The 3-2-1: Arizona State game is the biggest this year for Colorado

Colorado now 4-2 and 2-1 in the PAC 12 will host Arizona State 5-1, 2-1 this Saturday at Folsom in what we feel is the biggest game for the Buffs this season. As usual, we open the week with a 3-2-1 column, as we tell you three things we learned, ask two questions, and make one prediction.

Popular: Who Should Start At QB Against Arizona State?

Discuss: What Needs To Improve Moving Forward?

1. Colorado can play with anyone remaining on their schedule: There is no question that Colorado can play with each of their remaining six opponents, the Buffs have not been in that position at the midseason point in a decade.

Talent wise USC had the edge and that ended up being the difference in this past Saturday’s 21-17 loss in Los Angeles to the Trojans. Their next six opponents include: 5-1 Arizona State, 3-2 Stanford, 3-3 UCLA, 2-4 Arizona, 3-2 Washington State, and 5-1 Utah. While none of the games approaching are automatic victories, none of those teams forthcoming on the schedule can say that about beating Colorado either.

As we mentioned last week the sky is the limit right now for the Buffs, even with the small setback against USC, there is still a three-way tie for 1st place in the PAC 12 South between Colorado 2-1, Arizona State 2-1, and Utah 2-1. This coming matchup against Arizona State is huge for three reasons: One is a win over Arizona State will bring back some much-needed midseason momentum, two, a victory would keep them in the driver seat for first place with a 3-1 PAC 12 South Record, and three, Colorado with a victory would be 5-2, which is just one win away from being bowl eligible.

2. Colorado has struggled with a rushing attack: Against USC this past Saturday, Colorado ran the football 29 times for 96-yards which is a 3.3 per rush average. Running Back Phillip Lindsay ran for 57-yards, Quarterback Steven Montez ran for 25-yards, and Anthony Julmisse ran for 10-yards on a reverse.

Colorado’s passing game has been highlighted several times this season, their run game is yet to feature a 100-yard rusher from any of their running backs. Lindsay ran for 95-yards against Colorado State and for 90 against Idaho State. On the year Colorado has rushed for 281 times for 1,189-yards which is a 4.23 average.

If Colorado is going to make a run at the South they are going to need to find a running game that can help them maintain late game drives to help put games away and run off some clock. Lindsay seems capable of getting more touches, currently, he has just over 81 attempts for 395-yards and 6 touchdowns which places him 8th overall in the PAC 12.

This is not a suggestion to re-write the Colorado Offensive Playbook, rather an attempt to highlight an area that needs improvement as we enter a vital stretch of conference games.

3. Defense remains Colorado’s strong suit: Against USC the Colorado’s defense forced 4 takeaways. One interception and 3 forced fumbles. You force turnovers, you create momentum for the offense to put points on the board, good teams do that weekly. Colorado has forced a turnover in 19 consecutive games under Defensive Coordinator Jim Leavitt.

Despite allowing 539-yards of offense against USC, the defense gave up just three touchdowns against a USC team that features several future NFL players. Impressive stat. Against Michigan they returned a fumble for a touchdown, the secondary ended the game against Oregon with an interception, they returned an interception for a touchdown against Oregon State so creating turnovers has been the norm all season, in-fact the defense has stated several times this year that forcing 3-4 turnovers a game is their goal.

After the USC game both Addison Gilliam and Kenneth Olugbode mentioned that their tackling has to improve and yes at times against the Trojans there was plenty of missed tackles, but with that said the defense continues to shine and though they might bend at times, the defensive unit does not break often and you know what they say about defense…

1. What is Colorado going to do at the quarterback position? The Buffs have two quarterbacks that can get the job done. Would Sefo Liufau of had a better showing that Steven Montez against USC? Hard to say, but Liufau’s proven veteran leadership is something you cannot overlook as he’s played in plenty of big-time games.

We asked the premium subscribers of CUSportsNation.com this question: Who should start at Quarterback against Arizona State? 71.8% of Colorado fans feel that Liufau should get the call to start against the 5-1 Sundevils. So why isn’t Liufau seeing more time under center?

According to Coach Mike MacIntyre, he said last week that Liufau is not 100% healthy and though Liufau wants to get onto the field to lead the team his ankle sprain is not fully healed. IF Liufau does not get the start against ASU, Montez can get the job done.

He’s thrown for 73 of 116 this year for 940-yards and has a completion percentage of 62.9 percent with a 9/3 touchdown to interception ratio. USC got heat on him and the play calling seemed conservative against the Trojans, so it’s hard to put the blame on him in their first conference loss of the season. Liufau has played in 4 out 6 games for the Buffs this year and is 56 of 79 passing for 779-yards with a 6/0 touchdown to interception ratio.

2. Is Colorado really as good as we think? Though Colorado is likely to fall out of the Top 25 rankings today, this Colorado Football team is absolutely as good as the recent hype they have received. They have put away teams they have needed to put away by good margin and against team’s with a superior talent they have played very, very well.

Who would have thought they would have had No. 4 ranked Michigan on the ropes early on at the Big House, who would have thought the Buffs would beat Oregon in Autzen, and who would have guessed that Colorado would be 5 points away from beating USC at the LA Coliseum?

Kirk Herbstreit, a college football analyst for ESPN recently said that this Colorado Football Team is for real and he believes they have a shot to win the PAC 12 South. Many feel the same way and it’s not some media spin, these Buffs have proven they can play on the big stage against big time programs and hold their own. Our suggestion: Continue to believe in The Rise.

1. Colorado beats Arizona state: Is it too early in the week for predictions? Who knows, but what we do know is that Colorado is 6-0 against the spread this season. So if you’re beating on Colorado this year, enjoy the Steaks and Cold Beer. VegasInsider.com released their opening line Sunday for this weekend’s matchup between Colorado 4-2 and Arizona State 5-1, the Buffs are a -8 favorite.

While you cannot compare scores to compare teams, we’re going to do it anyways. USC beat Arizona state just two weeks ago 41-20 which is a 21 point margin, USC beat Colorado 21-17, which is a 4 point margin and the game was tied at 14 in the 4th quarter.

Talent wise, Colorado matches up very well against the Sundevils and though they have never beaten the Sundevils in school history (0-7) that is about to change for homecoming: Colorado 34, Arizona State 16

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