The Colorado football team will have its hands full with an old rival this weekend.

Saturday night will mark the 73rd all-time meeting between the Buffs and Utah for the Rumble in the Rockies. It’s been a relatively close series (Utes lead 36-33-3) but Utah has dominated it of late, winning 12 of the last 15 matchups dating back to 2011.

Colorado’s season was effectively ended during a 53-7 loss to the Utes last season and the Buffs didn’t win another game of the rest of the year. This current Utah team under new head coach Morgan Scalley is even better, and Coach Prime knows it.

“It’s going to be a daunting task,” Deion Sanders said of Utah on Tuesday. “They score points offensively so their defense can pin their ears back and go at you. They’re really a darn good football team.

“Probably the best team we’re going to face this season.”

Coming out of the bye week, Coach Prime and the Buffs (2-3) are sticking with Isaac Wilson (Utah transfer) as their starting QB against his former team. Meanwhile, a two-QB system has the Utes (5-0) looking like a College Football Playoff contender.

Here are three keys and a prediction for the Colorado football team’s home game vs. No. 11 Utah, which kicks off at 8:15 p.m. MT.

Win turnover battle

Giveaways are the biggest reason why the Colorado football team couldn’t complete an upset of No. 12 Texas Tech.

Clinging to a 7-3 lead, the Buffs threw INTs (two by Isaac Wilson) on three straight drives in the third quarter which fueled the Red Raiders’ comeback. Nineteen of Texas Tech’s 29 points were a direct result of Colorado turnovers.

The Buffs have the most giveaways (11) and the worst turnover differential (-6) in the Big 12 so far this season. Wilson threw three INTs in his first start for the Colorado football team and he has 14 INTs in just eight career starts.

Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion can’t allow Wilson to throw 40-plus times like he did vs. Texas Tech, especially against the Utes’ elite defense (Big 12’s No. 1 scoring defense). The Buffs must be balanced and take care of the football to prevent Utah from stealing extra possessions.

On the other side, the Colorado football team must force Utah into a turnover or two in order to pull off the unlikely upset. That’ll be easier said than done, though, since the Utes have just four giveaways so far this season (third-best in Big 12).

Convert on 3rd down

Football games are often won and lost on third down.

Offensively, can you convert and keep the drive alive? Defensively, can you get a stop and give your offense the ball back? Those questions will help determine the outcome.

Utah has the best third-down defense in the Big 12 so far this season, allowing opponents to convert just 29.6% of the time (No. 1 in Big 12). The Utes’ third-down offense isn’t far behind, converting 55% of the time (No. 4 in Big 12).

Third down has been one of the Colorado football team’s biggest struggles this season (No. 11 third-down offense in Big 12). Over the last two weeks, the Buffs have converted just nine of their 31 attempts (29%) on third down.

Situational football has hurt Colorado during its three-game losing streak, particularly on third down and in the red zone. Those areas have to get cleaned up for the Buffs to pick up their first conference win in over a year.

Keep defensive momentum alive

You might not be able to tell by looking at the standings, but the Colorado football team is playing good defense as of late.

Since giving up 41 points to Northwestern in Week 3, the Buffs have allowed just four total TDs in their last two games (vs. Baylor, vs. No. 12 Texas Tech). Colorado also leads the Big 12 in tackles for loss (44) and ranks No. 4 nationally in that category so far this season.

Defensive starters such as DE Lamont Lester Jr. and CB Jason Stokes Jr. missed the Texas Tech game but are expected back on Saturday night vs. Utah. Those two will be needed to slow down the Big 12’s No. 1 scoring offense (42.8 points per game).

The Utes play two QBs (Devon Dampier, Byrd Ficklin) and both of them are elite athletes who can do damage as a passer or a runner. Wayshawn Parker is averaging 7.6 yards per carry and his 190 receiving yards lead all Big 12 RBs.

This is the toughest test the Colorado football team has faced yet.

“They do some things that create problems,” Deion Sanders said of Utah on Tuesday. “We feel like we’re up to the challenge. These guys are prepared. I like the guys that I have in the locker room.”

Colorado football vs Utah prediction

There might not be another team like Utah or another coach like Morgan Scalley who knows Isaac Wilson better.

The Colorado football team’s starting QB spent two years with the Utes and Scalley saw plenty of Wilson during practices (plus 10 games) in that time. That’s not ideal for the Buffs who would have their hands full no matter who was under center for them.

Utah has the look and feel of a playoff team, meanwhile, Colorado would be fortunate to end up bowl eligible at this point. The Buffs’ defense should keep them in it early, but the team’s inability to finish games makes them difficult to trust, even at home.

Utah wins 31-13.

Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.