Colorado at Texas Picks

Colorado: The Week that Was

CU head coach Dan Hawkins is on the hot seat after yet another discouraging loss for the Buffaloes. A 35-24 setback at West Virginia dropped Colorado to 1-3 on the season. The particularly dispiriting aspect of the Oct. 1 matchup with the Mountaineers lay in the fact that West Virginia committed four turnovers that Colorado Buffaloes couldn’t cash in. Four times, the Buffs recovered a WVU fumble, only to crumble on their own ensuing offensive possessions. Colorado repeatedly moved the ball in the middle third of the field, but couldn’t score against their Big East opponent; on three separate possessions, a drive inside the WVU 30 didn’t lead to a single point for Hawkins’ ballclub. That kind of offensive impotence has defined CU’s miserable 2009 campaign.

Texas: The Week That Was

After drubbing UTEP by a 64-7 score on Sept. 26, the Longhorns enjoyed a bye week on Oct. 3. Some would be tempted to say that Colorado itself represents a bye week, but coach Mack Brown needs to get his players’ attention.

Texas Longhorns wasn’t sharp in its first three games, as quarterback Colt McCoy struggled to find a comfortable rhythm under center. Heading into the ballyhooed showdown with Oklahoma on Oct. 17, Texas needs to play a clean and efficient game against Colorado; weeding out mistakes is the best way for the Longhorns to stay atop the Big 12.

Texas’ secondary has been tested at times by Texas Tech gunslinger Taylor Potts and UTEP quarterback Trevor Vittatoe. Before playing Sam Bradford (not official, but a distinct possibility) on the third Saturday of October, the Longhorns’ back line of defense must first put the clamps on CU quarterback Cody Hawkins.

The Week That Is:

Bye weeks are good for rest, but they’re also valuable for installing more schemes. If Texas can use Colorado as a springboard to the Oklahoma tilt, this sixth week of the season will be a success in Austin. Naturally, the Longhorns are in no danger of losing this game; a particularly motivated Texas lineup could rather easily blast the Buffaloes into orbit.

The key to this game, at least from a college football lines perspective, is to make the most reasonable guess about human nature, especially when it’s manifested by very young individuals. College football’s been played since 1869. In the 140 years that have passed, college football players have been known to let down their guard under two distinct situations: 1) When they’re coming off a huge high, or 2) when a big game looms the following week.

Texas-Oklahoma is the biggest and best football rivalry in the entire Big 12 Conference, so the Longhorns do figure to look past Colorado. It’s not as though the Buffs will be able to hurt them, but Texas might sleepwalk just enough to put Colorado underneath the spread. Take CU and the points; Texas will win, 45-17.

Comments

Got something to say?