Ye olde notebook:
# Apparently the excitement built in Boulder.
According to a CU ticket representative, only 200 tickets remained as of Wednesday afternoon and a sellout is expected for the Buffaloes' game today with West Virginia. (Something that would have been reached at WVU, oh, two months ago.)
Colorado officials are doing all they can to generate electricity. The game has been dubbed a "Blackout," meaning all Buff fans are supposed to wear black shirts. The media there are giving the event nice coverage. ESPN announcers Chris Fowler (a CU grad), Craig James and Jesse Palmer will be in town.
But forget the window dressing for a moment. Let's get to the skinny.
Bottom line: The strength of Colorado's team is its wideouts.
Yes, quarterback Cody Hawkins, the coach's son, was a blue-chip recruit. He's fared very well since joining CU's team. A steady player. Doesn't make many mistakes.
But the real stars are flanker Josh "J-Fly'' Smith, who has been amazing returning kicks this season, split end Patrick Williams and, when the Buffs go to a three-wideout set, slot man Scott McKnight.
For the first time this season, the Mountaineers will face an opponent with a serious vertical passing game. That's a deep concern for West Virginia. Ask Nebraska, which last season was burned by big CU play after big CU play. Final: Colorado 65, Nebraska 51.
Also, WVU's struggling defense will have to tighten up against a team that uses play action - a lot. Can the Mountaineers do so? It should be interesting. West Virginia had a week and a half to work and improve after the meltdown at East Carolina. But Colorado is somewhat of a mystery. Tight end threat Riar Geer is back for the game and the Buffs may go back to last year's strategy of employing one back and two tight ends. So far, they've favored two backs and three wideouts.
Jeff Casteel and the rest of the Mountaineer defensive coaches have also had quite a task because CU is known for throwing in funky formations.
That said, watch for improvement along West Virginia's defensive front tonight in Boulder. If there's a CU weakness, it's the interior of the Buffs' young offensive line.
# Apparently the excitement built in Boulder.
According to a CU ticket representative, only 200 tickets remained as of Wednesday afternoon and a sellout is expected for the Buffaloes' game today with West Virginia. (Something that would have been reached at WVU, oh, two months ago.)
Colorado officials are doing all they can to generate electricity. The game has been dubbed a "Blackout," meaning all Buff fans are supposed to wear black shirts. The media there are giving the event nice coverage. ESPN announcers Chris Fowler (a CU grad), Craig James and Jesse Palmer will be in town.
But forget the window dressing for a moment. Let's get to the skinny.
Bottom line: The strength of Colorado's team is its wideouts.
Yes, quarterback Cody Hawkins, the coach's son, was a blue-chip recruit. He's fared very well since joining CU's team. A steady player. Doesn't make many mistakes.
But the real stars are flanker Josh "J-Fly'' Smith, who has been amazing returning kicks this season, split end Patrick Williams and, when the Buffs go to a three-wideout set, slot man Scott McKnight.
For the first time this season, the Mountaineers will face an opponent with a serious vertical passing game. That's a deep concern for West Virginia. Ask Nebraska, which last season was burned by big CU play after big CU play. Final: Colorado 65, Nebraska 51.
Also, WVU's struggling defense will have to tighten up against a team that uses play action - a lot. Can the Mountaineers do so? It should be interesting. West Virginia had a week and a half to work and improve after the meltdown at East Carolina. But Colorado is somewhat of a mystery. Tight end threat Riar Geer is back for the game and the Buffs may go back to last year's strategy of employing one back and two tight ends. So far, they've favored two backs and three wideouts.
Jeff Casteel and the rest of the Mountaineer defensive coaches have also had quite a task because CU is known for throwing in funky formations.
That said, watch for improvement along West Virginia's defensive front tonight in Boulder. If there's a CU weakness, it's the interior of the Buffs' young offensive line.
