buffaloes are 3-6 overall and 1-5 in Big 12 play, most recently falling 20-10 to Arizona State. They've lost five of their last seven games and seem destined to be on the outside looking in for bowl eligibility.

Below, we'll break down our Houston vs. Colorado prediction and picks for Friday's Big 12 showdown, including the spread and player projections for PrizePicks.

Make your Houston vs. Colorado picks on PrizePicks now!

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#14 Houston vs. Colorado Prediction, Spread, Over/Under for Friday, November 13

Houston enters Friday's game as a 9.5-point road favorite against Colorado, returning a 1.28x payout if the Cougars win outright.

Here are the full payouts for Houston vs. Colorado. PrizePicks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.

Make your Houston vs. Colorado prediction on the spread on PrizePicks.

Unless otherwise noted, data used in this article is from College Football Ratings, CFBStats, or PFF.

Houston has been one of the nation's more productive offenses, averaging 35.4 points and 470.2 total yards per game. The Cougars have been particularly effective through the air, averaging 262.5 passing yards per contest while still ranking 17th nationally in rushing offense with 207.7 yards per game.

The Cougs will be looking to lean on that high-powered offense, as they sit in must-win territory for the reminder of the season. According to PrizePicks, Houston has a 4.54x payout to make the College Football Playoff, compared to 1.17x to miss out.

Cougars QB Conner Weigman has been outstanding, completing 66.1% of his passes for 2,280 yards and 22 TDs against just 2 INTs through nine games. He's also a true dual-threat QB, adding 279 rushing yards and 7 TDs on the ground.

Weigman's quality may prove problematic for a Colorado defense that allows 28.3 points and 376.9 total yards per game. The Buffaloes have been particularly vulnerable against opposing passing attacks, surrendering 243.7 passing yards per contest.

Keeping up could prove difficult for Colorado, which has posted just 19.8 points and 387.0 total yards per game. The Buffaloes' passing game has been their most productive unit, averaging 255.4 passing yards compared to just 131.6 rushing yards per contest.

This is ideal with the Cougars, surrendering only 107.3 rushing yards per contest, ranking 23rd nationally. Houston's pass D is yielding 268.6 passing yards per game (10th percentile), perhaps aiding Colorado QB Isaac Wilson — who has 1,412 yards, 8 passing TDs, and 8 INTs.

The biggest bright spot of this Colorado offense has been WR Joseph Williams, who has emerged as one of the Big 12's better receivers. He's accumulated 853 receiving yards and 6 TDs on 58 receptions, averaging 94.8 yards per game.

Injury-wise, Colorado has a considerably longer list.

The Buffaloes will be without WRs Danny Scudero and Kaleb Mathis, RB Micah Welch, DB Naeten Mitchell, and DE Sam Gadie. DB Braylon Edwards and K Elliot Arnold are doubtful, while LB Tyler Martinez and DL Vili Taufatofua are questionable. Mitchell's absence is especially important, as he has played 94% of Colorado's defensive snaps through the first eight games.

Houston will be without OL Aaron Wolford and LB Carmycah Glass. However, DL Travis Buhake has been upgraded to probable.

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Houston vs. Colorado Prediction on Spread – 11/13/26

Here are the key stats and predictions behind our Houston vs. Colorado spread prediction for Friday, November 13.

• Houston has played one of the toughest schedules in the country, with its past schedule ranking third nationally. The Cougars have already faced Texas Tech, Utah, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State, and they are 5-2 against FBS teams with winning records, making their 7-2 record more impressive than it might initially appear.
• The most notable mismatch could be Houston's offense against Colorado's defense. The Cougars rank sixth nationally in EPA (0.19) per play and second in offensive success rate (52.1%). Colorado's defense ranks 108th in EPA per pass allowed (+0.26), which could be particularly problematic against a Houston passing attack that ranks third nationally in passing EPA per play (+0.59).
• Third-down efficiency is another major advantage for Houston. The Cougars convert 59.3% of their third downs, the highest rate in the country. Colorado's defense allows opponents to convert 38.8% of their third-down opportunities.
• The main reason for the Cougars' tremendous third-down success is how resourceful they have been on first and second down. Houston has the sixth-lowest average third-down distance at just 5.71 yards.
• Turnovers will also play a factor in this one. Houston has committed just 6 turnovers through nine games and owns a +7 turnover margin. Colorado has been one of the nation's worst teams in this area, ranking 136th nationally with 2.0 turnovers per game and a -11 turnover margin.
• Houston has a significant advantage in the rushing game. The Cougars average 207.7 rushing yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry, compared to Colorado's 131.6 rushing yards and 3.7 yards per carry. 
• Meanwhile, Houston's defense allows just 107.3 rushing yards per game, while Colorado’s offense ranks 133rd nationally in rushing EPA per play (-0.09), making it difficult to envision the Buffaloes consistently moving the ball on the ground.
• Colorado's passing attack is its best offensive weapon, but the Buffaloes have a difficult matchup against Houston's secondary. The Cougars have two of the Big 12's better cornerbacks in Will James and Jalen Mayo. James owns a 76.2 PFF coverage grade, third-best in the conference, while Mayo's 73.5 grade is eighth.

Lock in your Houston vs. Colorado prediction on PrizePicks before Friday's CFB game.

Houston vs. Colorado Picks, Player Stats for PrizePicks – 11/13/26

Here are two Houston vs. Colorado player projections to consider for Friday's Big 12 showdown. Today's PrizePicks CFB picks focus on Houston QB Conner Weigman and Colorado WR Joseph Williams.

Houston QB Conner Weigman: 234.5 Pass Yards

• Weigman has been one of the country's most efficient quarterbacks, averaging 253.3 passing yards per game through nine contests — well above this current projection.
• Colorado has struggled to defend opposing passing attacks, allowing 243.7 passing yards per game, ranking 114th nationally. The Buffaloes are also 108th in defensive passing EPA.
• Weigman is averaging 8.9 yards per attempt, ranking 16th nationally, giving him the explosive upside to carry him above this projection.
• The Cougars have also been excellent at sustaining drives, ranking first nationally in third-down conversion rate. Weigman's ability to extend drives and create opportunities through the air should give him plenty of chances to accumulate passing yards.
• Weigman is averaging 261.3 passing yards per game on the road compared to just 246.8 at home.
• He is also throwing at a higher rate in recent games. He is averaging 31.0 passing attempts per contest over the last five games, up from 28.6 per game.

Pick Conner Weigman + Houston for bigger payouts on PrizePicks!

Colorado WR Joseph Williams: 75.5 Receiving Yards

• Williams has been Colorado's most reliable offensive weapon, averaging 94.8 receiving yards per game through nine contests, far above his current projection.
• He's surpassed 75.5 receiving yards in eight of his first nine games and has recorded at least 88 receiving yards in seven of those contests.
• Houston's pass defense has been more vulnerable than its overall defensive numbers suggest. The Cougars are allowing 252.9 passing yards per game, ranking 124th nationally out of 138 FBS teams, and sit 124th in EPA/pass (0.19).
• Williams' 853 receiving yards account for more than 37% of the team's total passing yardage, making him especially important when the Buffaloes need to move the ball through the air.
• Colorado is a 9.5-point underdog, which could create additional passing opportunities if the Buffaloes fall behind in a negative game script. With Houston's rushing defense ranking 23rd nationally, Colorado may have to rely even more on Wilson and his top receiver to keep pace.

Pick Joseph Williams + Colorado for bigger payouts on PrizePicks!

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Make Houston vs. Colorado Picks on PrizePicks

Big 12 football takes center stage Friday night as the #14 Houston Cougars travel to Boulder to face the Colorado Buffaloes.

Houston has been one of the conference's most efficient offenses and can strengthen its College Football Playoff resume with another road win. Meanwhile, Colorado desperately needs a win to keep its bowl eligibility hopes alive.

Don't wait until kickoff — make your Houston vs. Colorado picks on PrizePicks Team Picks. There is a wide variety of player stat projections on the CFB board, so you can make predictions on yards, touchdowns, and more! Pick your players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you're right.

With Team Picks, you can make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 36 states.

Keep it here with the Playbook for continued CFB picks, predictions, futures, and more as we move through the 2026 college football season.