Tons Riding On 2016 Rocky Mountain Showdown
Take out the obvious: Beat Colorado State. There is so much more riding on the 2016 Colorado Football opener which will take place Friday, September 2nd at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on ESPN.
It’s a rivalry game one and it’s a true prelude to just how far this team has come under Head Football Coach Mike MacIntyre who is entering his 4th year as Head Coach.
Last year the Buffs gutted out a thrilling OT win over Colorado State winning 27-24 to take back ownership rights of the Centennial Cup which the two teams battle for yearly. The last 5 meetings between the two teams has been neck and neck with Colorado winning the last three out of five match ups.
Worst Case Scenario, the Buffs Lose
In a worse case scenario with Colorado losing their opener in front of a national televised audience to Colorado State, the outcome would be: well horrific. The absolute worse case would be Colorado fires Mike MacIntyre following the game, a few high level recruits which the Buffs have landed de-commit, and a few potential un-committed prospects decide to no longer visit Boulder during the season.
Could this all really happen after just one loss? Yes. Here is why. Colorado is coming off a 4-9 season in 2015, is just 10-27 under MacIntyre through three seasons, has not been to a bowl game since 2007, and more importantly has not had a winning season since 2005 under Head Coach Gary Barnett.
Buffs Favored To Win By 10 Early On
The opening lines for the Colorado/Colorado State game favors the Buffs by 10 points. Wide margin for a series that has been very tight throughout the last 5 meetings. If we take the average score of both Colorado and Colorado State through the last 5 meetings this is the result: 26-24, Colorado having the edge by just two points.
Colorado Returns 17 Highly Experienced Players
Colorado returns 6 starters on offense, including Quarterback Sefo Liufau who was 15-28 passing with two touchdowns against Colorado State in 2015, returns their leading rusher from last season in Phillip Lindsay, returns sure handed tight end Sean Irwin, return quite a few veteran offensive linemen including center Alex Kelley, and though they graduate Receiver Nelson Spruce who is now listed on the Roster of the LA Rams, their 2016 receiver arsenal is locked and loaded.
The Buffs’ defense is getting two big boosts in the trenches with 6-foot-4, 285 pound Defensive End Samson Kafovalu being re-instated to the team just days before fall camp opened and also the return of 6-foot-3, 325 pound Josh Tupou at Defensive Tackle.
Throw in 6-foot-3, 295 pound Jordan Carrell and 6-foot-3, 275 pound Defensive End Leo Jackson, the Buffs should be a team built to stop anything up the middle.
The linebacking corps returns a few key starters as well with Derek McCartney, Addison Gillam, and Rick Gamboa. The Colorado Secondary is led by Chidobe Awuzie at the nickel position and safety Tedric Thompson, two of the best in the PAC 12.
So What Would A Win Over Colorado State Mean
Surprisingly little. Of course a win is a win, an opening season win is even better for morale, but Colorado has to reach a point under Macintyre to where they are the Flagship University of Colorado Football wise.
That has not been the case over the last few meetings as it’s been back and forth. Best case scenario is Colorado rolls in the opener, then rolls in week 2 against Idaho State, setting up a prime time match up against Michigan at the Big House on September 17th with a record of 2-0.
No matter the outcome against Michigan, the Buffs first two wins are pivotal in their search to get back to a Bowl Game. The Buffs should beat Oregon State at home and have a few other winnable home games on the schedule against: Arizona State, Washington State, and Utah. IF Colorado wins each of those games listed, they’ll be Bowl Bound period.
Tons more riding on week 1 than just a rivalry game. Career coaching movements and future Colorado recruits are all intertwined into the outcome of this first match up.
What The Premium Subscribers Are Saying
By @choran5
If we lose, probably HCMM's career. If we lose to CSU hard to see this team even getting to 5 wins. At 4 wins or less he is gone and I don't see anyone giving him a P5 HC job and probably not in a P5 DC job. Probably goes back to a DC in a lower level school.But we aren't going to lose! The momentum allows this team to dig deep and win 6 and go to a bowl, close a top 30 class with enough early contributors to shore up a depleted 2017 defense without enough P5 depth behind the DL.
By Buffs16
A lot. It would in all probability come back to bite us with a loss. I can't possibly see how we could lose this game, especially with CSU stud returning LB out for three months. These games are usually close and very hard hitting, but we should win by 10 or more this year. I don't think the Lammies will be much better than .500 at the very best this year, even with the weak Mountain West schedule.
By Rward
When it comes to CSU it will be hard to recover from a lose, but it can happen. CU has won 2 games against P5 schools under MacIntyre so they have to beat 3 this year for a bowl, but 4 with in loss in the OOC. The next week no matter the CSU outcome, losing to the D1AA and MacIntyre should be sent straight to car, then CU should send his stuff from his office to him. That is the lose this team does not recover from IMO, CSU they can. I am in the minority, but to me CSU is just a MWC conference school and those schools do beat P5 schools that are bowl teams. It is rare that D1AA schools do, so that game means more since it is the first and foremost must win.