Colorado at Kansas (UNDER 42) - 10:30am Pacific

This figures to be a very low scoring game.  Offensively, Kansas is not going to scare anyone.  They enter the game ranked 104th in the country in total offense averaging 299.38 yards per game.  They will be without starting QB Adam Barmann due to a shoulder injury suffered last week.  His backup, Jason Swanson is decent but KU could only muster 208 yards and 7 points with him taking the majority of snaps last week at Iowa State.  Swanson does have more mobility and head coach Mangino says they will alter the offense slightly to play to his strengths.  That mean more runs, more rollouts, and more of a short gain ball control mentality.  Starting center Joe Vaughn, #2 RB Clark Green, and part time WR Charles Gordon are all listed as questionable at time of this writing which hurts their offense even more. 

 

Colorado comes in with very average offensive numbers.  They rank 83rd nationally in scoring offense and 73rd in total offense.  I cannot think of another major BCS conference school that is more depleted at receiver than the Buffs.  They entered the year without all of their top five receivers from last year and last week lost #2 receiver Dusty Sprague to a collarbone injury, probably for the season.  #3 WR Ron Monteilh missed last game with a shoulder injury and is listed as questionable this week.  Without Sprague available, Monteilh would see a lot of action if healthy.  There is no question that the lack of production at wide receiver is the biggest reason this offense has struggled.  These guys just do not create space, do not get open, and have very few yards after catch.  Colorado has averaged just 15ppg in Big 12 play and were completely shutdown vs Texas last week, with their only points coming on a defensive score.  RB Bobby Purify (probable, not 100% healthy) continues to be hampered by a shoulder injury.  Coaches say if this was not his senior year he would not be playing.  He is the lone playmaker on this offense, but as a power back he rarely goes for big yardage. 

 

The Kansas defense has been excellent all season.  They come in ranked 40th in scoring defense allowing just 20.5ppg.  That is despite playing a schedule that includes two top 10 scoring offenses in Texas Tech and Toledo as well as games at Oklahoma and at Northwestern.  They are especially aggressive when playing at home and I look for a strong effort from them this week as they play their first home game in a month.  Colorado has also played some pretty good offensive teams and while they have given up a lot of yardage they have been excellent in the red zone and that has translated to a respectable scoring defense at 23.8ppg.  I like the way they match up vs the KU offense.  One thing Colorado has on defense is speed and that will bode well for them this week.  They should have success in stopping KU's inexperienced QB.  This one stays under 40.

 

UNDER  42  1 UNIT