The Colorado Buffaloes won four games last season, but two of them were from the lower-division Football Championship Subdivision. The Buffaloes won only two games against Football Bowl Subdivision teams, and they won only one game in the Pac-12 Conference. There’s still so much for this team to improve on, and it has to be able to show that it can be a lot more consistent against top-caliber opponents. Winning two games against lower-division teams makes it a lot easier to treat the 2013 season as something in which this team didn’t grow all that much, even though a number of its statistical showings were better than in the past.
Strengths
The Buffaloes did improve last season. Their numbers on pass offense, scoring, third-down conversions, and their pass efficiency defense all went up. Colorado’s success with the passing game and against pass defenses was helped by its dismantling of California, a team that really likes to pass the ball. The Buffaloes did show that against equal or slightly inferior teams, they could take charge and be less of the doormat they were in previous seasons before new coach Mike MacIntyre came to Boulder from San Jose State. This is a team that began to find a little bit of backbone along with more of a vision of what it could achieve on offense. Instead of getting blown off the field right away in every game, the Buffaloes were able to play deep into the second quarter or early into the third on some occasions, and that can give this team hope for the future.
Weaknesses
The Buffaloes just don’t have much to work with. There’s nothing on the roster that screams of a quick resurgence in the conference. The cupboard was left so bare by the team’s previous head coach, Jon Embree. The Buffaloes don’t have dynamic, first-level talents in any position. They are in a process of recovery, trying to build back what they’ve lost. The program that was a Big 12 contender under former coach Gary Barnett roughly a decade ago is a distant memory. MacIntyre is essentially beginning a long-term journey that is only beginning to get back to where Barnett had the program. That process might be seen in tiny glimpses this season, but it’s probably not going to feel like progress in the short term. It’s not until 2015, and maybe not 2016, when this program can say that it is in a position to be very optimistic. When weaknesses dominate the roster, that’s how a coaching staff has to go about its business.
Schedule
The Buffaloes just aren’t very good, so most games will feel daunting. That’s life. Colorado State should beat Colorado in the opener. A road game at Massachusetts should provide a win, and the same is true for a home game against Hawaii. The Pac-12, though, will be rough. Home games against Cal and Utah are the only decent win prospects.
Outlook
The Buffaloes might max out and win four games, but that’s their ceiling. If the over-under was 3.5 wins, maybe the over would be in play. Not with the number at four. The under is clearly the better play at this number.
Pick: Under 4 at -105
