We at Go Joe Bruin asked Andrew Hughes at Glory Colorado five questions about Colorado leading up to the game this weekend between the Bruins and Buffaloes.
1. Going into the game against UCLA, are Colorado fans after the football team’s most recent losses still excited about the direction of the program moving forward?
“Colorado fans aren’t seeing the sky as falling by any means, with most preseason expectations of how 2023 would go having already been passed. With that said, there’s pessimism that the Buffs will make a bowl game with their remaining schedule — with the prospect of going winless the rest of the way on the table given Arizona’s own surprising season and every other opponent having been a top-25 fixture for the majority of the season.” -Andrew Hughes, Site Expert for Glory Colorado
2. What could Colorado do to pull off the upset on the road against UCLA?
“Colorado will need to be the team that they were in the second half against USC and the first half against Stanford. The variances in CU’s performances in recent weeks have made it hard to truly expect anything, but if they can be the big-play merchants they are capable of at their best, winning an over’s paradise type affair is the likeliest path to an upset.” -Hughes
3. What should Colorado’s plan on offense be to score against an improved Bruin defense?
“Because of the OL’s deficiencies, the best plan of attack against an increasingly stout UCLA defense is to chip away with screen passes to the team’s playmakers (Xavier Weaver, Jimmy Horn Jr.) — while hopefully mixing in a bit of their own improved running back room in recent weeks — to set up the big play. Colorado will need more than a handful to have a chance at the upset.” -Hughes
4. Who are Colorado’s best defensive players and why?
“The best defenders on the team from a talent perspective, Travis Hunter and Cormani McClain have dealt with varying issues that have kept them off the field. Because of that, FSU transfer Omarion Cooper has been the most consistent corner, while Juwan Mitchell is perhaps the best interior defender; though his absence against Stanford and Coach Prime’s cryptic comments as to why may indicate more missed games in the immediate future.”
5. What is your prediction for the game?
“Colorado isn’t winning this game, but they’ll keep it far closer than the three-score spread differential indicates this will go — give me 31-21 Bruins. Colorado will have moments, but not enough to have UCLA fans sweating this one out.” -Hughes
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