Fast Five: Keys For Buffs Vs. Utes
November 25, 2021 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado's final game of the season is not a bowl game — but if the Buffaloes want to make a postseason-worthy splash, they have the opportunity Friday when they play at Utah (2 p.m., Fox).
Utah (8-3 overall, 7-1 Pac-12) has already clinched a Pac-12 South title, is 19th in the latest College Football Playoff rankings and is playing its best ball of the season. Not only have the Utes won four games in a row, they are coming off a 38-7 beatdown of Oregon last week, a game Utah dominated in nearly every fashion.
No doubt, a win for Karl Dorrell's Buffs (4-7, 3-5) would be a great way to cap what has more often than not been a disappointing season.
But while they are playing well, the Utes are by no means perfect. After losing their second and third games of the season (BYU and San Diego State), they hammered out three straight wins before losing to Oregon State, 42-34.
We remind you, that's the same Oregon State team Colorado beat 37-34 in two overtimes just two weeks later.
Thus, our weekly Fast Five keys for the Buffaloes:
1. Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. Colorado won a game last week when the opponent dominated just about every statistical category — except turnovers. The Buffs had four defensive takeaways in a 20-17 win over Washington and did not turn the ball over once.
Zero turnovers is no rarity for CU — in fact, it's happened more often than not. Colorado has had a school-record six games this year without a single turnover and has just seven for the season, the second-best mark in the nation.
But the Utes aren't exactly prone to giving the ball away. They have thrown just five interceptions and lost six fumbles.
Still, the Buffs need to coerce a mistake or two from Utah QB Cameron Rising and force the Utes to put the ball on the ground a couple of times.
After all, this stat is no coincidence: Colorado is 4-1 this season when winning the turnover battle.
2. Convert third downs. Because of those turnovers last week, the Buffs managed to win despite converting just two of 13 third-down tries.
That won't work against the Utes. CU has to win those short-yardage battles, keep the clock running and not let Utah build momentum.
3. Stop Utah's run game and force the Utes to throw. This isn't to say Utah's Cameron Rising isn't a good quarterback. He's 7-1 since taking over the starting job in Week 4, he's accurate (63 percent completion percentage and just two interceptions) and he can make plays with his legs.
But when the Utes get their ground game rolling, they are hard to stop. They've been held under 170 yards rushing just once this season (a loss to San Diego State) and they are averaging a very healthy 45 rushing attempts and 260 yards per game over the last five games.
But the Buffs have to figure out a way to at least slow the Utes down on the ground and force Rising to take the game on his shoulders. If they can do that, they'll have a chance at forcing some three-and-outs and give the ball back to their offense.
4. Start fast and get Jarek Broussard in a rhythm early. Over the last three weeks, CU's running back has been showing the form that made him the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year last season. The Buffs need that player the entire game Friday, as well as some contributions on the ground from quarterback Brendon Lewis.
While Utah's usually salty run defense is solid again this year, the Utes have been gashed a few times. In fact, Utah is 0-3 when the opponent rushes for at least 200 yards. That's no doubt a big number — but if the Buffs can hit Utah early on the ground, they have a chance to play at a tempo that will benefit them on the road.
5. Play like it's a bowl game. No matter what, the Utes have at least two more games. They will play in the Pac-12 championship game, then a bowl game.
But Friday is the last hurrah of 2021 for the Buffaloes. Nothing left to lose — and plenty to win. A victory would go a long way in helping erase much of the disappointment from this season, give CU a two-game win streak to take into the offseason, and leave a nice legacy for Colorado's departing seniors.
That's plenty at stake.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
