Baylor @ Colorado preview
Folsom Field
Last Meeting ( Oct 6, 2007 ) Colorado 43, Baylor 23
Dan Hawkins is 19-35 in four-plus seasons as football coach at the University of Colorado.
In the world of big-time college athletics, where winning matters – a lot – some think it’s amazing he still has a job.
Funny thing is, if the Buffaloes win their next two games, he might actually keep it.
Colorado hosts Baylor on Saturday in a Big 12 Conference game at Folsom Field, followed by a home date with Texas Tech on Oct. 23.
If the Buffaloes (3-2, 0-1 Big 12) win those games, a favorable schedule could allow them to reach their second bowl game under Hawkins, who is in the final year of his contract.
Hawkins, who is 10-23 in the Big 12, including 8-8 at home, will have to slow down Baylor’s offense, which is led by sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin III. He threw for 384 yards and accounted for four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) in a 45-38 loss to Texas Tech last week.
Griffin, who has passed for 1,739 yards and 13 touchdowns, leads the Big 12 in total offense with 329 yards per game, and is fourth nationally. His top target is Kendall Wright, who has 33 catches and three touchdowns.
Colorado’s secondary will be without starting safety Anthony Perkins, who tore an ACL in last week’s 26-0 loss at Missouri.
The Buffaloes’ offense, though, could come back to life – Baylor (4-2, 1-1) allowed 635 yards of offense against Texas Tech. Quarterback Tyler Hansen’s top receiver is Scotty McKnight, who leads the nation with a reception in 42 straight games. Hansen may also look for deep threat Toney Clemons, who has a 73-yard touchdown catch among his 16 receptions.
Rodney Stewart leads the Buffaloes’ rushing attack with 493 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Brian Lockridge needs season-ending ankle surgery, so wide receiver Will Jefferson will switch positions and take over as Stewart’s backup.
After gobbling up two cupcakes (Sam Houston 34-3; Buffalo 34-6), Baylor lost to No. 5 TCU 45-10 on Sept. 18. After victories over Rice (30-13) and Kansas (55-7), the Bears lost to Texas Tech for the 15th straight time.
Colorado’s three victories have come against Colorado State (24-3), Hawaii (31-13) and Georgia (29-27), who are a combined 7-11. The Buffaloes were fortunate to win two of them.
Hawaii came away with no points after having first-and-goal from the 1 – twice – but eventually led Colorado 10-0 at halftime. Georgia fumbled inside the Buffaloes’ 30 with less than two minutes remaining.
Colorado leads the series with Baylor 9-6, including 5-3 at Boulder. The Buffaloes won the last meeting 43-23 at Waco in 2007, one of Hawkins’ two Big 12 victories on the road against 15 losses (31-26 over Texas Tech in 2007 was the other).
Baylor hasn’t played in a bowl game since 1994, when it lost to Washington State 10-3 in the Alamo Bowl. Colorado capped a 6-7 season in 2007 with a 30-24 loss to Alabama in the Independence Bowl.