Colorado Buffaloes

• 2017-18 Record: 5-7 (2-7 PAC 12)
• Current Record: 5-2 (2-2 PAC 12)
• Previous Game Result: Loss @ Washington (13-27)
• Head Coach: Mike MacIntyre
• Total Offense Ranking: 48th in FBS (425.9 YPG)
• Total Defense Ranking: 37th in FBS (351.4 YPG)

Tale Of The Tape

Talk about an unexpected turnaround. Colorado spent their first few years in the Pac-12 as perennial doormats, just a team meant to fill a Pac-12 slot and provide an easy win. Basically, they were what the Oregon State Beavers are now. However, Head Coach Mike MacIntyre has inspired one of the fastest turnarounds in college football history, leading the Buffs from Pac-12 doormat to major Pac-12 contenders, even winning the Pac-12 South division in 2016.

While they suffered a setback in 2017, the Buffs have seemingly returned to form with a potent offensive attack led by quarterback Steven Montez and a stifling defense that ranks 37th nationally in yards allowed. After an embarrassing showing against Washington last week that saw them only put up 13 points, expect the Buffaloes to try and run up the score on the toothless Beavers.

Player To Watch

Steven Montez (Quarterback, Jr.)

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

While I was tempted to put Travon McMillian, the Buffs starting running back, on here due to the Beavers turnstile run defense, I still had to go with the Buffs NFL-bound QB. The senior signal-caller has had an up and down year so far, throwing for 1,700 yards, 12 TD’s and 4 INT’s. Montez threw for less than 200 yards for the third time in 7 games against Washington. However, the Beaver defense is currently recovering from a 49-7 beat-down against Cal, and has historically struggled with running QB’s like Montez. I would expect the junior QB will use this opportunity to pad his stats in order to increase his NFL Draft stock.

Biggest Question Mark

How many points will the Colorado offense score?

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

While I hate to repeat myself, it must be said that this doesn’t bode well for the Beavers. Colorado has a very potent offensive attack that will only be agitated after failing to capitalize on its chances against the Huskies last week, whereas the Beavers are still licking their wounds after getting run off their own field against a middling California team. When you take OSU’s historical struggles with containing running QB’s like Steven Montez, add in an injury-riddled and talent-deprived OSU defense and an OSU offense that looked anemic last week that is now going up against a top-40 defense, THEN add in the fact that the Beavers haven’t won a road game since 2014 whereas the Buffs are currently undefeated at home and then mix it all together, you have the makings for a blowout.

History With Oregon State

Oregon State and Colorado are tied with 5 wins and 5 losses each. The last match-up was a 36-33 Colorado win. The first meeting between the teams came in 1931 and was a resounding 16-0 win for the Beavers.

Schedule

The Beavers will return home to face off with USC before going on the road to play Stanford. The Buffaloes will go out on the road for a desert face-off with Arizona before returning to Boulder, CO for a match-up with Washington State.