Official 2022 Season Prediction Thread

[Da Lama]

Are those should be, or will be?

Will be. I guarantee KD doesn't escape if they finish 2-10 or worse. The optics of a program are a huge consideration going into this new CFB future. TV market share and accreditation be damned. RG doesn't want his legacy to be as the guy who was in charge and "missed the boat" because the FB program slipped to new depths under his watch.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

0-12 = 100% fired
1-11 100% fired
2-10 90% fired
3-9 75% fired
4-8 50% fired
5-7 25% fired
6-6 0% fired

0-12 = 100%
1-11 = 100%
2-10 = 75%
3-9 = 50%
4-8 = 0%

The youth excuse and “we’re this close” will be used with 4-8, but 3 wins or less is going to cost the AD more revenue than it will take to fire him. I still believe RG wants to have a winning program and he has too much pride to let it slip further into the dog**** category than it was last year without making a move.

 

[SINKRATZ]

If we go 7-5, I don't think KD will be unpopular any more as long as the roster doesn't get gutted/poached after the season.

I’m not sure that’s true. Perhaps I’m scarred by the experience of being momentarily encouraged by Hawkins and MacIntyre when they showed sign of life only to be crushed the next year, but I think even a 7-5 season there would be a healthy dose of skepticism amongst many longtime Buff fans. One good season does not a good coach make.

 

[SpacemanSpiff]

Will be. I guarantee KD doesn't escape if they finish 2-10 or worse. The optics of a program are a huge consideration going into this new CFB future. TV market share and accreditation be damned. RG doesn't want his legacy to be as the guy who was in charge and "missed the boat" because the FB program slipped to new depths under his watch.

Internet guarantee!

 

[ShnaultzSaltNMaltAssault]

I think coaching is going to make the biggest difference on the OL. The difference was noticeable between Rod coached OL and a Vlachos coached OL, and Vlachos had never coached the position. If DeVan is even a middling OL coach, it will be an improved unit.

The offense, in general, is such a mystery, though, because there are new coaches at every position and coordinator with the exception of RB, and I think we can all agree they are all upgrades over their predecessors.

I think your previous post was over optimistic regarding our linebacker situation. Landman won't be replaced by semedo and barnes, while good at times, was more like drew Lewis last year than davion Taylor.

O line will be better. Rice hurts but I'm not as concerned about wr as I am rb, but we'll likely see true fr at both either way

 

[Da Lama]

Internet guarantee!

 

[Buffnik]

I’m not sure that’s true. Perhaps I’m scarred by the experience of being momentarily encouraged by Hawkins and MacIntyre when they showed sign of life only to be crushed the next year, but I think even a 7-5 season there would be a healthy dose of skepticism amongst many longtime Buff fans. One good season does not a good coach make.

2 bowl games in 3 years if that happened. If he does that, I think anyone who wouldn't support his would be crazy. We need stability and to rebuild the foundation as a solid program.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

I think your previous post was over optimistic regarding our linebacker situation. Landman won't be replaced by semedo and barnes, while good at times, was more like drew Lewis last year than davion Taylor.

O line will be better. Rice hurts but I'm not as concerned about wr as I am rb, but we'll likely see true fr at both either way

Semedo was a 3 year starter for WVU, was the leading tackler last year (#2 and #3 the two prior seasons) with 110 total and 68 solo, All-Big 12 in some capacity every year, top 20 nationally in solo tackles, top 36 nationally in total tackles, and is rated as the 12th best LB in the country by this guy.



Semedo is a really good player who has a ton of experience and production on a better team. I don't know if he's going to be every bit as good, or if he's the leader that Nate was (a huge part of his value as a player here), but his resume stacks up to Nate's in every way.

Barnes is a bit of projection, he was playing in the box for really the first time in his career last year, and started being a difference maker at the back end of the season. He looks much bigger this year and has talked about how much more comfortable in the position he is this year.

We'll find out in 10 days, but I just think as a whole, this LB unit is better and deeper than last year, even when Nate came back from injury.

 

[SINKRATZ]

2 bowl games in 3 years if that happened. If he does that, I think anyone who wouldn't support his would be crazy. We need stability and to rebuild the foundation as a solid program.

2020 was not a real season, so I’m not drawing a lot of conclusions from what happened that year.

 

[leftybuff]

Will be. I guarantee KD doesn't escape if they finish 2-10 or worse. The optics of a program are a huge consideration going into this new CFB future. TV market share and accreditation be damned. RG doesn't want his legacy to be as the guy who was in charge and "missed the boat" because the FB program slipped to new depths under his watch.

I hope you are right.

 

[Master Blaster]

Rick George is going to buy into the argument that this is KD’s first real year with his staff and his players. Only way he gets fired is if the offense is as bad as it was last year.

 

[Not Sure]

I think Sneed negates Rice. It’s weird to me, but Sneed might be the most productive WR to ever transfer to CU and no one is talking about it.

Paul Richardson would like a word.

 

[MtnBuff]

0-12 = 100% fired
1-11 100% fired
2-10 90% fired
3-9 75% fired
4-8 50% fired
5-7 25% fired
6-6 0% fired

0-12 = 100%
1-11 = 100%
2-10 = 75%
3-9 = 50%
4-8 = 0%

The youth excuse and “we’re this close” will be used with 4-8, but 3 wins or less is going to cost the AD more revenue than it will take to fire him. I still believe RG wants to have a winning program and he has too much pride to let it slip further into the dog**** category than it was last year without making a move.

I think the Yak is much closer although I'm not even sure that 1-11 gets him fired.

I also don't believe it will be RG's decision. The administration above him will pull themselves out of their ivory tower fantasy world long enough to decide that they don't want to pay somebody that much money not to coach and tell RG to keep him for another season.

The only way that KD gets fired is if it gets so embarrassing that the big money donors who are also big money donors to non-athletic areas push on the President's office and Salliman finally has enough and passes word down to the Chancellors office to just let it happen and move on.

Might be!

 

[Not Sure]

Might be!

this deserves a lot of praise. It’s just plausible enough to be true.

 

[FLounder]

Is this the first CU coach to not give any expectations? I mean with HCGB we were expecting to return to dominance. HCDH we expected to have the crazy psycodelix playing of perennial 11-1 Boise state. We expected to have 10’wins, no excuses. With HCJE we expected to go play like an NFL team in college, that turned out poorly, but we all expected physical football. With HCMM we expected the high flying offense from SJSU and his SEC defense from OLE MISS, with HCMT we expected lights out recruiting and hype.

but here we are. With HCKD. What expectations has he put out there for the team. What expectations do we the fans have? NOTHING!

its bat****.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

Is this the first CU coach to not give any expectations? I mean with HCGB we were expecting to return to dominance. HCDH we expected to have the crazy psycodelix playing of perennial 11-1 Boise state. We expected to have 10’wins, no excuses. With HCJE we expected to go play like an NFL team in college, that turned out poorly, but we all expected physical football. With HCMM we expected the high flying offense from SJSU and his SEC defense from OLE MISS, with HCMT we expected lights out recruiting and hype.

but here we are. With HCKD. What expectations has he put out there for the team. What expectations do we the fans have? NOTHING!

its bat****.

He said win more than they lose at Pac 12 media days

 

[FLounder]

I think we go bowling just on the fact that there are no expectation from legitimately anyone.

you play your best golf when you don’t care.
Maybe our boys just don’t give a **** and ball.

 

[Da Lama]

If KD goes 7-5 with this roster, I will take back every nasty thing I said about KD and RG. I will also send the AD a check.








Spoiler: I will not be sending the AD a check, nor will I take back that KD is a "boring, mediocre coach who lacks vision and has no business leading an FBS program, much less a P5 program" or that RG is "a spineless coward who is collecting a paycheck and passing the time hanging out with his grandkids and collecting shoes until limpdick Distefano retires."

IF KD goes 7-5 with this roster it means they won all 3 noncon, beat UofA on the road and Cal and ASU at home and maybe picked off UCLA. That would also make them 6-0 to start the season. That ain't happenin'. They need to win early and often because they're not winning a game in November.

 

[MtnBuff]

I think we go bowling just on the fact that there are no expectation from legitimately anyone.

you play your best golf when you don’t care.
Maybe our boys just don’t give a **** and ball.

You may play your best golf when there are no expectations but shooting 115 when you normally shoot 130 means you still suck at golf.

Paint it how you want to this is still a team that lacks P5 talent at multiple positions. It could play much better than last year and still lose to most of the teams on our schedule, get blown out by a number of them.

 

[patebuff]

Paul Richardson would like a word.

Richardson never transferred to CU

Edit: I forgot he initially signed with UCLA and was dismissed before attending. I am not sure that is considered a transfer as he never had to sit a year and don't think he actually was enrolled in the School?

 

[patebuff]

Will be. I guarantee KD doesn't escape if they finish 2-10 or worse. The optics of a program are a huge consideration going into this new CFB future. TV market share and accreditation be damned. RG doesn't want his legacy to be as the guy who was in charge and "missed the boat" because the FB program slipped to new depths under his watch.

RG seems to have had dug his heels in with KD. We are talking about almost 9 million dollars in buyouts with KD and his assistants after this year.

I'd be completely surprised if PD approved that. I think CU has shown their cards and PD is completely happy with the results.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

RG seems to have had dug his heels in with KD. We are talking about almost 9 million dollars in buyouts with KD and his assistants after this year.

I'd be completely surprised if PD approved that. I think CU has shown their cards and PD is completely happy with the results.

How much revenue is Phil going to be Ok with losing in the form of tickets, concession sales and donations if they go 2-10 and KD is back? At some point the cost to keep him is greater than the cost to fire him.

 

[J.R. Ewing]

RG seems to have had dug his heels in with KD. We are talking about almost 9 million dollars in buyouts with KD and his assistants after this year.

I'd be completely surprised if PD approved that. I think CU has shown their cards and PD is completely happy with the results.

 

[patebuff]

How much revenue is Phil going to be Ok with losing in the form of tickets, concession sales and donations if they go 2-10 and KD is back? At some point the cost to keep him is greater than the cost to fire him.

Would they be looking at more than a 9 million dollar shortfall if they kept KD with only a win or two? I don't think Phil is really looking past the next 2-3 years when he won't be at CU so doesn't care about the long term consequences.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

Would they be looking at more than a 9 million dollar shortfall if they kept KD with only a win or two? I don't think Phil is really looking past the next 2-3 years when he won't be at CU so doesn't care about the long term consequences.

Are we sure he is leaving anytime soon?

 

[patebuff]

Are we sure he is leaving anytime soon?

True. That guy needs to fully burn CU to the ground in all facets and probably needs another 5-7 years to do so

 

[BuffinCali]

The Kool-Aid pitcher is empty, a lot of folks have been drinking it this week.
The only information that has been released is from the media members who are to afraid to report reality. Go back and look at every article over the past two weeks that seem to have suddenly given folks hope. Each article says this group is building "depth". Maybe a mention that a player or two should be better (which is true for 95% of all players across the country with more knowledge and experience). No mention of game changers, elite talent or anything above mediocre talent. This team may very well be worse than the 2012 squad. That is more realistic than Dorrell actually moving the needle in an upward trend. I would bet $ that Dorrell walks out if a newsconference or punches someone before he wins 5 games. I would make the same bet with 4 wins. I would much rather have the HC for the Lambs then Dorrell. Too much sugar in that Kool-Aid pitcher...

 

[skibum]

Would they be looking at more than a 9 million dollar shortfall if they kept KD with only a win or two? I don't think Phil is really looking past the next 2-3 years when he won't be at CU so doesn't care about the long term consequences.

See I disagree about him caring about long term consequences. I think he does care about the university. I don't believe he cares about the football team *at all*. Like zero. He pretends to because it's part of his job, but look at his actions on things that could actually make a difference.

As to how he has managed the rest of the university, well he's just a midling to mediocre manager. It's not a disaster, but it's pretty hard to point to one facet of the school that has meaningfully improved relative to peers since he took over. On almost every single measure, the school has dropped (again, relative to peers). Other than the AD the football team, there aren't, and haven't been, any dumpster fires on his watch.

 

[ahoelsken]

I think our defense is going to be better than most people are giving it credit for. I think the DL is the deepest, most experienced and most talented we've had since 2016 and might be better than that group, and I also think the LB corps is the most athletic group we've had since then, but also has the size and experience. The Secondary is very thin, but I think the starters can play. Pass rush without having to bring 6 guys will be the key, which means Thomas and Alvin Williams will need to get after it.

Offensively, I honestly don't know what to expect, but I believe we will see a competent offense. Nothing special by any means, as 26 ppg would represent a 5-5.5 point/game increase, which is still somewhere around 7th-9th in the Pac 12, and something I think is achievable with basically an entirely new offensive staff and (most likely) starting QB.

The worst offense and the most dysfunctional coaching staff CU has had since Embree went 3-6 in conference last year. I think this team is significantly better than last year's team, but facing a tougher schedule, so 4-5 in conference (Oregon State, Arizona, ASU and Cal the likely candidates) and then beating TCU and AFA just doesn't seem like that much of a stretch.

I'm an eternal optimist, though.

I think you may be onto something. I think we're going to beat TCU. They weren't very good on the road last year, and Dykes bringing the air raid from one end of the metroplex to the other means this is a transition year. Air Force isn't happening. We were probably more talented than they were in 2019, and its probably the same scenario this year. They win for two reasons-One, they run an offense that nobody outside of Navy and Army use. Two, they're more disciplined than everybody they play. They should have probably beaten us by 14-17 points at a minimum here in '19. We could not stop them at all. Felt like they were getting 5-7 per rush attempt. I don't think we get embarrassed, but I do think we get beat.

Conference play you're right on too-I think we probably should beat both the Arizona schools. They're paying for the COVID recruiting **** now. Herm's probably out after this year. Arizona's a year away I think. Cal? If we can the 5.5 ppg improvement you mention.....that's a winnable game too. Same with UCLA and Oregon State. Washington's not likely, and I don't see any chance at beating Oregon/USC/Utah.

Most likely scenario is a record that is close to the 4-8 last year, but one that they'll sell as progress because of better offense.

 

[Formerly_Medford]

I think you may be onto something. I think we're going to beat TCU. They weren't very good on the road last year, and Dykes bringing the air raid from one end of the metroplex to the other means this is a transition year. Air Force isn't happening. We were probably more talented than they were in 2019, and its probably the same scenario this year. They win for two reasons-One, they run an offense that nobody outside of Navy and Army use. Two, they're more disciplined than everybody they play. They should have probably beaten us by 14-17 points at a minimum here in '19. We could not stop them at all. Felt like they were getting 5-7 per rush attempt. I don't think we get embarrassed, but I do think we get beat.

Conference play you're right on too-I think we probably should beat both the Arizona schools. They're paying for the COVID recruiting **** now. Herm's probably out after this year. Arizona's a year away I think. Cal? If we can the 5.5 ppg improvement you mention.....that's a winnable game too. Same with UCLA and Oregon State. Washington's not likely, and I don't see any chance at beating Oregon/USC/Utah.

Most likely scenario is a record that is close to the 4-8 last year, but one that they'll sell as progress because of better offense.

If Duggan is still their QB, I'm confident we'll win. He's ass.