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Can the Buffaloes move one step closer to a college football playoff berth?
This Saturday, Colorado will face off against a familiar opponent, the Utah Utes. All-time, Utah has a slight edge over the Buffs, but more concerning is that Colorado has a 1-11 record against the Utes in their last 12 matchups. Despite this, there’s no need for alarm bells just yet—as this Utah team isn’t the powerhouse we’ve seen in recent years.
The Utes come into this game on the heels of a tough loss to their undefeated rival, BYU, in a game they believe they should’ve won. With their starting quarterback out for the season and a 1-5 conference record, the Buffs have a strong opportunity to secure a victory and further establish themselves as the favorites for the conference title. Here’s a breakdown of the key matchups and some standout players to watch.
What to Expect from the Buffs:
The Buffs come into this matchup at 5-1 in conference play, favored by 12 points, and positioned as the current favorites to win the conference and potentially make a College Football Playoff run, depending on which sportsbook you look at. This recent praise is well-earned, but it hasn’t come easy. Colorado has improved each week, learning valuable lessons from their setbacks. This game isn’t a “gimme,” it’s worth remembering that Utah started the season ranked in the top 10 nationally. This isn’t a team Colorado can afford to overlook, and here’s how I expect them to approach the matchup.
To start, I think we may see more conservative play-calling, as Colorado will look to establish better field position in the first half. The main way Colorado could lose this game is through turnovers, so they’ll likely focus on playing to their strengths. Their biggest advantage here is their defense against Utah’s underwhelming offense. The Buffs may rely on punter Mark Vassett to pin Utah deep, forcing freshman QB Isaac Wilson to work from behind early on.
The Buffs will aim to establish their ground game, but ultimately, their passing attack remains the team’s main strength. I don’t expect Shedeur Sanders to be relied on for high passing volume early, as controlling the clock with the run game could be crucial. If Colorado can control time of possession, avoid mistakes and win the field position battle, they can put this game out of reach for Utah early.
What to Expect from the Utes:
Utah comes into this game with nothing to lose. At 1-5 in the Big 12, coming off five straight conference losses, and reeling from their rivalry loss, this team could be looking to spoil Colorado’s momentum or could come out flat after such a tough loss. I expect Utah’s offense to struggle to move the ball, though their defense could make Shedeur’s job challenging.
Offensively, this is where Utah will likely struggle the most. The only bright spot on this unit is their running back, Micah Bernard, who has over 800 yards on the year, averaging nearly six yards per carry. The passing game, led by Isaac Wilson—the younger brother of the Denver Broncos’ backup QB, Zach Wilson—has been largely ineffective. With a 1:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a completion rate near 50%, Wilson’s performance has been shaky, to say the least. On film, there’s little to suggest this will change, and I’m confident the Buffs can hold the Utes to under 20 points. This may even give Colorado’s backup defenders a chance to shine or allow stars like Travis Hunter to make big defensive plays and boost his Heisman case.
Key Players for Colorado:
- Jordan Seaton: Seaton is the leader of Colorado’s offensive line, which faces a tough test against Utah. Last week, Seaton earned the true freshman of the week award, as his role expanded significantly with the Buffs utilizing wide receiver screens where Seaton served as the lead blocker. Look for the Buffaloes to involve him early through counters, pitches, and screens.
- Shedeur Sanders: Against a strong pass rush, the quarterback’s decision-making is key. Turnovers are often the biggest predictor of a game’s outcome, so Colorado will need Shedeur to play smart and protect the ball. Shedeur has been excellent this season in ball security, and I anticipate a highly efficient performance from him—one that NFL scouts will take notice of.
Outlook:
A win in this game would put the Buffs one step closer to securing a spot in the conference championship. However, a loss would complicate their path, making every remaining game a must-win and forcing them to rely on potential upsets of Kansas State or Iowa State to stay in the race. Colorado controls its own destiny, and the simplest way to keep playoff hopes alive is to win out. I’m predicting a comfortable Buffs win, but as we all know, anything can happen in college football.
Prediction:
Colorado 28
Utah 13
by Jacob.Thompson
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