Fresh off a 40-16 homecoming victory, the Colorado Buffaloes football team heads west for a Pac-12 Conference matchup with the Stanford Cardinal. It’s another tough road game for the Buffs, but also another chance to show everyone how far #TheRise has come. Here’s a taste of what to expect this Saturday.
Offense
This Colorado offense will ride into Palo Alto red-hot after piling up 580 yards and 40 points against Arizona State. The team has scored more than 40 points in every game, save USC and Michigan.
ASU came into Boulder with the nation’s fifth-best rush defense. Colorado’s run game to that point had been underwhelming, especially against good Pac-12 defenses. Despite both of those factors, junior tailback Phillip Lindsay went off. He torched the Sun Devils for 219 yards and three touchdowns. This was a big breakthrough for a Buffs team that relied heavily on passing through the first six games. It’s not immediately clear what this means for Stanford, but it shows that CU’s run game is a very capable threat.
The game against ASU also featured the return of senior quarterback Sefo Liufau, who was out for three weeks with a sprained ankle. He looked great, going 23-of-31, throwing for 265 yards and running it in for a score early in the second quarter. This is once again Liufau’s team to lead, and he will lead them with confidence heading into this matchup.
At his disposal is one of the best receiving corps in the Pac-12, perhaps even one of the best in college football. Juniors Shay Fields, Devin Ross and Bryce Bobo have all shined this season with stellar route-running and consistent clutch receptions. Unfortunately for the Buffs, sophomore slot receiver and returner Jay MacIntyre might not play after suffering a concussion against the Sun Devils.
As for the Stanford defense, there were certainly a lot of questions after they allowed 44 and 42 points in two straight games against Washington and Washington State, respectively. They rebounded this week, allowing Notre Dame only 10 points and scoring off a pick-six. The return of cornerback Quenton Meeks seems to have had a big part in that, as he shut down DeShone Kizer and the Fighting Irish receiving corps. Meeks will present a challenge to the Buffs passing game, but these CU receivers have proved multiple times they can outplay elite coverages.
Up front, defensive end Solomon Thomas is a force of nature for the Cardinal with 30 total tackles and four sacks this season. Containing him will be crucial for the Buffs on both pass and run plays. If Thomas and the Cardinal front seven can get consistent pressure on Liufau, it will drag down the whole offense.
That said, expect Colorado to have the advantage in this matchup. CU’s offense has proved it can play with the big boys; Stanford’s defense has proved it can fall apart, even at home.
Defense
Following Saturday’s game, the Buffs are now ranked number one in total defense in the Pac-12 (15th in the nation). This is a tough unit, one that has a penchant for turnovers and shutting down receivers. The Colorado secondary has no doubt been the stars of the team with senior defensive backs Chidobe Awuzie and Ahkello Witherspoon leading the way.
Against ASU though, it was the pass rush that made big plays. Senior linebacker Jimmie Gilbert recorded two key sacks, and junior inside linebacker Addison Gillam added another with a brutal hit on Manny Wilkins. Awuzie got in on the action too, coming unblocked off the edge to punish Wilkins yet again.
For Stanford, the offensive attack this week revolves completely around the status of star running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey sat out against Notre Dame with an undisclosed injury. His status for Saturday is questionable. Should he play, the Buffs front seven will have to step up their play and prove they can tackle effectively. Should he sit out, Bryce Love will still present a good challenge.
In the passing game, quarterback Ryan Burns has been pedestrian, averaging an adjusted QBR of 54.3. He’s certainly no Kevin Hogan and this year’s receiver corps are not as strong as years past. With the aforementioned strength of the Colorado secondary, expect the Buffs to deny long passes against the Cardinal.
Overall Colorado’s D looks capable of handling every threat Stanford has to offer, but only if McCaffrey is out. If McCaffrey plays and is his usual self, the Buffs will be tested big-time.
The game will kickoff Saturday, 1 p.m. (MST).
Contact CU Independent Sports Staff Writer Kyle Rini at kyle.rini@colorado.edu.
