Buff Nation –
It is with tremendous joy and celebration that I welcome you back to another season of CU Football. This is the 4th annual Buff Nation Football preview and analysis. If you are receiving this email, you were either on the distribution list last season, or I added you based on your known interest in Buff football. Feel free to ping me anytime to be removed. (Briefer) weekly updates to follow.
2019 Season Preview (game predictions below):
Feeling a little bit like Bill Murray in Ground Hog Day, the Buffs once again enter the season with a bitter taste from season prior and questions abound. The Buffs are the vogue (well deserved?) pick to finish at the bottom of the Pac-12 South. Although loaded with talent at skill positions, no one really wants to step out and say CU is going to be good. After over a decade of brow beating and broken hearts, it’s easier to just stay on the sidelines and take a wait and see approach. Not going to happen in this preview though. The Buffs are going to shock the nation and themselves. Game predictions below. Go Buffs!
Friday August 30, 2019, Colorado State (@ Mile High)
The Mel Tucker era kicks off in style as CU thrashes CSU by more than three touchdowns. CSU simply doesn’t have anyone on their squad that can keep up with Laviska “so good to have you back” Shenault. Steven “remember not to throw it to the other team” Montez puts on a passing clinic and Tucker has the Buffs playing with a high level of energy early. CU 1-0
September 7, Nebraska (Folsom)
It doesn’t get better than this. Hate is good. In a throw-back Big-8 clash of the titan’s rivalry game, the Cornhuskers return to Folsom followed by their Husker Nation faithful (looking for any excuse to visit paradise). Nebraska fans are some of the most gracious hosts in the country and we should return the favor – but not on the football field. CU will prevail by the skin of their teeth (ala last year) and have Boulder buzzing with wonder of the possibilities of the 2019 season. CU 2-0
September 14, Air Force (Folsom)
A classic trap game (coming on the heels of playing emotionally charged games against rivals CSU and NE, and just before Pac-12 play), CU tees off against Air Force for the first time in 45 years. The true testament of Tucker’s coaching ability will be on display here as CU refuses to come out flat and takes care of business against the deceptively respectable Falcons team. CU 3-0
September 21, @ Arizona State
Pac-12 play begins, and ASU is as good a first game as Buff Nation could hope. ASU is over-rated and should be vulnerable to an already proven Buff team. If CU is healthy coming into this game (CU is thin across the board except at the receiver position), CU will pull off a big victory in Tempe. CU 4-0
October 5 Arizona (Folsom)
This is one of the most interesting games of the season. Two years ago, CU awoke the sleeping giant by knocking out AZ QB1 and introducing AZ QB2 Khalil Tate to the world. Tate RUSHED for 327 yards that night. Last year Tate PASSED for 350 yards. CU has been at Tate’s mercy. This is the game where Tucker must prove that CU has improved enough to shut elite players down. In front of a Folsom Frenzy crowd, CU does exactly that, keeping Tate to modest numbers and securing the win. CU 5-0 (yup 5-0!).
Friday October 11, @ Oregon
De-ja vu all over again? CU was 5-0 last year and then proceeded to rattle off 7 straight loses. We won’t pick that scab, but winning the first five games of the 2019 season will feel shockingly queasy. There are not bowl berths given out for five wins. Not until #6 win arrives can Buff Nation breath a collective sign of relief. Unfortunately, #6 won’t happen this week (or next for that matter). OR is good and they have one of the best QBs (Justin Herbert) in the nation. CU loses its first game of the year. CU 5-1
Saturday, October 19 @ Washington State
CU absorbs it’s second loss of the season at the hands of a good Washington State Cougars team. CU is much improved, but not yet ready to take the next step of winning these types of games on the road (next year oh please, oh please). CU is still in pole position to accomplish their season goals (which I assume includes getting to a bowl game already). CU 5-2
Friday, October 25, USC (Folsom)
The game of the season. The victory CU points to years to come which marked the turn of the program. Nationally televised game elusive bowl eligibility on the line, and who comes into town but the spoiled, me-first USC Trojans. Coach Tucker delivers a pre-game speech to the team along the lines of “We must hang together, or certainly we will all hang separately.” CU wins in a close one, and illustrates that in football, teams will over individuals. Players have bought into what Tucker is selling. Get your bowling shoes ready, because CU just punched its ticket for the post season. CU 6-2
Saturday, November 2, @ UCLA
UCLA plays a bit soft. Under Chip Kelly they are also a bit gimmicky. Both play into the hands of a Buff defense that should be schooled by now (nine weeks into the season) on how to do your job. Add in a CU offense which could quite possibly be leading the Pac-12 in total yards, and CU wins on the road at the Rose Bowl. CU 7-2
Saturday, November 9, Stanford (Folsom)
While CU is rolling, and has exceeded everyone’s expectations, the toughest part of the schedule is yet to come and CU is vulnerable. The next three weeks are going to be a slog. A sound Stanford Cardinal team comes into Folsom and secures a relatively easy and somewhat disappointing victory. Coach Tucker can’t work miracles in a single season, and a thin Buff squad coming into the season is beginning to show its wears. Unless some second-string D-line and O-line help carry the load, Buff Nation is going to have to grin and bear the last three weeks of the season before bowl season. CU 7-3
Saturday, November 23, Washington (Folsom)
Even with an extra week of rest, CU doesn’t have the firepower to beat the Huskies. CU plays better than they did against Stanford, but still comes up short. No one is too surprised, and Buff Nation remains relatively happy with the body of work the season has produced (beggars can’t be choosy). CU 7-4
Saturday, November 30, @Utah
Utah is the only team in the Pac-12 South not to have won the division since inception. They always tend to be ranked in the top 25, yet somehow find a game or two to stub their toe on. Unfortunately, I don’t think they stub their toe here. In a well fought game which, ironically breathes some fresh life back into the Buffs heading into their bowl preparation, Utah defeats CU in this last regular season game. CU 7-5
2019 Season Summary
In truth, CU can be anywhere from 4-8 to 8-4. The key goal is to secure a bowl berth. Anything less will be disappointment – even given the harder schedule and new coaching staff. Either way, CU’s home schedule is one of the most attractive in the country. There overall schedule is one of the most difficult in the country. Buff Nation has been waiting a long time for some redemption (and respect). That road begins in less than six hours when CU takes on CSU at Mile High. Hope to CU there (and every home game this season). Who’s got it better than us? Nobody!
Go Buffs!
Doug