BOULDER — If Colorado could have played Massachusetts on Tuesday, freshman defensive end Derek McCartney would have been happy.
“Honestly, we’re just excited to play again,” he said. “We want to get going and really show that we really can play.”
This would be the optimum time.
Despite a 31-17 loss in their season opener to Colorado State, and despite the fact CU is going on the road Saturday at Massachusetts, the Buffs are 17-point favorites. The Minutemen, who dropped their season opener to Boston College, are the type of inferior opponent the Buffs feasted on a year ago.
UMass was 1-11 a season ago.
Don’t put the game in the win column just yet, though, said CU quarterback Sefo Liufau.
“That means nothing,” Liufau said. “In our eyes, they’re a good team. We watched the film on them when they played Boston College, and they’re a good team. They made plays. We have to come out prepared for anything.”
Liufau’s coach, Mike MacIntyre, agreed, and said his team would not be overconfident.
“Our kids are hungry to go win,” MacIntyre said. “There’s no doubt about it. If we would have won last week, then it might be something that I’d be more worried about to be honest with you. But, I see hungriness. I see an ability to go want to win the football game for sure. … And (also) just to go play. You know, you only get so many games, and we take every game as a season in itself. I don’t see any sign of us overlooking anybody. We can’t overlook anybody by any stretch of the imagination.”
If the Buffs are going to get the minimum six victories to qualify for a bowl game, this is a must-win game in a season where the contests get real tough real fast, beginning with CU’s home opener Sept. 13 against Arizona State.
Winning Saturday is about getting back to the basics, wide receiver Nelson Spruce said.
“As an offense, it’s really up to us getting back to executing and doing what we do well,” Spruce said. “It’s going to help us to get out to UMass and forget what happened last Friday and get back on the right track.”
Part of getting back on the right track means shoring up the offensive line, which put an up-and-down performance on film against CSU. Some of the run-game struggles can be traced back to missed assignments; Liufau took some big hits late against the Rams, who put tons of pressure on the sophomore in the second half.
“Obviously after the (first) game, everyone was upset and frustrated,” Liufau said. “But the guys responded well in practice this week. Everyone has been up and ready to go get another game going. We’re just ready to go out there and play again.”
Christopher Dempsey: cdempsey@denverpost.com or
When the buffs run
Getting increased efficiency is the name of the game for CU, and that manifests itself in two areas: yards per carry and goal-line effectiveness. Neither were checked off as positives in the Buffaloes’ 31-17, season-opening loss to Colorado State in Denver. The Buffs likely will use multiple ball carriers against UMass. Michael Adkins II was the only CU player with double-digit carries in the opener, totaling 16. Edge: Colorado
When the minutemen run
It will be a run-by-committee approach, but the Minutemen believe they have a future star in freshman J.T. Blyden. He led UMass in its season opener against Boston College with nine carries for 43 yards, averaging 4.8 per rush. Jamal Wilson and Lorenzo Woodley also will get carries against CU if UMass isn’t forced to throw the ball to get back into the game, as was the case a week ago when running backs had a total of only 17 carries. Edge: Even
When the buffs pass
CU sophomore quarterback Sefo Liufau might have some things to clean up, but he didn’t play a bad game against CSU, going 24-of-39 passing for 241 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He will try to get the ball to his top receiver (Nelson Spruce) and an emerging playmaker (Shay Fields). CU spreads the ball around, preferring to get it to speed players in space. Edge: Colorado
When the minutemen pass
One of the few highlights of UMass’ 30-7 loss to Boston College was a 77-yard touchdown catch by junior wide receiver Tajae Sharpe. He finished with only two catches (for 90 yards), so expect UMass to make a concerted effort to get the 6-foot-4, 200-pound playmaker the ball more. Sharpe was one of the top wideouts in the MAC last year. Edge: Colorado
Special teams
CU senior punter Darragh O’Neill averaged 42.2 yards per kick against CSU. The Fairview product placed four of his six punts inside the Rams’ 20-yard line and had none returned. O’Neill will try to keep the ball away from dangerous UMass returner Trey Dudley-Giles. Edge: Even
Chris Dempsey, The Denver Post
