12/28/2016 football Edit

The 3-2-1: Colorado vs. Oklahoma State in the Valero Alamo Bowl

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We continue our Valero Alamo Bowl Coverage with our 3-2-1 Feature, where we provide three things we've learned, ask two questions, and provide one prediction. Scroll down to read the entire feature.

Bowl Game Videos: Tuesday Report | Defensive Press Conference | Pep Rally

Recruiting Videos: Grant Polley talks CU | Xavier Newman Talks CU

1. Joe Tumpkin takes over the Colorado Defense

Following the departure of former Colorado Defensive Coordinator Jim Leavitt who left for Oregon, Joe Tumpkin will take over the defensive play-calling duties for the Buffs during Thursday Night’s Alamo Bowl Game against Oklahoma State. Tumpkin joined the Buffs in 2015 after spending five seasons as the Defensive Coordinator at Central Michigan.

"The week has gone really well, I think our kids have been focused the entire time as a football team, we came down here have just really been honing in on what Oklahoma State is doing and just kind of getting our fundamentals and prep back and getting things oiled back up since it's been a little bit since we've played,” Said Tumpkin on Tuesday of this week during Colorado’s Defensive Press Conference.

Currently, Colorado has the No. 17th ranked defense in the Country holding teams to just 328.3 yards per game, their red-zone defense is ranked No. 12 in the Country allowing just 31 red-zone scores in 42 attempts. Tumpkin has a veteran defense, but preparing for Oklahoma State’s offense will present challenges as the Cowboy’s potent offense is averaging 38.6 points per game and averaging 492.3-yards per game this season. Mason Rudolph (Okla. State QB) runs it (the offense), I mean they go on how he goes, he's the guy that makes the engine go, he puts them in the right place, he makes very good decisions in there, he's very well coached. I think what he does, he sees it, makes his decisions and puts those guys in a very good position. He doesn't make very mistakes, you don't see many mental mistakes come out of him, he doesn't make bad decisions."

2. Awards continue to pile for Head Colorado Football Coach Mike MacIntyre

On December 15th, Colorado Head Football Coach Mike MacIntyre was named the National AP College Football Coach of the Year. MacIntyre who has the Buffs Bowling for the first time since 2007 has racked up a ton of post-season honors this year and rightfully so.

He’s been named the PAC 12 Conference Coach of the Year, Walter Camp Coach of the Year, Home Deport Coach of the Year, CBS Coach of the Year, the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, and is a finalist for the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award.

The Bobby Dodd Award was won by MacIntyre’s father George MacIntyre in 1982 leading Vanderbilt to a 8-4 season. MacIntyre’s Colorado Buffaloes were a combined 2-25 since 2013 against PAC 12 opponents entering this season, this year, Colorado was 8-1 and PAC 12 South Champs earning a trip to Washington in the PAC 12 Championship Game.

3. Recruiting continues to heat up for Buffs

***Don't Miss: Recruiting: Falo narrows recruitment down to five schools***

As of December 28th, 2016, Colorado Football has 25 commitments from the Class of 2017. The Buffs gained three junior college prospects between December 1st and December 15th. The biggest land figuratively and literally was landing 6-foot-2, 330 pound Defensive Tackle Javier Edwards out of Blinn, Texas.

The 3-Star now Buff signee was originally a Florida Commitment but recommitted after visiting Boulder in November. Colorado also signed Goodman, Mississippi Defensive Back Dante Wigley a 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect with three years of eligibility left.

Wigley is a corner that likely can make a push to start the 2017 season. On December 15th, 2016, Colorado signed Chris Mulumba a 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive lineman out of Pleasant Hill, California who is originally from the Country of Finland. As mentioned, Colorado has 25 commitments and currently three actual signees. Our staff is projecting as many as 9 early enrollees and that number will be finalized once those prospects literally enroll in classes in Boulder in January.

Two Questions Going Into The Valero Alamo Bowl

1. Is Colorado’s Defensive Secondary Still Hot In December?

Entering the Valero Alamo Bowl Thursday Night, the Buffs pass defense is ranked No. 13 in the Country allowing just 182.5-yards per game. Colorado held PAC 12 Offensive Player of the Year Jake Browning of Washington to just 118-yards in the PAC 12 Championship Game. Colorado Senior Safety Tedric Thompson has 7 interceptions and 18 pass breakups.

Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon has 22 pass breakups, and NFL Draft Prospect Chidobe Awuzie has 60 tackles, 4 sacks, and 13 pass breakups at the corner and nickel position. Oklahoma State Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown for 3,777-yards and 25 touchdowns this season, his average per game is 314.7.

The Buffs’ secondary has proven time and time again that they have one of the best secondary units in the Nation, but it was their run-defense that was pounded in their recent loss against Washington. The Huskies ran the football an incredible 54 times for 265-yards and two touchdowns, the Huskies’ run game was really the difference along with offensive turnovers in Washington’s 31 point win over Colorado.

2. What would a Bowl Win Mean For Colorado Football?

The Buffs’ last Bowl Game victory was in 2004 beating UTEP 33-28 in the Houston Bowl. So winning a Bowl Game for Colorado for the first time in 11 seasons would be not only a capstone to this season but a near perfect ending to the season only those on the team believed was possible. Colorado winning 11 games in a season?

Most had them projected as finishing dead last in the conference. While MacIntyre’s name continues to be highlighted on post-season awards, it’s been a program effort all the way around. MacIntyre put together a very strong staff, coached up the players on the roster, and winning this Bowl Game would only further place Colorado on track to being a yearly staple in the College Football fabric as they once were. Finishing 11-3 this season and being ranked within the Top 10 simply would be, one of the great College Football Stories of the Season.

One Prediction

1. Colorado shines on National TV

The last time Colorado played on National TV it was ugly, morbid, and not a clear depiction of the Buffs' we've watched all season long in their 41-10 loss to Washington. The Buffs were then dealt a big blow losing Defensive Coordinator Jim Leavitt to Oregon, but have had several weeks to regain focus and finish what they started in front of a National Audience.

Their 7 PM Thursday Night kickoff in the Alamo Dome against No. 13 Oklahoma State is the only game in the Country taking place that night, all eyes will be on the Valero Alamo Bowl, a usual thrilling Bowl Game that featured 88 points last season as No. 11 TCU defeated No. 15 Oregon 47-41 in 3 overtimes.

The year before, No. 14 UCLA defeated No. 11 Kansas State 40-35. The Buffs are a -2 favorite over the Cowboys and the over/under according to VegasInsider.com is over 64 total points. Our staff is predicting a thrilling game with Colorado's Quarterback Sefo Liufau redeeming is PAC 12 Championship Game performance and the Defense forging a late game turnover or two to beat the Oklahoma State Cowboys 35-31.