Buffs Aim To Finish On High Note

SALT LAKE CITY — When the 4-8 Colorado Buffaloes square off Saturday with 8-3 Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium (12:37 p.m. kickoff, Pac-12 Networks), the surface storyline will be that the Buffs don't have a lot to play for.

Win or lose, they'll be home for the holidays, the eighth straight season CU has not played in a bowl game.

But fact is, the Buffs have plenty on the line. A win today would:

— Send this year's seniors out on a winning note, something that hasn't happened too often in recent years;

— Establish a little momentum for spring ball;

— Give CU its second Pac-12 win of the season;

— Give the Buffs a win over a conference foe with a winning record.

It's been awhile since any of the above have happened — four years, to be exact — and they all were accomplished on the same day. When the Buffs collected a 17-14 win at Utah to finish the 2011 season, it was Colorado's second Pac-12 win of the year, it sent that year's seniors out on a winning note and it also gave CU a win over a conference foe that finished the season with a winning record (the Utes finished the year 8-5).

Winning for the seniors is a common theme. Players and coaches spent the week saying they wanted to send CU's seniors out on a high note, and they're no doubt sincere in wanting to provide the seniors with a memorable parting gift.

But, added Jordan Carrell, “I want to be able to go home to family and friends knowing that we ended with a win. We'll talk about this game until next year.”

That might be as much inspiration as anything else. The Buffs have spent the last three offseasons stewing over a season-ending loss to the Utes. Each of the contests has been close — the last four games have been decided by a total of 21 points — and each of the last three left the Buffs with a bad taste in their mouths that lingered for months.

Three years ago, it was a 42-35 loss in Boulder. In 2013, the Utes took a 24-17 win in Salt Lake. And last year, the Buffs dropped a 38-34 decision in Boulder, a game CU led 34-31 in the fourth quarter.

When the two schools joined the Pac-12 in 2011, they immediately became designated “rivals,” with their matchup dictated to occur the same weekend as all of the Pac-12's more established rivalries.

The rivalry vibe hasn't exactly sunk in yet — even if the Utes do wear red, the color worn by CU's favorite rival of old. Simply, it will take time to establish the flavor.

“As more and more games happen and more and more competition happens in those games, and there's some wild finishes and some wild games, I think it will become more of a rivalry,” CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham tends to agree.

“I think there's got to be — I don't want to use the word hatred, because that's too strong — but a little animosity, a little bad blood maybe,” Whittingham said earlier this week. “A little something that adds a little flavor to it. I think that's probably the basis.

“I just don't feel that with Colorado. I have a lot of respect for them, and every year it comes down to the wire. Coach MacIntyre runs a great program. They play hard. They play the way you're supposed to and we respect them for that.”

While the Utes are no longer in the Pac-12 title picture — they were eliminated with last week's loss to UCLA — they also have some goals to reach today. A win would not only likely mean a better bowl game, it would also keep Utah's hopes for a 10-win season alive.

But these aren't the same Utes that buried Oregon, 62-20, earlier this year. Out with injuries are running back Devontae Booker, a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, and leading receiver and return specialist Britain Covey.

It is Booker's absence that might benefit the Buffs most.

“I thought he was the best running back in the league coming back,” MacIntyre said earlier this week. “There's some really good running backs in the league, but overall, power, strength, speed .. he actually could just take a game over. You knew they were going to hand it to him and he could still make plays. He's that kind of back. Anytime you lose a guy like that it's tough.”

The Utes still managed to run for nearly 200 yards in last week's 17-9 loss to UCLA, but it's obvious their offense wasn't the same with Booker and Covey both out of the lineup. The Utes are averaging nearly 200 yards per game passing, but had just 110 against the Bruins.

Now, the Buffs' No. 1 focus will be on quarterback Travis Wilson, who has had some terrific games this year — and some clunkers. The Utah senior threw for 227 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 100 and another touchdown in the win over Oregon — then threw four interceptions a few weeks later in a 42-24 loss to USC.

“You've got to be able to stop their quarterback,” MacIntyre said. “He's a good runner. He does a lot of good things.”

Saturday will be the second start for Colorado quarterback Cade Apsay. The redshirt freshman had his moments in last week's 27-3 loss to Washington State, but overall, the Buffs' offense endured a mistake-prone, inconsistent evening that saw them penetrate the WSU red zone three times and come away with just three points to show for their efforts.

The Buffs would love to establish a running game against the Utes — but if they do, it will be something not many teams have managed to do this year. Utah has the Pac-12's No. 1 rush defense and the nation's 14th-ranked unit, giving up just 117.5 yards per game on the ground.

“They're a very stout front seven,” MacIntyre said. “They play man coverage and put everybody in the box. It's hard to consistently run on them, so you've got to be able to do different things and find ways to get the ball in the end zone. That's something we didn't do last week.”

If the Buffs can walk away with their fifth win of the season today, it will be the most since the 2010 Buffs finished 5-7.

“You definitely want to win every game,” MacIntyre said, “but the the thing about being the last game, it's kind of final. It stays with you longer.”

The Buffs would no doubt like to have that lasting feeling be a good one.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu