Three questions ahead of Colorado's game against Utah

BOULDER – Four down, one to go.

The Buffs’ fate will be decided on Saturday, in two Pac-12 games; Colorado vs. Utah and USC vs. UCLA. Colorado needs a win and a USC loss to qualify for the Pac-12 Championship Game next Friday. There are other paths to an appearance, but you’re betting on two more Pac-12 cancellations or Washington not recovering from a COVID outbreak fast enough to play in the game.

Colorado will take on Utah at 10 a.m. Saturday–the earliest kickoff in the history of Folsom Field–in Fox’s Big Noon timeslot. The game was originally scheduled to be played Friday night, but when Michigan and Ohio State had to cancel, Colorado and Utah were chosen to take their place.

Here’s what we’re wondering about the undefeated Colorado Buffaloes’ next game.

Will Sam Noyer bounce back?

Sam Noyer has been an above average quarterback for Colorado this season. That wasn’t always the case though.

Through two weeks, Noyer looked like one of the three best quarterbacks in the Pac-12. He was out-running, out-passing and out-winning just about everybody in the conference.

But in his last two appearances, Noyer has thrown for 240 yards total–less than he put up in either of his first two outings–and he’s thrown three of his four interceptions and one of his four touchdowns.

Utah is a tougher opponent than either of Colorado’s last two, so the Buffs may not be able to withstand another subpar outing from their signal caller. Getting him going with some easy completions could be important in this one.

Can the Buffs beat up Bentley?

Some Buffs fans were disappointed when South Carolina grad transfer Jake Bentley chose Utah. Bentley was seen as one of the best grad transfers on the market and Colorado desperately needed options in its quarterback room.

This season, Bentley has been… alright at best.

He’s averaging 163 yards per game passing, plus just over 30 more on the ground. He has three total touchdowns and only one interception. His completion percentage is third out of 11 qualified Pac-12 quarterbacks.

But Bentley has a weakness that the Buffs should be able to exploit; of all the Pac-12 quarterbacks, nobody holds the ball as long as Bentley does.

Meanwhile, Colorado is one of the best defenses at generating pressure.

And Bentley is ninth out of 11 quarterbacks in passer rating when pressured, per Pro Football Focus.

If the Buffs can get in Bentley’s face, they stand a good chance of winning the game.

Who wins in the trenches?

If Colorado can run the ball, it will.

That’s what happened last week against Arizona, and that’s what happened the week before against San Diego State.

Whether Colorado can bully the Utes up front is the question. Utah will provide more of a challenge than any other opponent the Buffs have faced.

The Utes lost nine of 11 defensive starters over the offseason, but they’re surprisingly stout in the front seven, given the circumstances. Devin Lloyd and Nephi Sewell have been good at linebacker, while Mika Tafua and Maxs Tupai have beaten up on opposing linemen.

Utah is fairly slow up front, so stretch runs and jet sweeps could exploit the edges of Utah’s defense.

Jarek Broussard has been the key to everything Colorado has done offesnively, and the Buffs’ offensive line hasn’t been tested much this season. As long as Colorado can creating running lanes, Colorado should be able to put up points.

There’s no guaruntee that will be the case though.