Just put this up on Pac12Board and thought to myself, why not start a thread here?
Been digging deep into Phil Steele's preview magazine and I think I got enough information to have a feel of what CU's 2017 record will be like. Last year, I said that CU was going to make a bowl game and 8 to 9 wins were likely and the Buffs got 10 wins which was a very nice season. How will CU follow up on that? It'll be nice to see another double digit win but I'm not counting on that but another bowl game is a realistic expectation for the Buffs.
CSU
Buffs crushed the Rams 44-7 last year. The Rams went on to have a decent season and things are truly looking up in Fort Collins in addition to a new $220 million dollar stadium that the Beavers will get first crack at wrecking that home. The Rams will be able to have some firepower on offense to take advantage of CU's defense. One problem for the Rams is that the Buffs return pretty much everyone from that offense that lit up that Rams D last season. It would be a shocker if this game wasn't a basketball type of shootout and the Buffs win this one. (1-0)
Texas State
The Bobcats are ranked #120 in returning starts on the OL so CU's new DL would catch a break. This is a game that the Buffs should win easily. (2-0)
Northern Colorado
Since losing to Montana State, the Buffs have won their last four games against FCS teams by an average score of 46-10. Another Buffs win. (3-0)
Washington
Like the Buffs, the Huskies will have a potent offense. Unlike the Buffs, the Huskies return four of their top five tacklers from last season. This should be CU's first loss of the season. (3-1)
@UCLA
I think the Bruins are primed for a big rebound this year after a disappointing season last season. This game will be close as it has been the case the last three seasons but I think UCLA pulls out the win here. (3-2)
Arizona
The Wildcats might be better this season and perhaps more healthier but I still have CU winning this one. (4-2)
@Oregon State
Buffs whipped the Beavers in Boulder last season and while the Beavers will be better than last season, I don't think it will be enough for a win over the Buffs. (5-2)
@Washington State
Last season's game in Boulder was pretty good and I think it's safe to expect another good one in Pullman. WSU has nine returning starters on defense and at this point, CU's D will have some experience but I think WSU pulls out with the win. (5-3)
California
Last time those two played, it was a barn burner of a game as Cal won in two overtimes. Ever since that game, the fortunes of both teams are different and while Cal has a really good new coaching staff, CU should win this one. (6-3)
@Arizona State
Who knows where the mindset of the Sun Devils will be at this point of the season? They got SDSU, @TT, UO, @Stan, UW, @Utah, and USC before they play the Buffs. They could be 1-7 and maybe an interim head coach takes over that week. Or still in the running for a bowl game. Will Wilkins be the QB or will it be that Bama transfer? I'll take the Buffs in a close one. (7-3)
USC
CU is overdue for a win over the Trojans and I'll go with the upset in this one. (8-3)
@Utah
It will be a competitive game regardless the record especially when Utah has a pretty difficult conference schedule. The Utes either could be in the running for the Pac-12 CCG or playing the last game of the season but I have considered this one as a loss for the Buffs in SLC all offseason long and I don't see any reason to change that. (8-4)
CU's over/under is 7.5 and it's possible the Buffs finish 7-5 instead of 8-4. It's possible that CU wins at UCLA, WSU, and Utah to get to double digit wins again. It really will depend on how well the defense replaces the lost starters. CU signed some intriguing players on the DL and the Buffs welcome back Bill McCartney's grandson Derek who missed a chunk of the season last season. Leo Jackson III was a starter on the DL in 2015 and played quite a few snaps so that is two former starters returning along with three starters from last season so the losses should not be as profound as it appears. Ryan Moeller played LB last season and moves back to the safety spot where he started at least eight games in his career. Isaiah Oliver did a nice job backing up the CBs last season and he will do fine at one CB position. Laguda is a two year starter at free safety and that leaves just one CB position to be filled and at NB which Awuzie excelled at. David Worthington returns to the Buffs after being suspended last season and he has a few starts under his belt. Dante Wigley, a JUCO signee, had a solid spring against the #2 WR corps in the nation and Nick Fisher, a junior, played well at times especially when Laguda was tossed for a helmet to helmet hit in one game. That Buffs secondary will practice all spring & summer against a deep WR corps so they should be ready to go when the season kicks off.
Given those things, it will depend on how well CU's new DL plays. If 350 pound JUCO signee Javier Edwards can spell Josh Tupou, the Buffs should be decent on defense. There is no way that the Buffs regress back to the defenses in MacIntyre's first three seasons because at that time, the Buffs played mostly underclassmen and were plagued by injuries. It might end up being the difference between just another bowl game and another trip to the Pac-12 CCG for the Buffs. The schedule is manageable given that the Buffs avoid Oregon and Stanford this season and next season.
Been digging deep into Phil Steele's preview magazine and I think I got enough information to have a feel of what CU's 2017 record will be like. Last year, I said that CU was going to make a bowl game and 8 to 9 wins were likely and the Buffs got 10 wins which was a very nice season. How will CU follow up on that? It'll be nice to see another double digit win but I'm not counting on that but another bowl game is a realistic expectation for the Buffs.
CSU
Buffs crushed the Rams 44-7 last year. The Rams went on to have a decent season and things are truly looking up in Fort Collins in addition to a new $220 million dollar stadium that the Beavers will get first crack at wrecking that home. The Rams will be able to have some firepower on offense to take advantage of CU's defense. One problem for the Rams is that the Buffs return pretty much everyone from that offense that lit up that Rams D last season. It would be a shocker if this game wasn't a basketball type of shootout and the Buffs win this one. (1-0)
Texas State
The Bobcats are ranked #120 in returning starts on the OL so CU's new DL would catch a break. This is a game that the Buffs should win easily. (2-0)
Northern Colorado
Since losing to Montana State, the Buffs have won their last four games against FCS teams by an average score of 46-10. Another Buffs win. (3-0)
Washington
Like the Buffs, the Huskies will have a potent offense. Unlike the Buffs, the Huskies return four of their top five tacklers from last season. This should be CU's first loss of the season. (3-1)
@UCLA
I think the Bruins are primed for a big rebound this year after a disappointing season last season. This game will be close as it has been the case the last three seasons but I think UCLA pulls out the win here. (3-2)
Arizona
The Wildcats might be better this season and perhaps more healthier but I still have CU winning this one. (4-2)
@Oregon State
Buffs whipped the Beavers in Boulder last season and while the Beavers will be better than last season, I don't think it will be enough for a win over the Buffs. (5-2)
@Washington State
Last season's game in Boulder was pretty good and I think it's safe to expect another good one in Pullman. WSU has nine returning starters on defense and at this point, CU's D will have some experience but I think WSU pulls out with the win. (5-3)
California
Last time those two played, it was a barn burner of a game as Cal won in two overtimes. Ever since that game, the fortunes of both teams are different and while Cal has a really good new coaching staff, CU should win this one. (6-3)
@Arizona State
Who knows where the mindset of the Sun Devils will be at this point of the season? They got SDSU, @TT, UO, @Stan, UW, @Utah, and USC before they play the Buffs. They could be 1-7 and maybe an interim head coach takes over that week. Or still in the running for a bowl game. Will Wilkins be the QB or will it be that Bama transfer? I'll take the Buffs in a close one. (7-3)
USC
CU is overdue for a win over the Trojans and I'll go with the upset in this one. (8-3)
@Utah
It will be a competitive game regardless the record especially when Utah has a pretty difficult conference schedule. The Utes either could be in the running for the Pac-12 CCG or playing the last game of the season but I have considered this one as a loss for the Buffs in SLC all offseason long and I don't see any reason to change that. (8-4)
CU's over/under is 7.5 and it's possible the Buffs finish 7-5 instead of 8-4. It's possible that CU wins at UCLA, WSU, and Utah to get to double digit wins again. It really will depend on how well the defense replaces the lost starters. CU signed some intriguing players on the DL and the Buffs welcome back Bill McCartney's grandson Derek who missed a chunk of the season last season. Leo Jackson III was a starter on the DL in 2015 and played quite a few snaps so that is two former starters returning along with three starters from last season so the losses should not be as profound as it appears. Ryan Moeller played LB last season and moves back to the safety spot where he started at least eight games in his career. Isaiah Oliver did a nice job backing up the CBs last season and he will do fine at one CB position. Laguda is a two year starter at free safety and that leaves just one CB position to be filled and at NB which Awuzie excelled at. David Worthington returns to the Buffs after being suspended last season and he has a few starts under his belt. Dante Wigley, a JUCO signee, had a solid spring against the #2 WR corps in the nation and Nick Fisher, a junior, played well at times especially when Laguda was tossed for a helmet to helmet hit in one game. That Buffs secondary will practice all spring & summer against a deep WR corps so they should be ready to go when the season kicks off.
Given those things, it will depend on how well CU's new DL plays. If 350 pound JUCO signee Javier Edwards can spell Josh Tupou, the Buffs should be decent on defense. There is no way that the Buffs regress back to the defenses in MacIntyre's first three seasons because at that time, the Buffs played mostly underclassmen and were plagued by injuries. It might end up being the difference between just another bowl game and another trip to the Pac-12 CCG for the Buffs. The schedule is manageable given that the Buffs avoid Oregon and Stanford this season and next season.
