Arizona (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) at Colorado (3-5, 1-4 Big 12)
When/where: 5 p.m. Saturday/Folsom Field
TV/Radio: FS1/850 KOA
BetMGM Line: CU +4.5, 52.5 over/under
Weather: 48 degrees, clear
Series History: CU leads 17-10, won 34-7 in Tucson last year
Three storylines
Tough schedule lets up: The Buffs have played FBS’ toughest schedule as determined by opponents’ winning percentage. CU’s eight opponents so far are a combined 43-12 (.782), the only mark above .750 in the nation. But this week is the start of the softening of the schedule, and CU must take advantage. After playing Arizona — which lost to Iowa State, whom the Buffs upset — CU plays West Virginia (2-6), Arizona State (5-3, lost starting QB Sam Leavitt to season-ending surgery) and up-and-down Kansas State (4-4).
The aerial battle: Arizona goes as redshirt junior QB Noah Fifita goes. In the Wildcats’ narrow loss to Houston two weeks ago, Fifita was 24-of-26 passing for a 92.3% completion rate. He’s third in program history in career passing yards (7,784) and passing TDs (61). CU’s secondary, which has allowed 210.4 yards/game, must be up to the challenge. So must CU QB Kaidon Salter, who goes up against a stout Arizona secondary that’s third in the Big 12 with 153.1 passing yards allowed/game and has nine picks this season (ranked 18th in FBS).
CU’s response: After getting blasted 53-7 by Utah last week in Salt Lake City in the worst defeat in Deion Sanders’ three-year tenure, the CU head coach described the blowout as “probably the worst beating I’ve ever had except for when my mama whupped me as a kid.” Now, the Buffs need to win three of their final four games to become bowl eligible for a second straight year. After consecutive losses to BYU and TCU, CU responded with a 24-17 upset over No. 22 Iowa State. Can the Buffs punch back on Saturday?
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: CU 27, Arizona 21
CU will be without Xavier Hill, who has started every game this season at left guard. That’s not good news for an offensive line that gave up five sacks to Utah as the Buffs were consistently overwhelmed by the Utes’ blitz. But this Arizona team is in a different category than the Utes. A bowl season still won’t be in the cards, but CU bounces back by beating the Wildcats at home. They get up early in the game and, unlike the losses to BYU and TCU, don’t let their early lead go to waste. Preston Hodge, who leads the Big 12 in passes defensed at 1.38 per game, makes a couple of clutch break-ups on Arizona’s final drive to seal the win.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: CU 26, Arizona 25
Utah didn’t just unlock the blueprint for beating Coach Prime’s Buffs. The Utes unlocked the blueprint for embarrassing them. But Arizona doesn’t have the same beef, the same pass rush, or the same wheels at QB1. Like Iowa State’s Rocco Becht, Noah Fifita is a pass-first dude, and the Wildcats probably aren’t going to risk losing his arm by extensively featuring his legs. Which, at Folsom, plays right into Ralphie’s hooves. CU is 3-0 when its QB has more rush yards than the opposing signal-caller, 0-5 otherwise. Elevation and a juiced Homecoming crowd get an up-and-down season back on the “plus” side again.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: CU 27, Arizona 20
It’s hard to understand what the oddsmakers are thinking here. The only time the Buffs should be a home dog is when a big, burly program like BYU or Utah comes to town. Arizona is very much not that. Wildcats QB Noah Fifita has been much better after a down 2024, but throwing the ball all over Folsom is not how you beat the Buffs. CU has the skill and the talent to match up. More importantly, Arizona doesn’t have the muscle in the trenches.
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