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Taking a look at Colorado’s big game this Saturday in Tucson

This Saturday the Buffaloes will face a familiar opponent in the Arizona Wildcats, but this time it’s in the Big 12. Colorado comes into this matchup following a heart-wrenching loss against Kansas State. Now they need a crucial conference win on the road to get back on track, as the Buffs sit at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play. While not a bad start to the season, they need to start stringing wins together if they want to compete in this highly competitive conference.

Arizona, on the other hand, enters this game after two tough conference losses to Texas Tech and BYU—two of the conference’s top teams. The Wildcats are sitting at 3-3 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 action. In addition to those two losses, the Wildcats were also blown out by Kansas State in a game that wasn’t officially counted as conference play, but that defeat still gives us a glimpse of where Arizona stands. In reality, the Wildcats are 1-3 against Big 12 competition, so it’s surprising that they come into this matchup as 3-point favorites.

Why Colorado Will Win​

Colorado’s Elite Players​

Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are mismatches for the Wildcats at all times. While Arizona does have a few top players, they don’t have the same level of talent across the board as Colorado. Sanders has been lighting up defenses, throwing for over 2000 yards and 17 touchdowns through six games this season. He remains one of the most effective quarterbacks in the country and is being touted as such. Arizona’s secondary has struggled against lesser passing offenses, which should indicate Sanders may be up for a big day.

Adding to Colorado’s firepower, head coach Deion Sanders announced on Tuesday that both Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. will be fully active for Saturday’s game. With both back in the fold, I expect this offense to operate at full throttle. Hunter is a Heisman candidate when healthy, and with Horn providing additional speed and route running over the middle Saturday, Colorado’s passing attack could push Arizona’s defense to its limits.

This Arizona defense has consistently shown they are vulnerable against talented offenses. The Wildcats simply don’t have the defensive depth or discipline to handle Colorado’s high-powered passing attack. This game could serve as yet another Heisman moment for Shedeur, further solidifying his case as a top draft pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Noah Fafita’s Struggles​

Noah Fafita, Arizona’s quarterback, has not had a good run against Big 12 opponents this year. In the past four weeks, he’s thrown for just three touchdowns while giving away seven interceptions. These numbers are simply not good enough to win in a conference as competitive as the Big 12, and I think we will more of the same from Fafita.

Beyond the stats, Fafita doesn’t pass the eye test either. He lacks the size, speed, and arm strength that modern quarterbacks need. He’s often late on his reads, and where other quarterbacks can make up for that with a powerful arm, Fafita’s throws just lack velocity and drive. His awkward throwing motion and inability to break down defenses has made him ineffective so far this year. He also has a tendency to take way too deep 15-yard drops on passing plays and he relies on improvisation a bit too much at times. It’s a video-game like strategy, and one that doesn’t lead to long term success against tough competition.

While Arizona may lean on a fast-paced offense with quick passes and pre-snap reads, I don’t see Fafita playing at a high level against a Colorado defense that is improving by the week. Especially if Travis Hunter is back on the field to guard star receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Let’s just hope Shilo Sanders figures it out after a poor showing last week and this defense rallies to “upset” a hungry Arizona team.

Mismatches Across the Field​

The teams that have beaten Colorado this season are Nebraska and Kansas State. They did so by dominating the trenches and playing physical, mistake-free football. Arizona simply hasn’t shown the ability to do that. Against lesser teams like New Mexico, they struggled to stop the run and gave up chunk plays all game long. When Arizona faced Kansas State, they were pushed around from start to finish.

Defensively, Arizona has been underwhelming. Even against weaker competition, they’ve struggled to enforce their will so far this year. I don’t see them being able to hang with Colorado’s offense, which has too many weapons for the Wildcats to cover.

All in all, Arizona seems outmatched from top to bottom. I expect Colorado to dominate the game’s essential phases and control the tempo from the start. The Wildcats just don’t have the talent or consistency to keep up with the Buffs.

Final Prediction​

Colorado 35

Arizona 23

by Jacob.Thompson
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Bill McCartney goes for it on fourth-and-one from his own 38-yard line with 10 minutes remaining in a tie game to take down the Wildcats ... McCartney: “We needed to make something happen" ...

Stuart
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Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images

Two veterans, three rookies, and one swoll Jabari Walker.

In what figures to be a big year for Colorado basketball, there are eight former (and forever) Buffaloes playing or head coaching in the NBA this year. That feels like a program record — not one I’m going to check — and another reason to celebrate Tad Boyle’s success turning a basement dweller into an established professional development program.

Alec Burks — Miami Heat​

We’re going with the old heads first. Burks was the 11th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and has been hooping for thirteen going on fourteen years. (Yes, you should feel old.) He struggled with injuries early in his career, but has since become a veteran role player capable of hitting threes, playing point when needed, and committing just enough on defense to get another contract. He’s now in Miami where he should play a consistent bench role on a playoff contender.

Spencer Dinwiddie — Dallas Mavericks​

Dinwiddie is entering his 11th season (!) in the NBA, as he heads back to Texas for his second stint on the Mavericks. Since breaking out in 2017-18, Dinwiddie has vacillated between an empty stats guy on a bad team to doing the little things for winning teams. Last year was a microcosm of that, as he split time between the Nets and Lakers with varying stats and disparate roles. Now on Dallas, he figures to be a winning role player playing alongside Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and washed Klay Thompson.

Jabari Walker — Portland Trail Blazers​

At just 22-years-old, Jabari Walker enters his third year in the pros. Clearly he’s been working on his body because he looks like a grown man in his latest team pictures. That bulk should help solidify his role with the Blazers. He’s a selfless player who plays solid team defense, set screens and hits open shots, and is a voracious rebounder. He averaged 8.9 points and 7.1 rebounds in just 23 minutes per game, stats that should only improve as he gets stronger, smarter and more confident in his abilities.

Cody Williams — Utah Jazz​

Drafted 10th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Cody Williams is a high-upside pick for the rebuilding Jazz. He’s a late blooming 19-year-old who needs to fill out his 6’7, 190-lbs. frame — in other words, he’s going to take time to develop. Williams will have no pressure to produce right away. Utah has little ambition to compete this year, they already have a star player in Lauri Markkanen to play through, and there are other prospects to help bear the weight of expectations. Cody might not see much of him this season, but that’s probably the best thing for his long-term development.

Tristan da Silva — Orlando Magic​

Maybe the greatest success story from the Tad Boyle era, Tristan da Silva went from unknown overseas recruit to the 18th pick in the NBA Draft. An intelligent and selfless player, da Silva has developed into a legit shooter, a skilled scorer and passer from the high post, and a crafty driver who can finish with either hand. Orlando drafted him to play a significant role on their playoff-caliber roster, as he figures into a bench role behind Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Da Silva should be on everyone’s radar this season and beyond, particularly if he continues to develop his game.

KJ Simpson — Charlotte Hornets​

Finally we have KJ Simpson, the heart and soul of the Buffs during his three years in Boulder. Simpson balled out last season and should have won Pac-12 Player of the Year over Caleb Love. He’s a fighter, a nasty pull-up shooter, and has a knack for getting through the tight spaces of the opposing defense. Charlotte drafted the 6’0, 190-lbs. guard 42nd overall and signed him to the two-way contract. He will spend time in the G League, but he still figures into the Hornets rotation as a spark plug off the bench. He just has to transition into a more pass-first role than he played in college and prove himself as an on-ball defender.

Chauncey Billups — Portland Trail Blazers​

Fresh off his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Billups enters his fourth season at helm of the Blazers. He initially agreed to a four-year contract thinking he would coach Damian Lillard, but the star guard pushed for a trade and Portland was left to rebuild. Billups has done well to build a positive environment given the hand he was dealt, but he’s struggled as a tactician, as his team has looked aimless on offense and confused on defense. He enters his final year of his contract and will only be re-signed if he shows significant growth.

Jamahl Mosley — Orlando Magic​

On the opposite side of the coaching spectrum, former Buff and long-time assistant coach Jamahl Mosley has looked fantastic since the Magic hired him three years ago. He spent his first two seasons building Orlando’s defensive identity and then last season won 47 games, pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers in a seven-game series, and finished second to OKC’s Mark Daigneault in Coach of the Year voting. Orlando is only getting stronger, as they signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, extended Wendell Carter and drafted da Silva to compliment their young core of Banchero, Wagner and Jalen Suggs.

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There are plenty more Tad-era players still hooping abroad. There are at least 11 Buffs playing overseas: McKinley Wright IV (Montenegro), André Roberson (France), George King (Phillipines), D’Shawn Schwartz (Germany), Tyler Bey (Israel), Xavier Johnson (Italy), Lucas Siewart (Canada), Jeriah Horne (Hungary), Lazar Nikolić (Italy), Daylen Kountz (Hungary) and Thomas Akyazılı (Turkey).

It’s also worth mentioning the six Buffs still hanging around the college ranks: Luke O’Brien (Georgia Tech), J’Vonne Hadley (Louisville), Eddie Lampkin (Syracuse), Dominique Clifford (CSU), Lawson Lovering (Utah) and Keeshawn Barthelemy (Oregon). Two others are in college ball as assistant coaches, as Nate Tomlinson is working with Kim English at Providence, while Evan Battey joined the coaching staff at Colorado.

by Sam Metivier
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Which is the better QB/WR combo: Shedeur to Travis, or Fifita to T-Mac? ... Arizona's offense: 23 points or less in every game since the opener ... Which team will be celebrating a return to the Big 12 race come Saturday night? ... Let's find out ...

Stuart
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Miller’s injury was as bad as it looked ...

Saturday night in the loss to Kansas State, Colorado receiver Omarion Miller suffered a lower leg injury that will sideline him the rest of the season. This could not have come at a worse time for Miller, as he was just beginning to establish himself as a real threat for the Buffaloes.

Last Saturday night Miller had 145 yards, and looked to be on pace for even more until a hip-drop tackle rolled up his leg and ended his season. These tackles are known to be dangerous, and were banned this year by in the NFL in an attempt to prevent the lower body injuries that can happen on these tackles. Will leagues ever prevent hip-drop tackles fully? Probably not, and it’s hard to say if they should be, but after Saturday night I'm sure we’ll know Miller’s position on the matter.

The Buffaloes will be okay moving forward considering Miller was the fifth string receiver, but you really feel for this kid. He’s only a sophomore this season so we may seem him back as a Buffalo next year, and if we do I guarantee he’ll be starting. If not, and Miller elects to enter the portal, I’m sure their will be plenty of suitors for him. Regardless of where he plays Miller still has a bright future ahead of him as a collegiate athlete.

by Jacob.Thompson
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