In a game which was supposed to be won by air, last Friday night at Mile High, CU scratched out a victory by land 17-3. It was their running game (thanks, Lindsay!) and not necessarily the, still to appear, prolific air attack which took down a surprisingly decent CSU Rams squad. Outside of a beautiful Colorado night, a flurry of flags (most which went against CSU) and the relief of once again leaving CSU in our rear-view mirror for another season, there isn’t much to be said about this game. The defense was the pleasant surprise of the night. New faces from freshman to seniors stepped up to fill the void left by the departure of eight of last year’s starters. CSU had scored 58 last week on Oregon St. With the win, CU moved up from #35 to #29 in the AP polls.
Week 2 – Preview – On to the mighty Texas State Bobcats. Um, I can tell you CU is favored by 34.5 and we’ll probably beat them by 50. I can tell you Texas State is also 1-0 (they beat Houston Baptist 20-11 last week), so this game can technically be billed as a game of unbeatens. I can tell you 90% of the 106 players on Texas State are from the state of Texas. They do have one from Colorado Springs. The Bobcats play in the Sun Belt League (one division below CU). They are considered to have the best recruiting class in their league. Their best player is linebacker Brandon London II (cool name). CU says they are not overlooking Texas State. I’m glad to hear it. A loss on Saturday would put a big dent in “The Rise is Real” mantra. CU wins this one going away. They are too good across the board to lose to a team that will struggle to find meaningful success in any of the three phases of the game.
In 2016 “The Rise” of the Colorado football program was one of the nation’s feel good stories. From worst to first in the Pac-12 South, Coach of the year, top ten ranking, and a bowl berth for the first time in a decade. There was a lot to celebrate. It was the best year in over a decade to be a Buff fan.
Yet, the reality with “The Rise” as the 2017 season is upon us, is that no one cares. It doesn’t matter. It is in the past. If the Rise doesn’t continue in 2017, it was all for not. It was just a few blissful (and awesome) Fall Saturdays in Boulder.
Thankfully the beauty of “The Rise” is that it is about an attitude. It’s about living into the belief that every day you either get better, or you get worse, nothing stays the same; so when you get up in the morning, you better get going. Starting tonight at Mile High Stadium, CU will look to keep “The Rise” alive.
If you are planning to attend, we will be tailgating in Lot C. 2:30-5:00 PM.
So, with that said, below is the 2017 season game-by-game prediction. Never Stop Rising.
Go Buffs!
Doug
2017 CU Football Season Predictions
September 1, CSU
I hate this game. It’s like playing your little brother’s team. Win or lose there is no upside. Only despair or relief. Playing at Mile High makes the whole scenario even worse. The first half of this game is a shootout. CSU comes in confident and brash. By the second half emotions have settled down and talent takes over. CU’s top-shelf offense takes over. The Rams don’t have enough players to cover the spread offense. CU wins by double digits.
CU 1-0
September 8, Texas State
How was this game ever scheduled? The blow out victory does nothing for CU’s rankings, but it does give the reserves an entire half of valuable playing experience. CU wins by 50 (yup, 50).
CU 2-0
September 15, UNC (University of Northern Colorado)
For the second week in a row pundits question CU’s motives for scheduling such a cream puff opponent. CU takes its foot off the pedal early to avoid putting up 70 points on our friends (way) up north. Half the CU fans don’t return after the halftime tailgating. They are satisfied. Besides, Washington is coming to town next week.
CU 3-0
September 22, Washington
ESPN College Gameday returns to Boulder for the first time since 1995 for this rematch of the 2016 Pac-12 Championship. In a hard fought game with very few mistakes, CU outlasts WA, putting the nation on notice that last year was not a fluke, and “The Rise” is real.
CU 4-0
September 30, at UCLA
Buoyed by their win over WA, CU enters the Rose Bowl a confident bunch. CU’s burgeoning defense shuts down UCLA and gives CU’s offense enough opportunities to put points on the board. CU prevails over a slightly over-rated Bruins team. CU has its second signature win in as many weeks. CU is rolling.
CU 5-0
October 7, Arizona
CU likes to say they play “Folsom Fast” and today CU puts on a football clinic. The Buffs are happy to be back at Folsom. CU has not lost here in nearly 700 days dating back to the USC game in 2015. CU wins in convincing fashion on a perfect Fall Saturday. Boulder is beside themselves with their football team.
CU 6-0
October 14, at Oregon St.
The fact that CU is playing on the road and looking past this game (Washington St is next week) is the only hope the Oregon St. Beavers have. Beating CU would make OSU’s miserable season. Not going to happen. After a surprisingly close first quarter, RB Philip Lindsay unloads on his offensive teammates while his teammate Afolabi Laguda does the same to his defensive teammates. They remind each other to “choose discipline” and make every play count. CU shuts out OSU in the second half and wins going away by three touchdowns. CU cracks the top ten.
CU 7-0
October 21, at Washington St
All good things must come to an end, and it does here. CU gets beat in convincing fashion by a very good Washington State team. Perhaps it’s premature visions of a Rose Bowl (or even possibly Playoff Birth), but CU plays uncharacteristically tight. This loss is written off as a “wake-up” call for the Buffs. There is still work to be done.
CU 7-1
October 28, California
Ah, the California Bears at Folsom field. Just what the doctor order to get back to our winning ways. CU plays its finest game of the season. Precise on Offense. Mean on defense. Disciplined on Special teams. CU pounds the Bears early and often. Coach Mac leaves his first teamers in a bit too long. Words are exchanged by coaches at the end of the game. CU has its sights on taking the next step in performance.
CU 8-1
November 4, at Arizona State
Last year this game was a total beat down under the lights at Folsom. CU won going away 40-16. ASU remembers and comes in with redemption on their minds. This game turns ugly under the lights in Tempe. There are no ejections, but there is a lot of spitting, fighting, grabbing and locker room conversation happening on the field. CU comes away on top. The game could have gone either way.
CU 9-1
November 11, USC
A battle tested #2 USC team comes into Boulder. ESPN College Gameday is tempted to make its second visit to Boulder but chooses the Florida State vs. Clemson game instead. No matter, as USC is too good for CU. They have the next Heisman trophy winner at QB and they have zero weaknesses on offense or defense. CU fights to the end (like they always do), but USC is a better team. USC remains undefeated. CU drops their second of the season. That is nothing to be ashamed of; there is just more work to do.
CU 9-2
November 25, at Utah
Ever since joining the Pac-12 together in 2011, the conference has pitched this as a rival game. Neither school bought into it. CU will always hate Nebraska, and Utah had…(who cares). Over the last three years, that attitude has slowly changed and culminated last year with CU and Utah playing for the Pac-12 South Championship. Once again CU’s opponent is unable to cover the fleet of top-shelf receivers, three of whom will be playing on Sundays next year.
CU 10-2
CU Bowl Prediction – Holiday Bowl – December 28, 2017 – San Diego, CA
Sometimes there are no words to accurately describe a feeling or event. What the Colorado Buffaloes have accomplished this season falls into that category. From worst to first in the conference. Arguably, one of the greatest turnaround in college football history.
The seven-win increase from last year (4 wins last year, 11 wins this year) is the single largest improvement in Pac-12 history, surpassing the Stanford Cardinal record in 1939. We are in uncharted waters. History is being made in Boulder. The records that are being broken are decades old, and we have had the uncommonly good fortune to witness all of it. Perhaps at some point over Christmas break I will try to tabulate all the records and streaks that were broken this year. There are so many of them. I feel I need something tangible to help me get my mind around what has transpired. I’m going to need closure.
The Buffs put on a football clinic against a very good Utah team this past Saturday. Prevailing 27-22 CU had long TD passes and short TD power runs. They had ten pass breakups (seemed like more), eight tackles for loss, four takeaways, three sacks, a two-point conversion stop, two fourth down stops, zero penalties (ZERO!), and a partridge in a pear tree. Unimaginable just a year ago, Saturday night under the lights couldn’t get any better.
It also couldn’t get any louder, and at least where I was sitting, you couldn’t get another body in there. Saturday was the first sell-out of Folsom since 2008, when Texas came into town. North of 53,000 fans packed the stadium to cheer on the Buffs. It was jammed. Perhaps it was the late kick-off time to give the fans ample time to get their game face on; but, either way, it was SO LOUD. The crowd was raucous. It was beautiful. Folsom field is one of the best college football venues in the country. The seating is so close to the field that the fans really do have an impact on the game.
It was the first time in 22 years that CU went undefeated at home. Going forward that should be the norm. We have some tough games slated for next year, but no longer is anything a sure thing when you travel to Boulder.
As predicted, there was a THIRD storming of the field. The PA announcer almost pleaded with the crowd to wait “One Golden Minute” before rushing the field. Yeah, good luck with that. After years of frustration, no way is a public announcement going to hold back thousands of newly empowered fans from getting close to the product they have come back in droves to support and love. Even the players were taking selfies on the field. It was perfect. CU may get fined $100,000 per Pac-12 policy for rushing the field, but the ROI on that $100,000 is enormous. I’m sure AD Rick George ran the numbers on it. On live national television, and then on ESPN sport center throughout the night, the fans storming Folsom were seen by college football recruits across the county. Looking as cool as a team could possibly look in their Gold helmets, black jerseys and black pants, the Buffs JUST WON THE PAC-12 SOUTH! How do you like me now? CU is the place to be. It’s a chicken and egg thing. Players commit to winning programs, but programs can’t win if players don’t commit. It’s a major hurdle that has blocked CU for years. That hurdle has now been demolished. CU will have a top 15 recruiting class for 2017, just ahead of Auburn, and probably a top ten recruiting class in 2018. For context, CU’s recruiting class for 2016 was ranked 66 in the nation, just ahead of Marshall (yup Marshall).
Yet, somehow the season gets bigger and better. CU plays the University of Washington Huskies on Friday in the Pac-12 Championship game in Santa Clara, CA. The day before CU played Utah, I watched The Huskies take apart the Washington State Cougars. I’m thankful I watched the game as I think I discredited The Huskies. No longer. When CU plays WA, it is going to be an epic battle. The Huskies are as balanced as CU is on both sides of the ball. They have a Heisman candidate in QB Jake Browning, who seems to do everything right, and they have playmakers all over the field. CU will need to have a strong pass rush to disrupt Browning’s; otherwise, it’s going to be a long game for CU. On Offense, CU has to do a better job of protecting the ball and establishing the running game in order to open up the passing game. The game will also pit the top two Pac-12 defenses against each other. If CU wins, it’s road trip time to Pasadena to go to the Rose Bowl. If CU loses, it’s a less glorified, yet hard earned (and exceeding expectations) road trip to San Antonio for the Alamo bowl, or San Diego for the Holiday bowl. For the time being, let’s think Roses.
This magical mystery tour continues, and we are almost out of November. No one saw this coming, but we all saw it happen, in front of our own eyes. We were the fortunate ones. Who’s Got It Better Than Us? Nobody!
Were you there? Man, I hope you were there. That was AWESOME!
For the first time in twenty (TWENTY) years, CU was ranked in the top ten heading into a November game. This is nuts. CU is back and dominating.
For those at the game, this was one of the best college football games in America. Of the 57 Division I football games played this past Saturday, three featured top 25 ranked teams playing against each other (#10 vs. #22 WSU, #13 WVU vs. #9 Oklahoma, and #16 LSU vs #23 Florida). Of these games, only one home team was victorious. Yup, Colorado. If you were a football fan, and you wanted to witness your team win against a ranked team in your own backyard, the ONLY place to be on Saturday was Boulder.
That was AWESOME!
For the first three quarters of play, it was a legit battle between two excellent football teams. CU benefited from a few dropped balls by WSU, and WSU benefited from a few non-calls by the refs. Half-time score had WSU up 17-14. At the end of the 3rd quarter, CU held a slight lead 28-24. It wasn’t until the 4th quarter when CU showed, like they have so many times before, that they know how to finish a game. Over the past 7 games, CU has outscored their opponents 105 to 36 in the second half. CU clamps down on defense and opens the throttle on offense. Three 4th quarter plays against WSU typify CU’s season.
1) Play #1: Just inside the 4th quarter with CU clinging to a 28-24 lead, WSU had the momentum and driving deep into CU territory. From CU’s 18-yard line, WSU faced a 4th and 4. Rather than kick a field goal, Mike Leech decided to go for it on 4th down. Earlier in the game, CU lost it’s starting safety to a targeting penalty, and soon thereafter they lost another safety to a concussion. Down two safeties, little known and sparingly used Nick Fisher took the field. On this particular play WSU called the perfect play to put Fisher in a seemingly impossible position of covering two guys at once. I’ve watched the play multiple times since the game, and I still can’t believe how a Fisher who would have never been on the field otherwise, made the perfect read, pursuit and tackle to stop WSU one yard short of the first down. It was the play of the game. It shifted the momentum into CU’s favor, and CU never looked back. CU has consistently played with the mentality of next man up. This play was living proof.
2) Play #2: CU is leading 31-24 with 6 minutes remaining in the game. CU pulls off probably it’s prettiest play of the year: A reverse, double reverse, pitch back to QB, screen pass for a 24-yard gain. The ease and precision in which CU pulled off the play was a thing of beauty. CU’s re-invented spread offense has been seemingly unstoppable ever since the first series against CSU back in August. When you play CU, you have better done your homework; otherwise you stand a good chance of getting schooled.
3) Play #3: For the final play epitomizing CU’s season, we go from beauty to beast. Scarcely two minutes after CU runs their triple trick play, Philip Lindsay powers his way into the end zone from 13 yards out (running over and through three defenders) for a game over, beast-mode statement. These plays happen all the time, but on this play in particular the level of violence in which Lindsay ran the ball was outstanding. He wasn’t going to be denied. The Buffs had WSU against the rope, and without hesitation and without pomp and circumstance, CU delivered the knockout blow. It was my favorite play of the game.
This Saturday, #9 CU plays #22 Utah under the lights of Folsom Field. Somehow, someway CU will need to find a way to play even better. The stakes get higher. The expectations get higher. Folsom will be sold out. The nation will be watching. CU will be wearing their Gold helmets, black jerseys and black pants. An awesome combination, especially under the lights. By the way, these are the same uniforms CU wore in arguably the greatest CU win at Folsom Field when #15 CU beat #1 Nebraska in 2009 in another Thanksgiving Day weekend game. A win puts CU in the Pac-12 championship game. and hundreds of fans rushing the field for the third time this season. The key to the game will be how well CU can stop Utah’s rushing attack led by RB Joe Williams and how well CU’s offense can exploit Utah’s secondary.
On Saturday, CU has a great opportunity to prove they belong in the conversation with the best teams in the nation. Incredibly, we have an opportunity to be there and witness it all first hand.
Tailgate starts at 1PM, don’t be late. This day and this season will be over before we know it. Who has it better than us? Nobody!
For the first time in 14 years the Buffs are ranked in the Top Ten Nationally. That’s probably worth repeating. For the first time in 14 years the Buffs are ranked in the Top Ten Nationally. No one, and I mean no one, saw this coming before this season started. Yet it is here, and it is ours.
On Saturday, CU will put it all on the line against the #22 Washington State Cougars (WSU). WSU boasts a high power offense ranked 10th in the country (CU is #30), yet WSU’s defense is a relatively pedestrian 51st (CU’s is #13). CU will either have to figure out a way to slow down WSU or get in a shoot-out with them to win. Either way, I like our chances. There is a lot riding on the outcome of this game.
CU’s magic number is three. The Buffs are three wins away from either playing in the Rose Bowl or playing in the playoffs. A win on Saturday, a win the following week against Utah at Folsom, and then a win in the Pac-12 Championship will guarantee one of those scenarios. Right now everything is right with the world. We are riding a wave, yet we don’t want to get caught looking.
Heading into Saturday’s game I feel like the pre-game speech Gene Hackman gives to his team in the 1986 movie Hoosiers is appropriate. Swap out “State Finals” for “Pac-12 Championship/Rose Bowl/Playoffs” and I think you have the perfect pre-game speech for Buff Nation. Win or lose on Saturday, nothing can be taken from these Buffs and the season we are witnessing; yet, no way do we want to pull up short. By the way, you have to love the slow clap at the end of this scene. Cheesy, but best in cinematic history.
In the spirit of living out this season for all it’s worth, here is a quick recap of how we got here.
Pre-Season – CU projected to finish last in the Pac-12 by virtually every major sports pundit in America. CU is 5-49 against Pac-12 teams since joining the league in 2011. CU is an embarrassment to the State of Colorado and the Pac-12. CU is 35-78 in past ten years. They are 14-38 overall since joining the Pac-12 and 5-40 in league play during that time. While they should be improved, no one sees them getting to 6 wins and a bowl game.
September 2 – CU destroys in-state rival CSU 44-7. CSU is young and rebuilding, but still, 44-7? Hope is in the air. There is also a sense of relief. Playing CSU at Invesco Field sucks. It’s a no-win situation for the Buffs. A win is expected. A loss is disaster. I hate going to the CU v CSU game at Mile High. It’s a can’t win situation for CU. Yet, I go anyway. I can’t help myself. On this night though it’s a lot of fun. A good group of friends and kids sitting together. We are going to ride this season for all its worth. CU actually receives a single vote for the Top 25. I’m in disbelief. Our Buffs? Consideration? How thoughtful. CU 1-0. CU receives 1 vote for top 25 consideration in AP and Coaches Poll.
September 10 – CU beats Idaho State at Folsom in convincing fashion 56-7. That was cool. CU is 2-0 and neither game was even close. How good is this team? The weather was perfect. Fall is underway. Life is good. CU 2-0. CU receives 2 votes for top 25 consideration.
September 17 – CU loses a heartbreaking game to MI 45-28. Yet, ironically, this loss does more to boost the hopes and dreams of Buff Nation than either of the prior two wins. Hope blooms in Boulder. CU looks good. Unfortunately, that may have been their chance to shock the world. Now, their QB is hurt and we have to travel to Oregon next week and will probably have to start our #2 QB. What’s his name? Such a bummer. CU 2-1. CU receives 0 votes.
September 24 – Bam! The worm turns. CU beats OR, and all of a sudden we have something. We just beat OR! Are you kidding me? OR used to CRUSH us, and we just beat them on the road with our back-up QB? What’s his name again? Oh yeah, it’s Steven Montez. Steven freakin Montez. We are no longer the laughing stock of the Pac-12. We are contenders. Let’s do this thing. Life, right now, could not get any better. This is it. We are going to blow this thing out of the water. CU 3-1. CU receives 33 votes.
October 1 – CU’s Pac-12 home opener pairs us against the Oregon State Beavers. The perfect match-up for CU to maintain its momentum. CU is better than OSU and they prove it quickly. Start Fast. Attack. No Mercy. Steven Montez plays lights out. CU destroys the OSU 47-6. Fans leave early. Is this the new normal? Are we that good that we don’t have to stay to the end. I stay, but I love the fact that at least now I have that option. CU 4-1. CU receives 276 votes. Ranked #21 in AP Poll. First time ranked in eleven years.
October 8 – We got this. We are good. USC is on the downswing. We are ending streaks left and right. This is our year. We are going to take down the Trojans. We very well could be the best team in the nation. CU travels to California and gets their butt kicked in the LA Coliseum by a better Trojans team. The 21-17 score is deceiving. We never had a chance. Steven Montez looks like the back-up QB he is. Back to reality. What were we thinking? Is Sefo healthy yet? The Buffs are good, but not good enough just to show up and expect to win. In the Pac-12 you have to earn it any given Saturday. CU 4-2. CU receives 22 votes and drops out of the AP Rankings.
October 15 – Arizona State is in town. They are 5-1 and sit atop the Pac-12 South. I hate those guys. Similar to OR they have pounded on the Buffs for years. Sefo is back in the saddle and quickly establishes his leadership presence. His teammates love him. They fight hard for him because they know he fights for them. His leadership presence is undeniable. CU comes out strong and rushes the ball down ASU’s throat ALL DAY LONG. What? Did that just happen? That wasn’t even that good of a game? Is CU that good, or is ASU really that bad? Maybe a little bit of both? Either way, CU casts out yet another Pac-12 demon. The Pac-12 is taking notice. These aren’t your father’s Buffaloes. CU 5-2. CU receives 110 votes. Just missed being ranked by a mere 13 votes. Bummer.
October 22 – CU travels to Stanford. It’s beginning to sound like a broken record, but Stanford has dominated CU for many years. Somehow though, it just feels like this is CU’s year. Stanford’s crown jewel is the State of Colorado’s own Christian McCaffrey out of Valor Christian HS. Well, CU seems to have their own Colorado jewel in RB Phillip Lindsay out of Denver South HS. Two Colorado State products go head to head making us all proud. CU wins 10-5. A hard game to watch, but a win is a win is a win. There are no ugly wins. Not if you are CU and you just became Bowl Eligible. What? Yup, we are going bowling. CU 6-2. CU receives 207 votes, and back in the top 25 at #23.
November 3 – The games they remember are played in November. Well, at least we would like to think so. It’s been a decade since CU has had a meaningful game in November. Our season is usually well overcome this time. NOT THIS YEAR. THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT. CU plays UCLA under the lights of Folsom on a Thursday night. The atmosphere is electric. Most of the fans are in Black. Looking good for the national tv audience. For the second week in a row the game is ugly. UCLA gets under CU’s skin and CU loses its composure. Turnovers and penalties plague CU all night, but CU STILL wins the game thanks in large part to a stingy defense and a 68-yard TD punt return by Isaiah Oliver. Final score CU 20, UCLA 10. The Rise is Real. CU 7-2.CU receives 550 votes and ranked #16 in AP and #12 in Playoff Rankings. Highest ranking in 14 years.
November 12 – CU goes on the road to play the Arizona Wildcats. CU is focused. It is all in front of them. They just need to take care of business on the road against a team that is not as good as they are. CU does exactly that, winning 49-24. Another day at the office. CU seems bound and determined to take each game one at a time, and not get too far ahead of themselves. CU 8-2. CU receives 797 votes and ranked #12 in AP and #10 in Playoff Rankings.
So there you have it. The next chapter to be written is this Saturday at 1:30pm. There is no place you would rather be than at Folsom Field. Win or lose, Buff games are now the best show in town. Be there. Do your part. Be a part of history. Tailgate starts at 10AM. Usual spot. All are welcome. Ping me if you plan to attend and need directions.
