No. 12 Texas Tech (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) at Colorado (2-2, 0-1)
When/where: 5:30 p.m. Saturday/Folsom Field
TV/Radio: FOX/850 AM, 94.1 FM
CU +13, 50.5 over/under
57 degrees, partly cloudy
CU leads 6-5; Buffs won 41-27 in last meeting in Lubbock in 2024
Three storylines
CU’s QB situation. Reports indicated coach Deion Sanders would bench Julian Lewis on Saturday , who took over under center in the Buffs’ 23-13 loss at Baylor last week, but Sanders pushed back. Coach Prime was coy in his weekly presser about his decision. Either way, CU needs more of the spark Lewis has provided so far. Beyond the final drive against Georgia Tech and beating up on an outmatched Weber State, Lewis hasn’t lived up to the hype. This could be Wilson’s job to lose now.
Turnover battle. Both offenses have been mistake-prone, even as the Raiders boast an undefeated record. CU practically gave the game away a couple of weeks ago against Northwestern, with two first-half fumbles and an interception. The Red Raiders haven’t been pillars of ball security, either. has thrown more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (four). Both teams have a -2 turnover margin, which ranks 97th nationally. Whoever takes care of the rock — or, alternatively, comes up with takeaways — will win.
Red Raiders’ run game. Texas Tech has a two-headed monster in the backfield in J’Koby Williams (averaging 6.2 yards per carry) and Cameron Dickey (4.3). Meanwhile, the Buffs defense will be without one of its pillars in Tyler Martinez, who may be Martinez has worn the green dot on his helmet as the defense’s on-field communicator. The CU defensive line needs a big game to slow the Texas Tech run, and linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron needs to fill Martinez’s playmaking void.
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: Texas Tech 31, CU 21
If you thought the dramatic comeback win at Georgia Tech in the season opener was an auspicious omen, you couldn’t have been more wrong. Let’s check in on those Yellow Jackets: Now 1-3, they stink. Considering CU’s other win came against an FCS team, that 2-0 start is looking more and more like fool’s gold. The Red Raiders underscore that conclusion on Saturday, as Texas Tech wins up front, wins the turnover battle and the CU special teams have more blunders in a game that’s never close.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Texas Tech 26, CU 20
If there’s a path to glory, however slim, it’s via takeaways. Red Raiders quarterback Will Hammond can be careless with the football, throwing three interceptions against Sam Houston last weekend and posting five picks in four games. Meanwhile, Deion Sanders’ Buffs have posted a +6 turnover ratio, combined, over their last eight home tilts. The home crowd at Folsom Field will be CU’s 12th Man. Unfortunately for Coach Prime, unless Isaac Wilson has the game of his young life, or Sanders borrows Dave Toub to run his special teams on Saturday, they’ll need a 14th or 15th Man to pull off the upset.
Troy Renck, sports columnist: Texas Tech 31, CU 19
CU is losing and for the same tired reasons that many teams fail: coaching drama and uncertainty at quarterback. With relatives of Julian Lewis chirping at coach Deion Sanders on social media, the Buffs are prepared to give quarterback Isaac Wilson his first start. He profiles better for the No-Go, sorry Go-Go offense because of his physicality and ability to run. Receiver Joseph Williams should stress Tech’s defense on the outside. However, the only way CU pulls off the upset is by turning over quarterback Will Hammond three times. That is unlikely as Tech leaves CU in a vapor trail in the fourth quarter.
Nate Peterson, sports editor: Texas Tech 31, CU 17
Just feels like this is where the dam could break for Coach Prime and CU. Is there really any other way of looking at a top-15 opponent coming to Boulder to face a backup QB and a team that can’t get out of its own way with penalties, turnovers and special-teams blunders? Maybe Isaac Wilson and the Buffs play inspired football for the homecoming crowd at Folsom Field, but this has all the makings of a blowout that only further accelerates Colorado’s downward spiral.
