Who Has The Edge: Colorado taking on 4th Ranked Michigan

Head Coach

Mike MacIntyre is now in his 4th year as the Head Coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. Since taking over the Buffs in 2013, MacIntyre has a career win/loss record of 12-27 and 2-25 record against PAC 12 opponents. Previous to Colorado, MacIntyre was the Head Coach at San Jose State from 2010-12 where he went 16-21.

Jim Harbaugh is in his second year as Head Coach at Michigan. He lead the Wolverines to a 10-3 season in 2015 defeating Florida 41-7 in the Citrus Bowl. Previous to being the Head Coach at Michigan Harbaugh was the Head Coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-2014.

Michigan

Offensive Coordinator

Colorado has two offensive coordinators: Brian Lindgren who has been on staff for 4-years along with MacIntyre and first year Co-Offensive Coordinator Darrin Chiaverini. Lindgren calls the plays, Chiaverini helped install the up-tempo look over the summer.

Tim Drevno is in his second season with Michigan, his previous stop was at USC where he was the Trojans' run game coordinator. Last year Michigan ranked in the top 25 in five offensive categories, their red-zone percentage in 2015 was 93%.

Draw

Defensive Cordinator

Jim Leavitt is in his second season with the Buffs as their Defensive Coordinator after spending four years coaching the linebackers for the San Francisco 49ers. Leavitt has made an instant impact on the defense, the Buffs' defense currently ranks 7th in the nation in least amount of yards allowed.

In his first year at Michigan Don Brown serves as the Wolverines' Defensive Coordinator following a three year stint as the DC at Boston College. Currently Michigan's Defense ranks 30th in the Nation in total yards allowed with 563 in two games. Michigan has allowed just 2 touchdowns in 2 games.

Colorado

Quarterback

Senior Quarterback Sefo Liufau has passing rating of 179.90 having completed 38 of 51 attempts for 522-yards and 3 touchdowns. Liufau has also rushed for 120-yards this season which is second on the team. He was named PAC 12 Offensive Player after throwing for 318-yards and one touchdown against CSU.

Wilton Speight was just named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after finishing the game 25-37 passing for 312-yards and 4 touchdowns. At 6-foot-6, 243 pounds, he's obviously built well and this week Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said he throws the post route as well as anyone. Big compliment.

Draw

Running Backs

The Buffs have rushed for 540-yards and scored 8 rushing touchdowns this season, their leading rusher is 5-8, 190 pound Junior Phillip Lindsay carried the football 27 times for 125-yards and 4 touchdowns. Kyle Evans a 5-6, 175 pound walk on sophomore has rushed for 97-yards of 23 carries. 5-9, 180 pound Donovan Lee has rushed for 88-yards.

The Wolverines as a team have rushed for 425-yards and scored 6 rushing touchdowns. Though he does not lead the team in rushing, De'Veon Smith at 5-11, 228 pounds is their guy in the backfield and he's rushed for 71-yards. 5-11, 200 pound Freshmen Chris Evans leads the team in rushing with 17 attempts for 147-yards and 2 touchdowns.

Michigan

Fullbacks

Tight Ends

Maybe Colorado is saving guys like 6-2, 260 pound Fullback/Tight End George Frazier and 6-5, 245 pound Sean Irwin at Tight End for this weekend. So far neither has touched the football this season. In fact Colorado has thrown just twice to their TE's. 6-2, 225 pound Chris Hill caught a TD last weekend against Idaho State.

6-6, 250 pound Jake Butt is one of the best Tight Ends in the nation and Michigan gets him the football. Butt has 8 receptions for 105-yards and 3 tds. At Fullback 6-2, 263 pound Khalid Hill has 3 rushing tds and Michigan also uses 6-4, 257 pound Henry Poggie inside the red-zone. The Wolverines are built for short yardage situations.

Michigan

Receivers

The Buffs' receiving corps have been on-point thus far, their top three targets hauling in 387-yards and 2 touchdowns. 5-11, 180 pound Shay Fields leads the team with 157-yards, his longest is 60-yards. 5-9, 180 pound Devin Ross has 11 receptions for 124-yards, and 6-2, 190 pound Bryce Bobo has caught for 106-yards off 7 receptions.

The top two targets for Michigan are Amara Darboh who is 6-2, 215 pounds. Darboh is a big play guy hauling in 8 receptions for 153-yards and 3 tds. 6-foot-3, 200 pound Jehu Chesson has also emerged as a reliable target with 7 receptions for 127-yards.

Michigan

Offensive Line

The Buffs start just one senior up front which is 6-2, 305 pound Alex Kelley at center. At left tackle is 6-5, 295 pound Jeromy Irwin who has had the best OL stats thus far and at the right tackle position is 6-6, 295 pound Sam Kronshage. At left guard is Gerrad Kough who is 6-4, 295 pounds and at right guard is RS Freshmen Tim Lynott at 6-3, 300 pounds. CU's starting OL averages 298 pounds.

The Wolverines start 3 seniors up front and likely CU will not see a bigger line all year. At left tackle is Grant Newsome who is 6-7, 315, left guard is 6-6, 335 pound Ben Braden. The size continues with Mason Cole at center who is 6-5, 305 pounds, right guard is Kyle Kalis who is 6-5, 305 pounds, and right tackle is Erik Magnuson at 6-6, 305 pounds. Starting OL averages 313 pounds.

Michigan

Defensive Line

Colorado is no slouch in the trenches on defense and will start three veteran players. Jordan Carrell at 6-3, 300 pounds can straight up make plays, Josh Tupou (6 tackles) at 6-foot-3, 325 pounds is massive and will help clog the middle, and Samson Kafovalu is a 6-4, 295 pound defensive end with 4 tackles.

Their defensive line is excellent as you would imagine. Their front 4 consist of Chris Wormley at 6-4, 303, Freshmen Rashan Gary at 6-5, 287 pounds, Ryan Glasgow at 6-4, 300 pounds, and Chase Winovich at 6-3, 245 pounds. Wormley is a stud, even blocked a punt last week.

Michigan

Linebackers

The Buffs return all their starters from last year at linebacker. 6-3, 250 pound Derek McCartney (2 tackles), 6-1, 220 pound Kenneth Olugbode (9 tackles), 6-0, 230 pound Rick Gamboa (7 tackles), and 6-5, 230 pound Jimmie Gilbert with 6 tackles. Also watch for Addison Gillam as well as Drew Lewis to contribute.

Michigan's most electrifying player is Sophomore Jabrill Peppers who is a 6-1, 208 pound LB/DB. He leads the team in tackles with 13. 6-4, 240 pound Mike McCray has 15 tackles and has looked excellent through two games, Ben Cedeon at 6-3, 248 pounds has 10 tackles.

Michigan

Defensive Backs

We've said it many times, Colorado's secondary is amongst the best in the Nation (only allowed 130 yards passing in two games). Headlined by 6-0, 205 pound Chidobe Awuzie (10 tackles) and either 6-1, 190 pound Isaiah Oliver or 6-3, 195 pound Ahkello Witherspoon at the corner positions. 6-0, 205 pound Tedric Thompson (6 tackles) is the best safety you've never heard of and Afolabi Laguda at 6-1, 205 pounds hits like a truck.

The Wolverines' secondary has two very good corners in Channing Stribling at 6-2, 181 pounds who has 4 tackles on the year and Tyree Kinnel at 5-11, 206 pounds who has 5 tackles. Their safeties are hard hitters, Dymonte Thomas at Free is 6-2, 195 pounds with 7 tackles on the year and Delano Hill is a 6-0, 212 pound Strong Safety that has 4 tackles and 1 interception. It's a hard hitting unit no question.

Colorado

Special Teams

Colorado Kicker Diego Gonzalez has been money this year hitting 3 of 3 field goals, has not missed an extra point, and has 13 touchbacks. Punter Alex Kinney has an average of 42.83 yards per punt, Jay MacIntyre returns punts, and though they've been just kicked to twice, Phillip Lindsay has one kickoff return for 26-yards.

Michigan Kicker Kenny Allen is 100% with his field goal percentage also hitting 3 of 3 and 10 for 10 in extra points. Allen is also the team's punter and has an average of 45.7 and also kickoffs, having 8 touchbacks. Jabrill Peppers is a dangerous punt returner and last week Michigan blocked two punts and a Field goal.

Michigan

Total

Offensive Yards

1,175-yards (587.5)

959-yards (479.5)

Colorado

Passing Yards

653-yards (326.5)

534-yards (267.0)

Colorado

Rushing Yards

522-yards (261.0)

425-yards (212.5)

Colorado

Defensive Yards Allowed

321-yards (160.5)

563-yards (281.5)

Colorado

Defensive Rushing Yards Allowed

221-yards (110.5)

356-yards (178.0)

Colorado

Defensive Passing Yards Allowed

130-yards (65.0)

207-yards (103.5)

Colorado

Turnovers/

Takeaways

3/5

1/4

Michigan

3rd Down

Conversion

23-37 (62.16%)

15/25 (60%)

Colorado

Week 1 Margin of Victory

W - Colorado 44-7 (37)

W - Hawaii 3 (60)

Michigan

Week 2

Margin of Victory

W - Idaho State 56-7 (49)

W - Central Florida 51-14 (37)

Colorado

Overall

Look at the returning starters or at the stats, either way you want to breakdown this 2016 Colorado Football team they are very much improved and up for this gigantic challenge against Michigan. Colorado's best hopes is to keep this game at an up-tempo pace and to avoid being grinded out by Michigan's size.

Michigan is one of the largest size wise teams in College Football on both sides of the football, on offense they are built to bulldoze anyone, have a very underrated QB, great TE, and a massive OL. On defense they are filled with playmakers are get a ton of hats to the football. In our eyes, they are No. 1 in the country.

Michigan

No. of 4 or 5 star recruits

2

9

Michigan

National Recruiting Ranking

28

13

Michigan