Players for the University of Colorado Boulder’s football team protect the ball during the game against TCU on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (Io Hartman/CU Independent)
The University of Colorado opens its 2023 season this Saturday in Dallas, Texas, against the 17th-ranked Texas Christian University Horned Frogs. The Buffaloes will look to rewrite their fortunes this upcoming season after having an abysmal 1-11 record just a year prior.
After hiring Deion Sanders and a very talented new coaching staff, CU Boulder hopes to make some noise in a star-studded Pac-12 conference this upcoming season.
TCU is just a few months removed from an appearance in the National Championship game against Georgia and is coming into this season hoping to repeat that same success. On the other hand, Colorado comes into this affair with a new-look team, including 87 new players on the whole roster.
Sanders and his seasoned staff did a great job rejuvenating Colorado’s talent pool, going all over the country and getting transfers and commitments from elite young players. Those include Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter Jr., Cormani McClain, Shilo Sanders, Myles Slusher, Jimmy Horn, Xavier Weaver and many other big-name college football talents.
The game itself will be intriguing as many college football analysts and fans are unsure of what to think of this unconventional Colorado roster.
Vegas believes TCU will make easy work of this Buffs team as the current spread is set at -20.5, where TCU is expected to win by at least 20.5 points. This is a large number when it comes to college football spreads, but Colorado hopes to prove the doubters wrong and keep this game close — maybe even win it outright.
Temperatures in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday morning look to be in the 100’s, which has some Buffs fans concerned, but Coach Prime and junior safety Trevor Woods downplayed the heat.
“We’re used to those 100-degree summer workouts with pads. A lot of guys are from the south, so I don’t think that will be an issue for us,” Woods said.
Head coach Deion Sanders walks out with CU Boulder legend, Peggy Coppom, for the first kickoff of the 2023 Black and Gold Spring Football game. April 22, 2023. (Kara Wagenknecht/CU Independent)
Colorado will have to play 60 minutes of perfect football if they intend to upset TCU on Saturday morning. They must start fast and give junior transfer quarterback Shedeur Sanders time in the pocket so he can get the ball to playmakers in the open field. The Buffs will also look to force turnovers on the defensive side of the ball with their new-look defense. Stopping the run and getting an interception or two would do wonders for Colorado’s upset hopes against a well-balanced TCU team.
Colorado will likely keep TCU on their toes throughout this matchup and cover the 20.5-point spread, but ultimately lose by a field goal or two. This Buffs roster is simply too talented to lose by over 20 in their season opener. Mistakes will be made, but Colorado will surprise people Saturday morning in Dallas.
“Heat is heat. I don’t think we’ll be okay; I know we’ll be okay,” Sanders said. “These kids are ready, not just physically but mentally.”
Contact Sports Editor Griffin Dreifaldt at griffin.dreifaldt@colorado.edu.
