Primetime in Boulder as No. 23 Arizona Football faces Colorado

Entering into the Top 25 this week, No. 23 Arizona Football (6-3, 4-2) travels to Boulder to take on the Colorado Buffaloes (4-5, 1-5). 

Coming off back-to-back-to-back wins over then-Top 25 ranked teams, Arizona Football resumes Pac-12 play by returning to action against a skilled but inconsistent Colorado Buffaloes team.

Traveling to Mile High Country, the Wildcats will have a tough challenge this weekend as they take on a scrappy and upset-minded Colorado team.

Coming in, the Buffaloes will look to turn things around after losing three straight games to Stanford, UCLA, and Oregon State respectively. And even with Arizona entering this one as the favorites, this is a game that the Wildcats cannot overlook or take lightly.

A lot is riding on the line for the Wildcats too, if they win, they will strengthen their postseason resume, as well as set themselves up for a potentially huge finish to the 2023 season!

Getting to Know the details about Arizona Football’s opponent, the Colorado Buffaloes.

Team: Colorado Buffaloes

Conference: Pac-12 Conference

Current Record: 4–5 (3–2)

Head Coach: Deion Sanders enters his 1st season as head coach at Colorado where he is currently 4–5 (1–5) on the year, and has the Buffaloes playing competitively despite what their record indicates.

And after taking over a 1-11 team from the season prior, Colorado has had a respectable turnaround, and this is not the same team from a season ago.

Before Colorado, Coach Prime coached at Jackson State for three seasons where he led the Tigers to an impressive 27–6 (19–2) record in three seasons with back-to-back Celebration Bowl losses in 2021-22.

Overall, he is 31–11 (20–7) as a college football head coach.

2022 Record: Finishing the 2022 season with a 1–11 (1–8) record, the Buffaloes  ended their year with a 63-21 loss to rival Utah to close out the year.

Key Returners / Starters:

Offense

The Buffaloes use a bit of a balanced offensive attack; however, they do love to spread the field and are predicated on moving the ball quickly. Getting the ball into the hands of its playmakers, overall, this is a very capable offense, scoring an average of 28.6 points and totaling roughly 389.7 yards per game.

And under center Saturday will be college football sensation, Shedeur Sanders. The son of Primetime, Sanders is having a tremendous year, having thrown for 2,882 yards and 24 touchdowns to just three interceptions. More impressive, he is completing 70 percent of his pass attempts (270-385).

The question is, how healthy will he be this weekend?

Using several weapons, Sanders likes to get the ball to his talented pass-catchers which include Jimmy Horn Jr., Xavier Weaver, Michael Harrison, and two-way star Travis Hunter. So Arizona’s secondary will have to be ready to go in this one and they will be tested vertically!

Behind Sanders is a very capable backfield. While this isn’t a dominant rushing group by any means, together, Buffaloes can still move the ball in the trenches using a mix of Dylan Edwards and Anthony Hankerson. Plus, Sanders does have some wiggle and is a threat to tuck it run, having rushed for three touchdowns this season.

However, where the Buffaloes have struggled on offense is up front this season. Overall, Arizona’s defensive line should be able to create some pressure and limit Colorado’s rushing so long as they are taking care of business.

Defense

So far in 2023, things have not gone particularly well for this defense. Surrendering an average of 469.0 yards and 33.9 points per game, the Buffaloes have had to rely on strong offensive performances week in and week out, hoping to outpace opposing teams.

Regardless, Arizona will still have to play smart and within itself in this one if they are to win, and despite Colorado’s struggles, they do have some playmakers on defense. Overall, this Buffaloes defense is largely led by safeties Trevor Woods and Shilo Sanders (Deion’s son), as well as by Linebackers LaVonta Bentley and Jordan Domineck, and defensive back Travis Hunter among several others.

Up front, the Buffaloes do have some size and they have proven to be an active, albeit inconsistent group. Despite surrendering an average of 168.3 yards per game, they love to be aggressive and generate pressure, and through nine games, Colorado has accumulated a total of 23.0 sacks.

Arizona’s offensive line should be able to keep Noah Fifita upright; however, they cannot lose focus as the Buffaloes have capable pass rushers in Bentley, Domineck, Amari McNeill, and Taijh Alston most notably.

Beyond that, Colorado’s secondary may not jump out at you statistically, but overall, this is still an active and physical group that can get after it and generate turnovers.

Largely led by defensive backs Woods, Sanders, Hunter, and Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, the Buffaloes should challenge Arizona’s receivers a bit as well as provide a tough test for the Wildcats.

Noah and Arizona’s offense will have to make smart choices and take care football this week, especially if they hope to come away with the win. They cannot let Colorado hang around and give them more opportunities than needed!

Game information and details for Arizona Football:

When: Saturday, November 11th, 2023

Time: 12:00 PM MST

Watch: Pac-12 Network

Spread: -10.0 Arizona (Don’t forget to sign up with Caesars Sportsbook or DraftKings to enhance your overall betting experience)

Where: Folsom Field – Boulder, CO (50,183)

Overall Series Record: 9-16 Colorado. Having met several times in their collective history, this is a series that Colorado controlled early on but has since gone the way of the Wildcats, especially recently, as Arizona has won eight of the last 11 meetings.

Last Meeting vs. Arizona: Last year in Tucson, the Wildcats battled and came away with a dominant, 43-20 win over Colorado!

My Prediction: Arizona 37 Colorado 27 – Arizona is known to have at least one letdown game per year, and hopefully, this isn’t it. With the Wildcats entering the AP Top 25 and are bowl-eligible for the first time since 2017, those distractions are significant enough for the Cats to potentially lose their focus if they are not careful.

Luckily, I think this team knows and believes it can win every week, and that confidence will ride high as they roll into Boulder, coming away with the victory. Colorado’s offense is very capable; however, I see Arizona’s lines being the difference maker in this one, propelling the Cats to the win!

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