Deion Sanders is a lot of things. He's charismatic, well-spoken, a great recruiter, and a great motivator. He's also the current head coach at the University of Colorado, where he's had a transformative impact on the football program.
Some like his coaching/recruiting tactics but most thought overhauling a college football program was a recipe for disaster.
Through seven weeks of action, Sanders, aka "Coach Prime" has coached his Buffaloes team to a 4-3 record. There have been plenty of wow moments, but there have also been plenty of wtf moments... including last week's 46-43 loss to Stanford where the team blew a 29-0 halftime lead as 13.5-point college football odds favorites.
Some would point out it's the roster that's the issue, while others are quick to criticize Sanders' coaching ability.
Either way, sportsbooks have taken notice of Sanders' work with the Buffaloes and the issues the Denver Broncos have faced this season.
Could Sanders be a candidate to replace Sean Payton if the Broncos season continues to spiral out of control?
Deion Sanders special Denver Broncos odds
| Yes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Deion Sanders to be the head coach of Denver Broncos in 2024 | +5,000 |
| Deion Sanders to be the head coach of Denver Broncos in 2024 & draft Shedeur in Round 1 of 2024 Draft | +10,000 |
Odds as of October 17, 2023.
Denver Broncos outlook
The Denver Broncos were supposed to be respectable this year. They brought in highly-regarded head coach Sean Payton to work with a talented quarterback in Russell Wilson. However, the results have been less than stellar. The Broncos own an offense that ranks in the bottom half of the league and a defense that is dead last in yards, passing yards, and rushing yards allowed per game.
Payton is +3,330 to be the first NFL head coach fired and while I don't think he'll be the first, you could make a strong case for him being one-and-done in Denver.
He appears to have no pull in the locker room and the Broncos best move looks to be a full-blown tank to have a chance at drafting QB Caleb Williams, who leads the way on 2024 NFL Draft odds board. And I'm not convinced Payton is the man to develop a young QB who will step right into the starter role next year — should he choose to leave USC.
Colorado Buffaloes outlook
The Colorado Buffaloes finished last season with a 1-11 record, hired Deion Sanders as a ploy to turn around the program, and through seven weeks, I would deem his tenure a success.
The Buffaloes were the most talked about team heading into Week 1 vs. TCU, and after pulling off the upset, the hype train exploded for the next two weeks.
Some will question Sanders' role in getting his team to where they are, but there's no denying he's gotten his team to buy in and play to the best of their abilities.
Sanders to the Broncos?
While I do enjoy the bravado Sanders brings to the Buffaloes sideline, I'm not sold on it working at the NFL level.
Dealing with 18-22-year-olds is one thing, but getting respect from veterans of the league (despite everything that Sanders has accomplished in his illustrious playing career) is a completely different beast.
While the odds are long, and sportsbooks are only offering a Yes market, I could name a million other things to do with those couple of dollars you're thinking about putting on these options, like investing in this week's NFL player props.
And no, Shedeur Sanders is not being drafted in the first round, even if "Prime Time" is patrolling the sideline.
