Arizona State (7-3, 5-2 Big 12) at Colorado (3-7, 1-6 Big 12)
When/where: 6 p.m. Saturday/Folsom Field
TV/Radio: ESPN2/850 KOA
BetMGM Line: CU +7, 48.5 over/under
Weather: 37 degrees, clear
Series History: ASU leads 10-4; CU won last matchup, 27-24, in Tempe in 2023
Three storylines
JuJu vs. Jeff: While CU freshman Julian Lewis gets his second start after showing signs of promise in his first career start in a loss at West Virginia two weeks ago — Lewis was 22 of 35 for 299 yards and two TDs — the Sun Devils roll out veteran dual-threat Jeff Sims. The redshirt senior took over at QB full-time following Sam Leavitt’s season-ending foot surgery a few weeks ago. ASU is 2-1 with Sims as the starter, including consecutive narrow wins over Iowa State and West Virginia. But the last time he came to Folsom Field as Nebraska’s starting QB in 2023, Sims turned the ball over three times (two fumbles, one pick) in a 36-14 loss to the Buffs.
Old friend Mr. Tyson: ASU star wideout Jordyn Tyson, who suffered a hamstring injury in the Sun Devils’ Oct. 18 upset of Texas Tech, returned to practice Tuesday. Tyson began his career at CU, where he led the Buffs with 470 receiving yards as a freshman. But the arrival of Deion Sanders led to Tyson’s exit from Boulder, as he was unable to make Coach Prime’s “Louis” cut. Tyson didn’t play when ASU and CU last met in 2023. If Tyson is healthy enough, he’ll have extra motivation to show out against the program that cast him off.
CU run game: The Buffs rank next-to-last in the ground game in the Big 12 at 122.1 rushing yards per game. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils’ run defense is one of the strengths of their team, as ASU ranks second in the conference with 117.7 rushing yards allowed per game. The Buffs have yet to have a tailback break the 70-yard mark in a game this season, and in the recent loss to West Virginia, CU averaged just 1.3 yards per carry. If that one-dimensional offense continues, it will put extra pressure on JuJu to deliver.
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: Arizona State 31, CU 24
Deion Sanders asserted in his presser this week that CU has “the right man” leading the program, but the fact remains that the Buffs are significantly short on physicality in the trenches to win in the Big 12. And there’s the Buffs’ defensive kryptonite to consider — containing a running quarterback. Jeff Sims ran for 228 yards against Iowa State a few weeks ago; book him for at least 150 yards rushing on Saturday at Folsom Field, which ends up being the difference in a game that CU hangs in, but can’t close.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Arizona State 27, CU 21
Buffs fans will never forget the last time Jeff Sims started a game at Folsom, but Sims would love to — three turnovers in one half with Nebraska that led to a CU laugher. Both Sims and the Buffs are in very, very different places now. Julian Lewis to Omarion Miller looked unstoppable in West Virginia, especially with Miller against single coverage. But what happens if ASU takes Plan A away? Sims still isn’t much of a thrower, granted. Alas, he’s also the type of QB — a rushing one (5.5 yards per carry) — the Buffs haven’t stopped all year.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: CU 27, Arizona State 24
With Sun Devils hanging by a thread in the Big 12 title race, a visit to altitude and (slightly) inclement weather is just the recipe to spell doom for Kenny Dillingham’s team. Julian Lewis got his FBS sea legs in a narrow loss at West Virginia. After two more weeks of reps in practice, it isn’t hard to see him exposing an Arizona State defense that’s prone to giving up explosive plays. The comedy of errors that befell Jeff Sims the last time he visited Boulder lingers. And the sequel won’t be much better.
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