CU Buffs Keys to Victory: Rocky Mountain Showdown

BOULDER – The Colorado Buffaloes’ first matchup of the season kicks off Friday night at Mile High against Colorado State. The rivalry game will provide a first look at the overhauled Buffs defense and Steven Montez as the head of an otherwise veteran offense. With so many questions for CU yet to be answered, these are the essential matchups to watch throughout the game:

Michael Gallup vs. Isaiah Oliver and the CU secondary

The Rams’ most dangerous offensive weapon is probably veteran wide receiver Michael Gallup. The CSU wideout racked up 134 yards on 11 receptions against Oregon State last week, following up an impressive junior campaign with a solid senior debut. That makes corralling Gallup’s explosive impact priority number one for the Buffs, a task that will likely fall to junior cornerback Isaiah Oliver.

CU had plenty of turnover in their secondary this offseason, but returning veterans Oliver, Ryan Moeller and Afolabi Laguda lead their defensive backs. The Buffs do have some younger talent in the defensive backfield, including Trey Udoffia and Evan Worthington, who will likely be tested by Stevens at some point. As the most talented corner on the roster and a top cover man in all of college football, Oliver should be the one shadowing Gallup. If he can find a way to contain or even limit Gallup’s impact, the Buffs should have a good shot at outplaying the Rams offensively.

Nick Stevens and the Rams run game vs. CU’s front seven

The Buffs lost several starters on their defensive line, but they return playmakers like Derek McCartney—who missed last season with an ACL injury—Rick Gamboa, Leo Jackson and Drew Lewis, as well as adding junior college transfer Javier Edwards. Finding a way to stifle the run and keep pressure on CSU quarterback Nick Stevens will be a deciding factor in this one.

Last year, CU nearly shutout CSU, with a 44-7 final score, largely because they kept Stevens under pressure. The Rams quarterback completed only six of 20 attempted passes for 31 yards and two interceptions in 2016. If the Buffs can replicate that pressure, and potentially force a few mistakes out of Stevens in the process, they should have no trouble outscoring the Rams.

The ‘Black Out Boyz’ vs. CSU’s secondary

This matchup is one of the easiest to judge. Even with talented defensive backs like Kevin Nutt in the Rams secondary, they won’t be able to contain the dominant Buffs receiving corps. Seniors Shay Fields, Devin Ross and Bryce Bobo, along with Jay MacIntyre, Juwann Winfree, Kabion Ento and others have set themselves apart as one of the country’s top receiving groups.

Fields and Bobo are quick and dangerous on the outside, while Ross is a versatile playmaker in the slot. MacIntyre is incredibly reliable in short-yardage situations, and Winfree and Ento have yet to show what they are really capable of. With that many options on the field for quarterback Montez, the Rams have little hope of stifling this offense. A successful showing by the Black Out Boyz will ensure that CU outscores CSU on Friday.

Phil Lindsay vs. everyone

Last season, the Buffs struggled when they failed to get the run game going. Veteran running back Lindsay is returning for his senior season, and has proven himself to be a  near-unstoppable weapon on the ground. But one of Lindsay’s greatest assets is his incredible versatility, and his ability to contribute to every phase of the offensive attack. In addition to rushing, Lindsay is a big contributor as a blocker and brings an additional threat to the receiving game as well.

It really is Lindsay versus all of the Rams’ defense. He will face off against the defensive line as a blocker and a runner, and with the secondary as a receiving option. Lindsay’s multi-dimensional skill set helps to open up the Buffs’ offensive attack, so ‘feeding Phil’ should be a top priority for CU.

One more thing to watch:

Steven Montez at the helm

This is the first season where Montez enters as the undisputed starter. Though he did start a handful of games last season and play in relief of Sefo Liufau in others, this is the first game where it truly is his team.

Montez has all of the tools to be successful as the leader. He can lean on Lindsay, as well as his versatile receiving corps. He also has a largely veteran offensive line to protect him and give him time. Montez’s performance will be an enormous part of the Rocky Mountain Showdown’s outcome, but the weapons at his disposal should give him the ability to pick apart the CSU defense.

The biggest questions for the Buffs lie on the defensive side of the ball. A largely veteran offensive unit should put up plenty of points for CU, but the defense will have to prove that they can contain the Rams. CSU has certainly looked more formidable recently than they did early last season, but the Buffs are still the more complete team. If Friday turns into a shootout, expect CU to come out on top.

Prediction: Colorado 35, Colorado State 24