CU Buffs vs. Arizona football: How to watch, storylines, predictions
No. 23 Arizona (6-3, 4-2 Pac-12) at Colorado (4-5, 1-5)
When/where: Saturday noon/Folsom Field
TV/Radio: Pac-12 Network/850 AM, 94.1 FM
BetMGM Line: Arizona -10.5, 54 over/under
Weather: Mostly sunny with a high of 56 degrees.
Five storylines
No. 2’s health: After getting banged up in the loss to UCLA at the Rose Bowl, Buffs QB Shedeur Sanders was hurting in last week’s loss to Oregon State. He was sacked four times for 41 yards, bringing his season sack total to 46 for an FBS-worst 422 yards. Even though he toughed it out against OSU and didn’t miss a snap, his leg injury is clearly affecting his mobility and downfield accuracy. There’s no quick fix, but CU must find a way to keep him from taking big shots.
Play-calling controversy: CU named Pat Shurmur co-offensive coordinator last week, and handed the ex-Broncos OC the play-calling reins before the loss to OSU. While the Buffs’ offense finally showed some life in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, it took a step back overall. Counting the sacks on Sanders, CU had minus-7 net rushing yards. Sean Lewis, who left his head coaching job at Kent State to be the Buffs’ OC, was relegated to signaling in the plays. He might already be looking for a new job.
Arizona’s recent heater: This Wildcats team is turning out to be a lot more competitive than most Pac-12 pundits predicted at the beginning of the season. After taking a pair of top-10 teams to the wire at then-No. 7 Washington (a 31-24 defeat) and then-No. 9 USC (43-41 in triple OT), the red-hot Wildcats have ripped off three straight victories over ranked teams in Washington State, Oregon State and UCLA. Jedd Fisch’s team is seasoned and has been passing the Pac-12 tests the Buffs are failing.
Bowl eligibility tracker: Coach Sanders has said multiple times that he “doesn’t care” about a bowl game, but that seems counterintuitive. Even with their midseason slide, the Buffs’ head-turning 3-0 start has them in better position to go bowling than their counterparts up in Fort Collins, as CSU must win out to hit the six-win mark. But the fact remains, CU’s time is running short to get two more victories, especially with its final two games on the road at Washington State and Utah.
Series History: The Buffs are 16-9 against the Wildcats all-time, and CU lost 43-20 last year in Tucson. But entering the final Pac-12 meeting between the schools, Arizona has owned the conference mark, 8-4 over the Buffs.
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: Arizona 31, CU 23
Regardless of whether Pat Shurmur or Sean Lewis is calling the plays, there’s no way around the fact that the Buffs’ O-line just isn’t very good. One has to wonder if all the hogmolies Deion Sanders ran off from last year’s team could be doing a better job protecting Shedeur Sanders this year. It certainly couldn’t be any worse. The protection problems continue, and without No. 2 fully healthy, the Buffs trail for most of the game before making it interesting at the end.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Arizona 28, CU 21
Do I believe now? I believe Pat Shurmur as your analyst is interesting. I believe Pat Shurmur as your play-caller is freaking farcical. The Fightin’ Fisches are due for a stinker, granted. And the Buffs are actually coming along defensively. Alas, Shurmur Ball is going to make it hard for CU fans to enjoy the fruits of that labor. Buckle up, Ralphie. November’s gonna hurt.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: Arizona 30, CU 24
In the pre-Prime days, a disinterested Arizona might’ve shown up to Folsom Field ready to submit a listless performance after playing and beating three straight ranked teams. But CU doesn’t get overlooked in this world. Teams come to Boulder fully engaged and ready to prove a point. For surging Arizona, which heads over to the Big 12 with CU next fall, the message will be this: We comin’.
