Colorado Football: Can Buffaloes Win A Pac-12 Game?

The Buffaloes lost their best chance of getting a win in the Pac-12 today against the Washington State Cougars.

Colorado is 1-4 (0-1) on the season and winless in both conference games thus far.

In Week 2, the Buffaloes took on the Cal Golden Bears in what is technically a non-conference game, and Colorado lost a close one 36-33 in overtime.

Against the Cougars, Colorado lost another close one 31-27 in a game that could have gone either way.

I only see two potential wins for the Buffaloes this year, and here they are...

Arizona

In the Buffaloes’ third-to-last game, they get a struggling Arizona Wildcats team at home. This game will probably be Colorado’s best chance of getting a win.

The game will be at home, and besides Colorado State it is the worst competition the Buffaloes will see. The Wildcats’ run defense is abysmal, and the Buffaloes, led by Rodney Stewart, can run all over the front seven.

Trying to stop Arizona’s passing game will be the key to the game.

Arizona 37

Colorado 31

UCLA

The only other game the Buffaloes have any chance of winning is against the UCLA Bruins in Colorado’s second-to-last game. The game will be on the road, but UCLA has struggled with consistency and can’t seem to find a quarterback to lead the team.

The secondary has shown signs of weakness, allowing 229 yards per game through air. The Bruins are even worse stopping the run, ranking 92nd in the country in run defense.

UCLA 35

Colorado 28

Recap

As you can see from the previous two slides, I don’t see the Buffaloes winning a game in conference this season. I predicted it this season, and nothing I’ve seen so far gives me any reason to change that viewpoint.

Colorado’s next five games are against the Stanford Cardinal and Washington Huskies on the road, followed by a home game against the Oregon Ducks, at USC and then back home to host the Arizona State Sun Devils. All of those games will be blowouts, with maybe one being respectable for a half of play.

I don’t think Colorado will beat the Wildcats at home or the Bruins on the road. The only game that remains is a road test against the Utah Utes, and I don’t see a way the Buffaloes will pull the upset.

Expect Colorado to go winless in conference in its inaugural season.