The college football world will focus on Boulder, Colorado, to start the day on Saturday as Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff comes to town for the Rumble in the Rockies. The injury-depleted Utah Utes (4-5, 1-5 Big 12) take on the Colorado Buffaloes (7-2, 5-1 Big 12) for the most important game at Folsom Field since the 2016 edition of this rivalry.
The Buffaloes currently have total control over their destiny for the rest of the season. If they win out, they will be in the Big 12 Championship game. If they win that, they will (most likely) be in the College Football Playoff. The mentality for this team through the final three games is that it’s win or go home.
“The mindset is acting like [the win over Texas Tech] didn’t happen,” said wide receiver Will Sheppard. “[We are] just going into the next week knowing that we’ve got to go 1-0 every single week.”
The Utes have not been having the season everyone expected them to have. Decimated by injuries, the 1st-place team in the Big 12 media preseason poll now has to win two of their final three games just to make a bowl game. Who would’ve expected that back in August?
Their star veteran quarterback, Cam Rising, suffered a season-ending injury. One of the backups, Brandon Rose, also suffered a season-ending injury last week against BYU. The Utes have also lost Money Parks, Mycah Pittman and Brant Kuithe, three of their best receivers.
For now, the stage is set for Isaac Wilson to lead the Utes offense out onto Folsom Field on Saturday. Before getting benched, Wilson had thrown for 1,200 yards on 98-for-177 passing, with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. He is the younger brother of Denver Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson.
The Utes are going to have to lean on their ground game. They have a solid offensive line and a very talented back in Micah Bernard toting the rock. Bernard is averaging almost six yards per carry and has three touchdowns on the season. He is also a threat in the receiving game with 19 receptions and two touchdowns through the air this season.
Wide receiver Dorian Singer is the name to watch in the passing game for Utah. With the other receivers out to injury, Utah’s leading receiver will have to have himself a day to keep this offense afloat along with the efforts of Bernard.
In conference play, the Utes offense has failed to score more than 22 points. If the Buffs front seven can reciprocate their strong efforts against the run that they had against Texas Tech, they will be just fine. Tackling and lane integrity will be the two keys to the game for the front seven.
When Colorado has the ball, it’s all about protecting quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Utah brings pressure often but doesn’t get to the quarterback and finish the play (Utes are T-86th in the country for total sacks). The offensive line has been dominant since the Baylor game, having the fifth-best pass-blocking grade in the Power Four along with the third-best pressure percentage since Week 5 (per Pro Football Focus). A name to watch will be walk-on center Cash Cleveland who stepped up big in the win over Texas Tech. Cleveland was sound in pass protection, allowing just one pressure on Sanders, and his ability to get out and lead block on screens is a great asset.
Wide receiver Jimmy Horn’s status is still up in the air for Saturday with an injury he’s been dealing with for a few weeks. As one of the fastest wideouts in the country, his presence is valuable for the Buffs, but Sanders and the rest of the offense have shown that they can succeed without him.
After a great performance against Cincinnati, the ground attack was quiet for Colorado last week. Sophomore back Isaiah Augustave had just 32 yards, and the running back unit as a whole had just 17 designed carries. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur had to abandon the run early as the Buffs fell in a whole, but he’s made it clear that he wants to try and establish the run week in and week out. The Buffs have had lots of success when they establish the run, so expect Augustave to bounce back this week.
This is a game that the Buffaloes should not lose. This Utes team is reeling as they are on a five-game losing streak, and have holes all over the field due to injuries. The Buffs’ offense is very dynamic, and they can put up more points than the Utes' offense can. Even if they only score 24 points, that should be enough for Colorado to emerge victorious.
The Buffs are currently a 13-point favorite for Saturday’s game according to ESPNBET. The game kicks from Folsom Field at 10:10 a.m. MT on Fox
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