Colorado
Arizona State
Buffs At ASU: What You Need To Know
October 07, 2023 | Football, Neill Woelk
COLORADO BUFFALOES (3-2, 0-2)
at ARIZONA STATEÂ (1-4, 0-2)
 TEMPE, Ariz. — Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes need a win Saturday.
They need one to stop a two-game losing streak. They need one to get Coach Prime his first conference victory as CU's head coach.
But most of all, they need a win to get their mojo back as they hit the halfway mark of the season and take aim at the stretch run in Pac-12 play.
Not that the Buffs have been exactly struggling lately. In fact, they are coming off what might have been their best 30 minutes of football this year, last week's second half against USC when they scored three unanswered touchdowns before coming up just short, 48-41.
But coming close isn't a victory, and the Buffs need one of those Saturday against a team that is experiencing all kinds of troubles in its first year under head coach Kenny Dillingham.
Saturday's game is officially a sellout, meaning the Buffs will have played in front of a sold-out crowd in all six games this season.
Colorado enters the game as a slight favorite against an ASU squad that has struggled on both sides of the ball. Arizona State's offense — which has sported three different starting quarterbacks in five games — is averaging just 17.6 points per game this year. The defense has forced just one turnover while the offense has given it away 13 times.
But the Sun Devils are by no means bereft of talent. Running back Cam Skattebo has rushed for 318 yards and four touchdowns this year and the ASU defense has produced 29 tackles for loss, including 13 sacks.
The Buff, though, still have the nation's fifth-ranked pass offense (356 yards per game) and they are scoring an average of more than 34 points per game. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has completed nearly 75 percent of his passes for 1,781 yards, 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions and the Buffs have six different receivers with at least 14 catches, led by Xavier Weaver (41 for 490 yards).
But CU's defense has struggled at times. Colorado is giving up more than 480 yards and 36 points per game, both near the bottom of the nation.
Nuts and bolts for the contest:
KICKOFF: 4:30 p.m. (MT), Mountain America Stadium (53,599).
TV, RADIO: The game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network with Jordan Kent and Lincoln Kennedy. The radio broadcast will be carried by KOA (850 AM) with Voice of the Buffs Mark Johnson and Gary Barnett upstairs and Bob Pesavento on the sidelines. KOA's coverage begins at 2:30 p.m.
ON THE INTERNET: The game can be heard on the internet at CUBuffs.com. Live statistics will also be available at CUBuffs.com.
THE COACHES: Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders has a 3-2 record at Colorado in his first year as CU's head coach after three seasons at Jackson State, where he compiled a 27-6 record. Kenny Dillingham is 1-4 in his first year at ASU.
THE SERIES: Arizona State leads the all-time series 10-3, including a 6-1 mark in Tempe. ASU has a two-game win streak in the series.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: The Buffs need a win to end their two-game skid and break into the win column in the Pac-12 standings. The Sun Devils are simply desperate for a win after losing four in a row.
TEAM LEADERS: Colorado QB Sanders is in the top six in the nation in six passing categories, including passing yards per game (2nd, 356.2) and completions (2nd, 32 per game).
Along with Weaver's team-leading 41 catches, wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. has 34 catches for 327 yards and four scores while tight end Michael Harrison has 20 catches for 179 yards and four touchdowns.
On the ground, Anthony Hankerson leads CU with 201 yards on 40 carries, a healthy 5.0 average.Â
Defensively, safety Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig has a team-best three interceptions while linebacker Juwan Mitchell has been in on 31 tackles, with 2.5 for loss. Edge rusher Jordan Domineck has 6.5 tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks.
ASU quarterback Bourguet, expected to get the start against the Buffs, has completed 32 of 49 attempts for 391 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Skattebo has been the Sun Devils' most reliable rusher and he's also caught 14 passes for 228 yards.
Defensively, safety Chris Edmonds leads ASU with 40 tackles while defensive tackle has 6.5 tackles for loss and defensive end Prince Dorbah has 3.5 sacks.Â
KEY MATCHUP: Colorado's passing game vs. ASU pass defense. While the Buffs have a potent aerial attack, the Sun Devils have been solid against the pass, giving up just 213 yards per game (third in the Pac-12). While they have yet to collect an interception this year, they have managed to get good pressure on opposing quarterbacks. It will be up to CU's offensive line to give Sanders enough time to throw and Colorado's receivers a chance to find open lanes.Â
UP NEXT:Â The Buffs return home next week for a Friday night game against Stanford, set to kick off at 8 p.m. at Folsom Field (ESPN).
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