Arizona @ Colorado preview
Folsom Field
Last Meeting ( Nov 12, 2016 ) Colorado 49, Arizona 24
Defending Pac-12 South champion Colorado finds itself at the bottom of the division only two games into conference play. And that has ratcheted up the pressure on the Buffaloes entering Saturday night’s home game against Arizona.
Colorado started the season with a trio of nonconference wins but has since dropped both of its Pac-12 contests, falling to visiting Washington 37-10 and dropping a tight, 27-24 decision last Saturday at UCLA. “A Pac-12 game at home (after) we’ve lost two, is an important game for us to win,” Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre said Tuesday in his weekly news conference. “A lot of our guys have played a lot of football now, they understand the sense of urgency and make sure we’re taking care of business. The only way you can do that is to take care of it during the week. You can’t all of a sudden get excited on Saturdays. That doesn’t do anything." Arizona, meanwhile, also is looking to break into the conference win column after dropping its Pac-12 opener two weeks ago against Utah (30-24).
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: Colorado -6.5
ABOUT ARIZONA (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12): The Wildcats had a bye last weekend and have no doubt spent extra time on protecting the football after giving it away five times against the Utes, including quarterback Brandon Dawkins' loss-sealing fumble at the Utah 20-yard line with 2:33 remaining. Dawkins is one of the conference’s most dangerous dual threats, leading all Pac-12 quarterbacks in rushing with 85.2 yards per game, but his passing is still a work in progress, as he ranks 10th in the league in efficiency with 670 yards, five TDs and three interceptions. Freshman linebacker Tony Fields II leads an improved Arizona defense – fifth in scoring (22.2 points allowed) and sixth in total defense (376.0 yards) – with 23 total tackles and pair of sacks.
ABOUT COLORADO (3-2, 0-2): Like his Arizona counterpart, Buffaloes sophomore quarterback Steven Montez is working to smooth out some uneven patches. Montez tossed three interceptions Sept. 23 against Washington, including a crucial pick-six late in the third quarter, but bounced back with an interception-free 351-total-yard, one-TD performance against UCLA. Running back Phillip Lindsay is the conference’s fourth-leading rusher (105.6 yards) while the Colorado run defense ranks in the conference's top half at 132.8 yards allowed.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Colorado holds a 14-5 overall series edge, but Arizona had won four straight prior to the Buffaloes’ 49-24 win last November in Tucson.
2. The Wildcats rank eighth nationally in rushing, averaging an even 296 yards per outing.
3. Lindsay last Saturday became the first running back in Colorado history to reach 100 career receptions as he joined three current Buffaloes wide receivers – Shay Fields, Devin Ross and Bryce Bobo – who also have eclipsed the century mark.
PREDICTION: Colorado 26, Arizona 22