NCAAF Bold predictions for Colorado’s Week 9 matchup at UCLA
The Colorado Buffaloes can get one step closer to bowl eligibility with a win over Chip Kelly’s UCLA Bruins on Saturday. Getting that win will not be easy against the Bruins, who are currently ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll and have a 5-2 record on the season.
If head coach Deion Sanders wants to get another upset victory this weekend, Colorado will have to play a complete game in all three phases, something the Buffs haven’t done in quite some time.
As fans eagerly await the 5:30 p.m. MT kickoff between the Buffs and Bruins, here are five bold predictions for this Pac-12 matchup at the Rose Bowl:
Colorado will have a 100-yard rusher
As wild as it is to imagine, the Buffs have yet to produce a 100-yard rusher this season in a single game. I believe the bye week gave the coaching staff the ability to hit the reset button and they’ll begin to put a little more focus on the ground game moving forward.
The Buffs' defense holds Carson Steele to under 100 yards on the ground
Bruins running back Carson Steele has rushed for 100 or more yards in two out of his last three games. I believe the Buffs’ defense will sell out against the run and limit the damage Steele does on the ground.
Dylan Edwards scores multiple touchdowns
Dylan Edwards is one of the most versatile backs in the country. After the bye week, you could see Colorado really open the offense up and feature Edwards as both a runner and a pass catcher. A multiple-touchdown performance is not too much of a stretch for the talented freshman.
UCLA's Laiatu Latu records multiple sacks
UCLA’s defense features one of the top pass rushers in the country in Laiatu Latu, who already has 6.5 sacks on the season. With Colorado’s struggles in pass protection, I expect Latu to rack up multiple sacks on Saturday evening.
The Buffs upset the Bruins
I believe the bye week provided Coach Prime, the staff and the players just what they needed to make a strong push down the stretch. After a week off from the spotlight, I believe the Buffs will steal the show once again and upset the Bruins with a last-second field goal.
Further reading
READ: Five highly-ranked recruits Colorado is trending well with
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