Texas State @ Colorado preview
Folsom Field
Colorado beat an in-state rival by two touchdowns to kick off the season last week, but the coaching staff is far from satisfied entering Saturday’s home opener against Texas State. The concerns primarily center on the offense, which was outgained 397-345, gave up five sacks and two turnovers and failed to score in the second half of the 17-3 victory over Colorado State.
Tailback Phillip Lindsay’s 140 yards and a TD on 19 rushes was the clear offensive highlight for the Buffaloes, who are breaking in a new full-time starting quarterback in sophomore Steven Montez. “There are so many little things we can improve on from the game that could have been big things for us,” Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre told the Boulder Daily Camera earlier this week. “And there are things that we did in the game, that if we don’t correct now, the next team will exploit. That’s why you improve so much as a team from the first week to the second week because you can show them all those things in real, live bullets.” Texas State, of the Sun Belt Conference, also enters the game 1-0 after overcoming a 9-0 deficit Saturday to beat visiting FCS foe Houston Baptist 20-11.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: Colorado -35.5
ABOUT TEXAS STATE (1-0): The Bobcats are in their sixth season at the FBS level and are in their second campaign under coach Everett Withers. Tailback Anthony Smith and senior quarterback Damian Williams, a transfer from Mississippi State, scored on the ground last week for Texas State and accounted for 249 of the team’s 290 yards of total offense. The defense, led by Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week Easy Anyama (five solo tackles, two sacks, forced fumble, blocked extra point) limited Houston Baptist to 59 rushing yards on 40 attempts.
ABOUT COLORADO (1-0): Montez is taking over for the program’s career passing leader in Sefo Liufau and completed 21-of-29 attempts for 202 yards, a TD and two interceptions against Colorado State. In addition to Lindsay, he has one of the nation’s top wide-receiver corps to work with as upperclassmen Shay Fields, Bryce Bobo, Devin Ross and Jay MacIntyre combined for 17 receptions, 175 yards and a TD last week. Defensively, the Buffaloes only brought back three starters but shut down a Rams’ offense which had averaged 53.2 points over its previous five games.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Colorado went 6-0 at home last season, winning by an average of 23.8 points.
2. The Buffaloes will have starting LT Jeromy Irwin back on the field after the senior sat out the opener while serving a team suspension.
3. Texas State has played a Power Five team in each of the last five seasons but has gone winless while losing by an average of 32.6 points.
PREDICTION: Colorado 45, Texas State 8