The Colorado Buffaloes have a significant opportunity to turn their season around. It starts Saturday at noon, when a banged-up, struggling Kansas State comes to Boulder.
Colorado enters the matchup on a five-game losing streak and is coming off a 57-24 loss to Oklahoma State. However, the Buffs may have been given a gift, as Kansas State's top two quarterbacks are listed as out and doubtful. CU still has to beat a team that doesn't beat itself, but the Buffaloes have several ways to win, starting with the run.
The Wildcats will want to shorten the game with their running game, led by Joe Jackson and Rodney Fields Jr., to keep pressure off a third-string quarterback making his first career start.
For the Buffs, attacking a leaky Kansas State run
defense remains the key to limiting Isaac Wilson's turnover-prone play. K-State also has one of the country's better pass defenses, especially in the secondary.
Here's how the Buffaloes Wire staff predicts Saturday's Big 12 showdown between Colorado and Kansas State will unfold.
Ariana's Prediction
My reason for picking Colorado is simple — Kansas State is out of healthy quarterbacks. Starter Avery Johnson has already been ruled out, while the backup is doubtful and the third-string quarterback is questionable. Even their fourth-string quarterback is banged up. It is hard to win a football game without a quarterback, and that's where Kansas State stands. That said, they will put up a fight and try to keep it low-scoring, like they did last week against Arizona State. But Colorado's offense does just enough to get its first Big 12 win of the season.
Score: Colorado 20, Kansas State 16
James' Prediction
I think Colorado wins by attacking a banged-up Kansas State offense, possibly relying on Erie, CO native and third-string quarterback Blake Barnett. Linebackers Gideon Lampron and Liona Lefau need a big game to shut down Barnett and stall the Wildcats' running game. Defensive success up front will hopefully help Isaac Wilson, and a strong game from JaQuail Smith will help Colorado snap their five-game skid in front of a rocking Folsom Field crowd that will likely rush the field (and get ridiculed for it) on Halloween night.
Score: Colorado 27, Kansas State 20
Charlie's Prediction
Everything is set up for Colorado to snap its losing streak and win its first Big 12 game, but I need to see it first. Kansas State is better coached and more disciplined, and even with a third-string quarterback, that is enough to beat a Colorado team that has consistently done things that make winning difficult. CU has more than enough to win and can win this game. I go as far as to say they need to win for a variety of reasons. However, I see the Buffs coming up a tad short thanks to one too many mistakes.
Score: Kansas State 24, Colorado 21
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado vs. Kansas State score predictions, game picks for Week 9
