Colorado (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) at TCU (3-1, 0-1 Big 12)
When/where: 5:30 p.m. Saturday/Amon G. Carter Stadium
TV/Radio: FOX/KOA 850 AM
BetMGM Line: CU +13.5, 57.5 over/under
Weather: 75 degrees, clear skies
Series History: Tied 1-1
Three storylines
Horned Frogs’ revenge: Recall the last time these two teams met in Fort Worth — a 45-42 win in the first game of the Coach Prime Era. CU’s upset over No. 17 TCU — when Shedeur Sanders threw for 510 yards and four touchdowns, and the Buffs’ defense made a stand in the final minute to secure the victory — propelled the Buffs to a 3-0 start that put them in the national spotlight. Sonny Dykes’ crew will no doubt look to avenge that defeat on Saturday, especially with the Horned Frogs coming off a narrow loss to Arizona State.
Four full quarters: CU looked like a new team in the first quarter last week against BYU. On the game’s first three possessions, the Buffs scored a pair of touchdowns and also stopped the Cougars on downs. But it was pretty much all BYU from there, as the Cougars scored a TD in each of the final three quarters en route to a 24-21 comeback win. Whether CU is able to pull an upset in Fort Worth is contingent on whether or not the Buffs can play a complete game. QB Kaidon Salter and the offense must find and maintain a balanced rhythm.
Josh Hoover vs Buffs D: Last year, TCU’s third-year QB set the program’s single-season record with 3,949 yards passing. He’s thrown 53 TD passes in 23 career starts, and has thrown for 1,242 yards with 11 TDs to four interceptions this year. Wideout Eric McAlister is his favorite target. It will be up to cornerback D.J. McKinney, nickel back Preston Hodge and the CU secondary to keep a lid on TCU’s aerial attack to make sure the Buffs stay within striking distance. CU is ranked 10th in the Big 12 at 207.6 passing yards allowed per game.
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: TCU 38, CU 27
Kaidon Salter keeps the Buffs in the game long enough to cover the spread, but CU can’t get the defensive stops it needs down the stretch of the second half. While running QBs have been a bugaboo for CU, this time it’s a true tailback that gets them as TCU’s Kevorian Barnes (averaging 7.4 yards per carry coming in) goes off for 100 yards and consistently keeps the sticks moving.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist:TCU 34, CU 25
This might be the kindest, on paper, of four straight tricky matchups for Coach Prime. If Deion Sanders’ opponent trots out a QB1 who’s a regular (and willing) run threat, the Buffs are toast. Luckily for Buffs faithful, TCU’s Josh Hoover isn’t. Arizona State sacked the Frogs’ QB six times last weekend. Two burning questions: If this becomes four hours of basketball on grass, will Kaidon Salter be able to keep pace? Or will the Buffs fade away in the fourth quarter again?
Matt Schubert, sports editor: TCU 27, CU 24
As good as the Horned Frogs looked blasting Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels in Week 1, they are very beatable. Arizona State just shredded TCU for 498 total yards, including 207 on the ground, and held the Frogs to 10 (!) yards on the ground. Translation: Coach Prime’s squad isn’t about to get bullied by these guys. Which means they are just the sort of team the Buffs can beat.
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