Colorado vs. Arizona Prediction, Game Preview

Colorado vs. Arizona prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins Saturday night’s matchup between the Buffaloes and Wildcats.

When: Saturday, Nov. 12 – 10:00 p.m. ET
Where: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona
TV Broadcast: FS1

It’s been a pleasant surprise for Colorado fans this season. The Buffaloes (7-2) have fallen on the road at then-No. 4 Michigan and on the road at a revitalized USC, but Mike MacIntyre’s team has been on point outside of those two losses. Colorado is riding a three-game winning streak that began on Oct. 15 with a victory over Arizona State. A week later, it took down Stanford. And last Thursday, the Buffaloes beat UCLA at home, 20-10.

It’s been a completely different story for Arizona (2-7). Injuries have continuously built up for Rich Rodriguez’s Wildcats all season long, and they’re trying to break out of a six-game losing skid. Losses to Washington, UCLA, Utah, USC, Stanford and Washington State have Arizona desperate for a win. Last weekend, the Wildcats visited the Cougars and left Pullman with a 69-7 loss.

Arizona has taken the last four meetings from the Buffaloes, but it’s still Colorado who holds the advantage in the all-time series, 13-5. Last year, Rodriguez led his team to a 38-31 win in Boulder.

What To Know About Colorado

Sefo Liufau got a little banged up in the win over the Bruins, but he ended up completing 19-of-30 passes for 143 yards and two picks. Steven Montez did make an appearance and connected on 1-of-3 throws for 17 yards and an interception. It simply wasn’t a great day for Colorado through the air, and it still pulled out the win.

That was, in part, due to the effectiveness of the running game. Phillip Lindsay rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Liufau added 58 rushing yards of his own on 23 carries. Lindsay also caught 11 balls for 76 yards, which led the team.

What to Know About Arizona

As many injuries as the Wildcats have endured, they found themselves playing three quarterbacks last time out, and it did not go well. Anu Solomon hit on 9-of-13 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown, which went to Cam Denson. The Arizona wide receiver ended up with four catches for 77 yards. Khalil Tate finished 1-of-6 for eight yards and a pick. And then Brandon Dawkins completed 1-of-4 passes for -2 yards and an interception.

Samajie Grant ran the ball eight time for 77 yards, and Dawkins added 48 rushing yards on six carries. Zach Green tacked on 30 yards off of four carries, but the Wildcats simply couldn’t find their way into the end zone despite a 50-yard run from Grant and 20-plus runs from Dawkins and Green.

Advantages

Offense: Colorado – The Buffaloes are better in every way on offense, and their quarterback situation is much clearer.

Defense: Colorado – The Wildcats need to rely on the running game, and the Buffaloes are No. 17 in rushing defense, allowing 117.56 yards per game.

Special Teams: Arizona – Josh Pollack has sured up the Wildcats’ kicking game. He’s accounted for 44 points and hit 7-of-9 field goals with both misses coming outside of 50 yards. His longest made field goal this season was from 46 yards out.

Coaching: Colorado – MacIntyre has done an incredible job this season and gets the nod here.

Matchup To Watch

Arizona quarterbacks vs. Colorado defense

There’s a solid chance we see all three quarterbacks get playing time for Arizona yet again with this one. And if or when that happens, they have to be better. All three have to protect the football, but Dawkins needs to create with his legs, and the same goes for Tate. The Buffaloes will need to limit the damage done on the ground and force Arizona to launch the ball to try and flip the field.

Betting Odds

Spread: Colorado -15
Over/Under: No line as of publication