Colorado University Athletics
It Could Be November To Remember For MacIntyre's Buffs
October 23, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — The old college football maxim is still as true as it's ever been: "The games they remember are played in November."
The Colorado Buffaloes have the chance for a very memorable November.
With a bye week directly ahead, Mike MacIntyre's No. 23 Buffs will finish October with a 6-2 record. When the month ends, they will also either own sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 South or be a half-game behind.
Not bad for a team picked to finish last in the Pac-12 South.
Utah, currently tied with Colorado for the division lead at 4-1, plays host to Washington next Saturday. A Utah win gives the Utes a half-game lead with a bye the following week. A Washington win gives the Buffs a half-game division lead.
Colorado, meanwhile, doesn't return to action until Thursday, Nov. 3, when the Buffs play host to UCLA in a 7 p.m. game at Folsom Field (Fox Sports 1). It's the beginning of what might be the most favorable home stretch schedule of any of the Pac-12 South contenders.
For starters, the Buffs play three of their final four games at home. After UCLA, they have another long week before traveling to Arizona for a Nov. 12 game, CU's final road trip of the regular season.
Then comes a Nov. 19 home game with Washington State, followed by a Nov. 26 home affair against Utah, a game that will quite possibly have major implications in the Pac-12 South race.
What we know is that Colorado has played extremely well thus far in the state of Colorado. In four games within the state boundary (one in Denver, three at Folsom Field), the Buffs have gone 4-0 this season while outscoring opponents 182-36.
At Folsom, they are 3-0 and the scoring margin is 143-29; and they are 2-0 against Pac-12 opponents at home with an 87-22 edge.
As MacIntyre said before the Arizona State game (a 40-16 CU win), "Our guys love playing at home. They really enjoy playing at Folsom. I believe they come out with a little bit more energy, a little bit more excitement."
If that is indeed the case, the schedule is favorable for the Buffs. Of their remaining opponents, three are Pac-12 South foes (UCLA, Arizona and Utah) and the only road trip remaining is against an injury-plagued Arizona squad that is 2-5 overall and 0-4 in Pac-12 play.
Not that the Buffs will be looking past the UCLA game. One thing this team has done well all season is focus on the next game with the mantra of "going 1-0 every week." The Bruins are a dangerous team — they pushed Utah to the limit over the weekend before finally falling 52-45 with a backup quarterback at the helm — and they will likely have regular starter Josh Rosen back at in time for their appearance in Boulder.
But, the Buffs are no doubt glad to see November arrive, particularly with three games at home. CU has already played in six different stadiums this year with only three home games. With an extra few days rest now before the UCLA game — and a few more extra days after that before the Arizona game — it's a schedule that could prove to be extremely advantageous.
Colorado has also historically been a solid team in November. In their last 105 games in the 11th month of the year, the Buffs are 57-47-1 — a number that includes a 6-12-1 record against Nebraska in the old Big Eight/Big 12 days.
Against unranked teams in November in that stretch, the Buffs have been even better — a 52-19 record. CU will see possibly two ranked teams down the stretch, with Utah currently ranked No. 16 in the USA Today/Coaches poll and No. 17 in the AP, and Washington State receiving votes in both.
While the upcoming week is technically a "bye week," it's actually a shorter-than-normal bye week because of the Thursday game. The players will take Monday and Tuesday off, then begin practice on Wednesday before getting another day off Saturday.
The good news, though, is that after the UCLA game, they'll have another couple of extra days to rest and recuperate for the final stretch before beginning preparations for the last three games.
MacIntyre said the Buffs can use the extra days off this week to heal up some bumps and bruises. Among those who will benefit from the extra time are running back Phillip Lindsay, who suffered a minor ankle injury in Saturday's 10-5 win over Stanford; and offensive tackle Aaron Haigler, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury.
"We've played eight straight," MacIntyre said after Saturday's game. "We need to get some energy back in us."
GETTING DEFENSIVE: After CU's stellar defensive effort at Stanford on Saturday, it's no surprise the Buffs climbed up the charts in the nation's defensive statistical categories.
The Buffs now have the 11th-ranked defense in the nation, giving up just 307.8 yards per game. That includes 28th in rushing defense (129.1 yards per game) and 15th in passing yards defense (178.6). Colorado is sixth in the nation in team passing efficiency defense, a metric that uses opponents' attempts, completions, interceptions, yards and touchdowns.
As for the statistic nearest and dearest to defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt's heart, the Buffs are 18th in the nation in points allowed, giving up just 18.1 per game — a far, far cry from the 39 per game the Buffs allowed just two years ago.
Colorado's offense, meanwhile, also stayed among the nation's leaders. While the Buffs didn't turn many of their drives into points, they still put some decent yardage totals on the board against the Cardinal. CU will enter the bye week 18th in the nation in total offense (495.8 yards per game), 30th in rushing offense (217.7) and 30th in passing offense (279.8).
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
