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Ralphie Report: Forget the Alamo: Buffs final stand ends in loss, casualties

BYU v Colorado - Valero Alamo Bowl

Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images

It was historically accurate, at least.

Maybe next year we can go somewhere else, because the Alamo Bowl has not been kind to the Colorado Buffaloes. The Buffs have played in three bowl games since 2007 and all three have been demoralizing blowouts at the Alamodome. This might have been the worst of all, as we were 3.5-point favorites with two top-5 picks suiting up.

Things went wrong right away. The BYU Cougars were the first, and only, to score in the first half. BYU had a short field as a result of CU’s turnover on turns and they effortlessly moved the ball on their 6-play, 52-yard drive. Jake Retzlaff made some easy passes, while LJ Martin busted loose for a big gain and then punched in the one-yard score.

Colorado had a quick three-and-out that led to a BYU 51-yard-field. Kalani Sitake must have sense some blood in the water and called for a surprise onside kick that the Cougars recovered. BYU got too greedy and one of their trick play pass attempts resulted in a DJ McKinney interception. But Colorado didn’t do anything with this opportunity. It looked promising when Shedeur Sanders connected with Travis Hunter for a 58-yard catch-and-run, but then Sanders took a disgusting 23-yard sack and Alejandro Mata pushed wide the ensuing 45-yard field goal.

Starting their fourth straight drive in excellent field position, BYU breezed through the Colorado defense. The Buffs couldn’t take away anything — the run, the pass, the crossing routes, the screens — but they could take away the football. BYU drove the ball deep inside CU territory before Retzlaff’s shovel pass was deflected into the arms of Anquin Barnes, the 315-lbs. defensive tackle.

Down 10-0, the Buffs had a chance to get back into the game and reset themselves. But that didn’t happen either. The Buffs tried running, couldn’t, and moved backwards with a nicely timed false start. BYU then blitzed the 3rd-and-7 pass play and chased Shedeur into a 16-yard loss. Colorado was forced to punt into the waiting arms of Parker Kingston, who returned the punt for a 64-yard touchdown.

BYU added a 54-yard field, just to flex their superiority in special teams. They also had superiority in passing yards (86 to 70), rushing yards (66 to -7) and penalty yards (40 to 50). You would be right to point out that BYU would have had a greater advantage if they didn’t start every possession at midfield. (Let’s not check those stats after the full game.)

Deion Sanders said the team would be different in the second half, but it was mostly the same. Colorado tried to establish the run through Micah Welch, then Shedeur tried to take the top off the defense only for his pass to hit Jimmy Horn in traffic, bounce high in the air and into the diving arms of BYU’s Evan Johnson. 9 plays and 55 yards later BYU had another touchdown, this time a 13-yard score by Sione I Moa.

Colorado finally got on the board. The Buffs weren’t doing much of anything until Shedeur rolled right and found Hunter on the sideline. Hunter changed directions and quickly got up field, made a few defenders miss and had a highlight-reel 43-yard score. But it was too little, too late, as BYU remained dominant in the second half. Any time the Buffs did anything positive — Hunter’s score, Cam’ron Silmon-Craig’s interception — it would be quickly undone by a CU mistake and/or a BYU scoring drive.

The final score was 36-14. Colorado lost both sides of the line of scrimmage, looked the less focused and disciplined team, and were gapped in special teams. The Buffs’ best players were held in check, while the Cougars played as a complete team and were flying all over the field.

This is a sad goodbye to Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter and an accomplished group of seniors, including Jimmy Horn, LaJohntay Wester and Cam’ron Silmon-Craig. The future is bright in Boulder and it wouldn’t have happened without them putting CU back on the college football map.

by Sam Metivier
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CU At The Game: No. 17 BYU 36, No. 20 CU 14

CU, out-scored 54-3 in the first quarter of its last five bowl games, came out flat once again, falling behind 10-0 in the first and 20-0 at halftime ... Shedeur Sanders career ends with a 208-yard passing game, with two interceptions ...

Stuart
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Ralphie Report: Buffaloes vs. Cougars - Alamo Bowl Game Post

NCAA Football: Alamo Bowl-Brigham Young at Colorado

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Join us for the Colorado Buffaloes - BYU Cougars Alamo Bowl game tonight at 5:30 p.m. MT in San Antonio, Texas.

December 28th, 2024

Who:
Colorado Buffaloes vs. BYU Cougars

Where: Alamodome - San Antonio, Texas

When: 5:30 p.m. MT

TV: ABC

Radio: AM 850 KOA

Weather: It’s a dome

BYU Blog: Vanquish the Foe

Line: Colorado -3

Welcome to the Ralphie Report as the Colorado Buffaloes get ready to take on the BYU Cougars in the 2024 Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

No need to go anywhere else today, The Ralphie Report has everything you need and we welcome you to weigh in with your live game analysis, critiques, observations and predictions.

Check out the old game thread from the Hawaii game to see how it works. Throw all your comments about the game below and let’s get this thing rolling. If you don’t have an account, sign up here for free and enjoy all that our site has to offer.

Make sure to follow us on X and Facebook. Go Buffs!

by Jon Woods
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Ralphie Report: Alamo Bowl: Last minute Colorado betting guide

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 28 Valero Alamo Bowl - BYU vs Colorado

Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Bet on points.

The Colorado Buffaloes are playing their tenth conference game of the 2024 season a little late. Because of quirkiness, the Buffs are playing the BYU Cougars in San Antonio for the Valero Alamo Bowl. The de facto 3rd place game for the Big 12 conference kicks off soon. This game has had a lot of activity in Vegas, so here are some of the biggest lines:

Line: Colorado - 2.5

Total Point Spread: 54.5

1st Half Total: 26.5

There are also some player props out there to people, but not in Colorado. If you are seeing player props, TAKE JIMMY HORN OVER ANYTHING. He is going to get the ball A LOT this game.

Well, the sports predict a low-scoring, tight game with Colorado eking it out at the end. I would tend to agree with most of that. I am taking Colorado to win and cover, but I am taking the over. I think both teams get over 30 points in this game, with BYU getting one turnover or special teams touchdown.

This should be a fun one!

by Jack Barsch
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Ralphie Report: Buffs fully equipped for Alamo Bowl: Depth chart, transfers and opt-outs

Oklahoma State v Colorado

Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

Colorado will be led by Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter.

Just like Santa Anna and his 2,000 well-trained soldiers, Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes are fully equipped to lay siege to the Alamo this fine afternoon.

The Buffs came to San Antonio to destroy the BYU Cougars. CU has everyone. They’ve got the cannons, the cavalry, the infantry, the reinforcements, even the 100-year-old commander.

Shedeur and Travis are playing. None of the seniors or projected draft picks have opted out. Only one major player, Nikhai Hill-Green, entered the transfer portal, and that’s because Alabama came calling.

This is not meant to make heroes of the BYU Cougars — Jake Retzlaff is no Davey Crockett — or to imply the Buffs will deal a historical beating only to lose the war.

Anyway, here’s the projected depth chart for the Buffs:

QB — Shedeur Sanders, Ryan Staub
RB — Micah Welch, Dallas Hayden, Charlie Offerdahl, Isaiah Augustave (Q)
WR — Travis Hunter, LaJohntay Wester, Jimmy Horn, Jr., Will Sheppard, Drelon Miller, Omarion Miller (Q)
TE — Sav’ell Smalls
OT — Jordan Seaton, Tyler Brown, Wyatt Hummel, Ben Reznik
IOL — Cash Cleveland, Justin Mayers, Kareem Harden, Kahlil Benson

DE — B.J. Green, Arden Walker, Taje McCoy, Samuel Okunlola
DT — Chidoze Nwankwo, Shane Cokes, Anquin Barnes
ILB — LaVonta Bentley, Brendan Gant, Jaylen Wester, Jeremiah Brown
CB — Travis Hunter, DJ McKinney, Colton Hood, Ivan Yates
Nickle — Carter Stoutmire, Preston Hodge (Q)
S — Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, Shilo Sanders, Herman Smith III, Savion Riley

K — Alejandro Mata
P — Mark Vassett
KR — Colton Hood, Jimmy Horn
PR — LaJohntay Wester, Jimmy Horn

OUT — Amari McNeil (DT) and Phillip Houston (RT) are recovering from injuries, while Nikhai Hill-Green (ILB) and Dayon Hayes (DE) have entered the transfer portal.

QUESTIONABLE — Isaiah Augustave will likely play, but the team will manage his workload. Preston Hodge is doubtful to play, so Stoutmire will play lots of snaps. Wide receiver Omarion Miller said in a Well Off Media YouTube video that he’ll be good to go for the Alamo Bowl after suffering a leg injury against K-State, which is something that shouldn’t be ignored.

IN — Brendan Gant will get the start at ILB after five years of scout team and bench reps at Florida State and CU. Taje McCoy will get more snaps on the edge, while the 6’5, 350-lbs. Anquin Barnes will try to show what he can do. And at last, Jimmy Horn is finally healthy and expects to have a big game.

by Sam Metivier
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