Colorado Buffaloes Football Predictions (Games 7-12)

3) Road weary. The Texas A&M game will be the third road game in four weeks for the Buffs. The road schedule in 2008 for Colorado is enough to make a grown man cry: at Florida State (I know, Jacksonville, but c’mon - anyone really want to call that a "neutral site" game?); at Kansas; at Missouri; at Texas A&M; and at Nebraska.

See an easy win there anywhere? If the Buffs are 0-fer the road in 2008 prior to the Aggie game, it will be tough to pick up road win No. 1 at College Station.

Texas A&M game to keep and eye on before the CU/Texas A&M game:

Texas A&M at Oklahoma State on Oct. 4: The Big 12 opener for both teams. The Aggies and the Cowboys will both be looking to make a statement that they belong in the Big 12 South division race.

In most preseason publications, the Oklahoma Sooners are ranked in the top five; Texas and Texas Tech in the top 15. Texas A&M and Oklahoma State, according to the pundits, will be left to battle it out for fourth place in the South division.

For two teams looking to be the Kansas of 2008, a loss in this game will leave the losing players doubting their chances of competing for a title, and leave the losing team’s fans grumbling about having to wait yet another year to compete with the big boys in the South.

My thoughts: If this game were in Boulder, I would see it as being a win for Colorado. The Buffs match up well against the weaknesses of the Aggies. If the Colorado rushing game is in high gear by Nov. 1, the Buffs can dominate the line of scrimmage and time of possession.

My chief concern: I am going to the game. While I am not prepared to call myself a jinx for the Buffs, Colorado does not have a stellar record in games I have traveled to witness (don’t ask; it’s embarrassing).

One plus: the last game I did watch the Buffs play in person in the state of Texas, the Buffs won (in the Houston Bowl against UTEP in 2004).

So there you go! Buffs win!

Nov. 8: Iowa State

Fast facts: It’s year two of the Gene Chizik era in Ames. The Cyclones struggled in 2007, finishing with a 3-9 record (ISU did manage to tie Nebraska for fifth in Big 12 North, posting a 2-5 mark).

The season was one of contrasts for Iowa State. An embarrassing loss to 1-AA Northern Iowa was immediately offset by an upset win over rival Iowa. An 0-4 start in conference play, including a 56-3 loss to Texas, was quickly forgotten after the Cyclones upset Kansas State and Colorado on consecutive weekends.

Then, just when it appeared that ISU was ready to stake its claim as one of the most improved teams in the second half of 2007, the Cyclones closed out the year with a forgettable 45-7 defeat at the hands of the Kansas Jayhawks.

In 2007, Iowa State was led by record setters at quarterback (Bret Meyer) and wide receiver (Todd Blythe), yet was still awful on offense, finishing 102^nd in the nation in total offense and 111^th in the nation in scoring.

Meyer and his 48 consecutive starts are gone; his replacement is undecided. There is some talent and depth at running back, and, like Colorado, inexperienced linemen from 2007 now have a full year behind them. On defense, the pass defense is weak; the rush defense only marginally better.

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