Buffs Aim For Fast Start To 2018 In Opener Against Rams

DENVER — It's been roughly nine months since the Colorado Buffaloes walked off the field in Utah to end the 2017 season, a 34-13 loss putting a dismal final note on a disappointing 5-7 finish.

Friday night, Mike MacIntyre's Buffs have a chance to begin writing a new tune when they open the 2018 season with a 7:30 p.m. contest against in-state rival Colorado State at Broncos Stadium at Mile High (CBSSN).

At stake — as is always the case in the matchup — are bragging rights across the state for the next year. The Buffs have owned those rights for the last three years, and a handful of CU seniors have the opportunity to join a short list of all-time Buffs who were 4-0 in their careers against the Rams.

"I think it is a cool thing to be a part of, being in a class that has won this game every single year we have played in it," said senior linebacker Rick Gamboa, who will be making his 38th consecutive start for the Buffs. "This is definitely a special game for me. Going back to my redshirt freshman year, that was the first game I had ever started at CU. I can look back at the past three times I've played in this game, reliving those memories, seeing those different teams we have had going into those games, and how each game has happened."

It will be the sixth matchup for MacIntyre against the Rams, and he will be looking for his fourth straight win and fifth overall in the series. Colorado State coach Mike Bobo, whose Rams dropped a 43-34 decision to Hawaii last week, hopes to end an 0-3 skid against the Buffaloes.

For the Buffs, Friday's opener is the first step in what they hope will be a season that erases the sting of last season's step back.

"I think they are kind of bonding on everybody calling them a failure last year, and hearing, 'You let it down, and you didn't keep it going,'" MacIntyre said. "That is what they have heard out there with people saying different things. They have two chips on their shoulders, and have decided to shut their mouths and work at it, and let the results on the field stand for it. Hopefully they will get the results that they have worked hard to achieve."

If the Buffs do get the results they want, the CU offense will almost certainly play a major role — and they would like nothing better than to get off to a quick start against the Rams. While Colorado lost three starting receivers and one of the most productive running backs in CU history off last year's team, they still believe this year's offense should be better. It includes quarterback Steven Montez, a host of talented receivers, a blend of veteran and promising youngsters on the offensive line, and a solid stable of running backs.

For Montez, it will be a crucial season. A starter in all 12 games last year, he owns a career 7-8 record as a starting quarterback at CU and knows this is the year he is expected to take his game to the next level — physically and mentally. He had his best overall camp as a Buff and is understandably eager to get the 2018 campaign underway.

"I don't think I have been this excited for a game since Oregon (his first career start as a redshirt freshman)," he said. "I am very excited to play this week. I don't know what it is, but I can't wait to get out there and show what we have been working on, on offense. I am sure the defense has a lot of stuff they want to show the world as well. I am excited, and I can't wait. Can't wait."

This will also be the first year for co-offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini calling the plays from the booth. Chiaverini moved into the spot with the departure of Brian Lindgren, and while he shares the co-coordinator duties with offensive line coach Klayton Adams, he will be the man dictating the pace and tempo of the offense.

Defensively, Friday night should provide a good opening test for the Buffs. Under the direction of senior quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels, CSU rallied from a 37-7 deficit last week to pull within six points late in the game before finally coming up short. Carta-Samuels, a grad transfer from Washington, threw for five touchdowns and a program-record 537 yards.

It is the second year for Colorado's defense under the direction of coordinator D.J. Eliot, and the Buffs believe the unit should be much improved. Eliot, a firm believer in finding ways to utilize his playmakers as often as possible, has tweaked CU's 3-4 scheme to take advantage of some speed on the edge and some additional power in the middle.

One place CU fans will be watching closely is the defensive line. CU struggled to establish any consistency up front a year ago, but the Buffs believe they have bolstered their attack there. A slimmed-down Javier Edwards is back in the starting lineup at nose tackle, but eyes will also be focused on true freshman Israel Antwine, who beat out returning starter Chris Mulumba at defensive end, along with junior college transfer Mustafa Johnson, who will man the other defensive end spot.

Mulumba, however, is expected to get his share of snaps, as is redshirt freshman Terrance Lang.

CU followers are also anxious to get a longer look at sophomore linebacker Nate Landman, who finished last year on a strong note and has stepped into a starting role inside. That has allowed the Buffs to move Drew Lewis to outside linebacker, where his speed and athleticism should give the Buffs a boost in the pass rush department.

While the game is a rivalry affair, the Buffs have been nothing but respectful about their opponents. They are more concerned with getting off to a good start — because one week later, they head to Nebraska to renew another rivalry from Colorado's old Big Eight and Big 12 days.

"It's exciting for us, since last season ended and everybody realized that we were going to play our two biggest rivals back-to-back," MacIntyre said. "I guess you could say there's always a buzz about the CSU game, but now it's kind of a double-buzz all the time. It makes it special. Our guys understand that and I think that's pushed them, because everywhere they go they hear about the CSU game and our next game. That's something they have to put in the back of their mind and take one day at a time, and I think they have taken it one day at a time."

CSU STORYLINE: The Rams have one of the more difficult non-conference schedules in the nation. After this week's game with the Buffs, they play host to Arkansas next week, then finish their non-conference slate with a trip to Florida. If they don't get a win against CU, the prospects of an 0-4 start are very real.

MATCHUP TO WATCH: Colorado's secondary vs. Colorado State's wide receivers. The Rams have a fleet of big, fast receivers who can catch the ball in traffic and get open on deep routes. The Buffs aren't overly experienced at cornerback — junior college transfer Delrick Abrams Jr. will be making his first Division I start — but they do have plenty of experience on the back end in senior safeties Evan Worthington and Nick Fisher. The key for Colorado will actually come up front. If the Buffs can get pressure on Carta-Samuels and force him to throw early, it will be a big help to CU's secondary.

KEEP AN EYE ON: CU's receiving corps. The Buffs are as deep at the position as they have been in years, and have several players who can make plays in space as well as get downfield for home run balls. CSU's secondary has troubles last week against Hawaii; the Buffs would love to get their passing game going early and put the Rams on their heels again.

THE SERIES: The Buffaloes hold a 65-22-2 edge in the all-time series, which includes an 11-6 mark in games in Denver. CU has also won three in a row, four of the last five, six of the last eight and eight of the last 11. The series has also featured two overtime games (2007 and 2015), with the Buffs winning both.

The two teams will meet again next year in Denver, then temporarily halt the series with the 2020 game in Fort Collins. They will resume the rivalry with a pair of games in 2023 and 2024, with the 2023 game in Boulder and the 2024 game in Fort Collins.

NUTS AND BOLTS:

Kickoff: 7:34 p.m., Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

Broadcast: The game will be televised nationally by the CBS Sports Network with Carter Blackburn, Aaron Taylor and John Schriffen. The radio broadcast will be carried by AM 850 KOA with Mark Johnson and Gary Barnett.

In-game live blog, stats: A live in-game blog as well as continually updated statistics will be available on www.CUBuffs.com

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu