The Colorado Buffaloes have hit another bye week and with four games remaining on their regular season schedule, it’s time to look into our crystal ball and give some predictions.
Colorado enters its second bye at 6-2 (4-1 Big 12) and is a Big 12 title contender, sitting in a tie for third place in the conference standings. The Buffs must cheer for some teams ahead of them to stumble if they want to play in the conference championship game, however.
Statistically, the Buffs are seventh in the Big 12 at 31.4 points scored per game. On the defensive side of the ball, CU has allowed an average of 22 points per game, good for sixth in the conference.
Here are five predictions for the remainder of Colorado football’s 2024 season:
Shedeur Sanders will continue setting the standard for future CU quarterbacks
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders had a great first year in Boulder, setting single-season program records for passing yards (3,230), completion percentage (69.3%) and passer rating (151.7). However, he is poised to shatter those marks and possibly others in 2024. After eight games, Sanders has thrown for 2,591 yards and 21 touchdowns while completing 73.3% of his passes for a quarterback rating of 165.
These numbers put him on pace for about 3,886 yards and 31 touchdowns after 12 games with a bowl game and potentially a Big 12 Championship Game appearance to come.
A running back will produce a 100-yard game
It has been 22 games since a Colorado running back enjoyed a 100-yard performance (Alex Fontenot rushed for 108 yards against the USC Trojans during the 2022 season). The Buffs have cycled through rushers over the past few seasons but may have found a lead back in Arkansas transfer Isaiah Augustave.
Augustave nearly broke that long stretch when he rushed for 91 yards against the Cincinnati Bearcats. CU will face three defenses ranked 11th or lower in the conference in rush defense over the last four games, so Augustave or one of his teammates will have a great chance of ending the drought.
Colorado’s defense will lead the Big 12 in sacks
From the start of the season, I’ve been praising the Buffs’ additions on the defensive front, and that has translated into a squad that currently leads the Big 12 with 22 sacks. Colorado’s pass rush is relentless, as the team can roll out multiple players who can get after the quarterback. I expect to see the sacks continue to pile up and CU to be the standard-bearer in the conference.
Colorado will land multiple blue-chip prospects during the early signing period
Roster building never ends in college football, and head coach Deion Sanders is in the hunt for multiple big-name prospects as we approach early signing day. The signing period for 2024 will start on Dec. 4, three days before the Big 12 Championship Game.
The Buffs will win out
I see the Buffs ending their regular season at 10-2. There’s always a chance that one of their remaining opponents could surprise, but if the Buffs play as they have over the last six games, reaching 10 wins is possible.
This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Five predictions for the remainder of Colorado’s 2024 season
