No. 18 Kansas State (4-1, 1-1) at Colorado (4-1, 2-0)
When/where: 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Folsom Field
TV/Radio: ESPN/850 AM
BetMGM Line: CU +4, O/U 56.5
Weather: 69 degrees and mostly clear
Series History: CU leads 45-20-1 (last game: a 44-36 Buffs win in Boulder, 2010)
Three storylines
Travis Hunter Factor. What will No. 12 do next? The Buffs’ Heisman candidate turned in another extraordinary performance in CU’s rout of UCF two weeks ago, with nine catches for 89 yards and a TD on offense and a pick, pass breakup and two tackles on defense. He has 46 catches for 561 yards so far, along with two interceptions. Throwing his way is a dangerous proposition for any quarterback, while his game-breaking ability on offense is opening up plays for fellow wideouts Will Sheppard, LaJohntay Wester and Jimmy Horn Jr.
CU’s D front. UCF entered its matchup against CU as the country’s top rushing team, but CU’s front won the battle of the trenches while holding the Knights to 177 rushing yards. CU also had five sacks for 21 yards and 13 tackles for loss for 40 yards as 13 different players had at least a half-tackle for loss. The Buffs will face another accomplished rushing attack on Saturday, with Kansas State bringing the seventh-best run game in FBS (252.2 yards per game) to Boulder. DJ Giddens (621 yards, 2 TDs) gets the lion’s share of the work, but old friend Dylan Edwards (204 yards) can pop at a moment’s notice, too.
Talented QBs. While CU senior QB Shedeur Sanders needs no introduction, and has picked defenses apart when given adequate protection, KSU sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson is also playing well in his first full season as a starter. He’s one of only eight QBs in the country and the only Big 12 player with at least 800 passing yards and 300 rushing yards this year. It will be up to the CU secondary, which gets safety Shilo Sanders back from an arm injury he suffered in the Nebraska game, to keep the lid on the Wildcats’ offense. An improved Buffs pass rush, which produced half of their season sack total two weeks ago, could help.
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: Kansas State 31, CU 24
This is a tough one. It’s hard to pick against the Buffs after the way they demolished UCF, but my gut tells me the offensive line will revert to its porous form on Saturday. Shedeur Sanders has an array of impressive plays and Travis Hunter records another highlight-reel interception, but Sanders is sacked six times and the Buffs’ defense finally turns in a sloppy third quarter. CU’s last-minute drive to try to force OT, as happened in the dramatic win over Baylor via a converted Hail Mary, ends in heartbreak instead of jubilation.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: CU 36, Kansas State 30 (OT)
If you want to say North Dakota State is the only genuinely “good” team CU has beaten, I won’t argue. CSU (1-1), Baylor (0-2) and UCF (0-2) have had some messy moments since late September. If you want to contend that K-State presents the first “real” defense CU’s seen since Nebraska, can’t disagree. And yet … remember the Stanford game a year ago, and how CU could just never get right after that? I’m starting to wonder if the Mile High Miracle over the Bears is having the exact opposite effect. And at the perfect time.
Related Articles
Big 12 football power rankings: Iowa State still No. 1, while Texas Tech, CU Buffs jump to top 5
CU Buffs AD Rick George hopes Deion Sanders “finishes his career here”
Keeler: Is Travis Hunter the greatest CU player ever? Former Buffs icons sure think so. Here’s why.
CU football notes: Game time set for Buffs’ trip to Tucson
Grading The Week: CU Buffs star Travis Hunter would look amazing in orange and blue. One problem: Broncos are playing too well to draft him
Matt Schubert, sports editor: CU 31, Kansas State 17
Kansas State has gone on the road twice this season. The first time, the Wildcats needed a second-half comeback that included a gift of a fumble return touchdown and an end zone interception to beat Tulane. The second time, they got bulldozed by BYU under the bright lights of Provo. Here’s guessing those struggles continue in front of a frothing-at-the-mouth Buffs crowd that’s had all day to work itself into a lather. Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders and Co. firmly position themselves at the top of the Big 12 race.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.