Optimistic fans at Arizona and Colorado are looking at their remaining schedules and trying to find enough wins to become bowl eligible.
It’s safe to suggest that Arizona (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) counts Colorado as a potential win while the Buffaloes (3-5, 1-4) are doing the same with the Wildcats as they prepare for Saturday’s showdown in Boulder, Colo.
Arizona, which comes off a bye week, wants to snap a two-game skid. Colorado spent last Saturday suffering a 53-7 loss at Utah.
Home field could be a big advantage for the Buffaloes. They’re 3-2 at home with the only setbacks near-upsets of Georgia Tech (27-20 loss in the season opener) and BYU (24-21 defeat on Sept. 27).
Meanwhile, Arizona has lost its only two road games this season against Iowa State and Houston.
“When I look at Colorado, I think they are a team that is incredibly tough at home,” said Arizona coach Brent Brennan, who is 1-6 on the road in his two seasons with the Wildcats. “We know going into this that we’re going to have to play in an incredible atmosphere. It’s homecoming. It’s sold-out.
“It’s going to be a really challenging atmosphere. Crowd noise, elevation, all that good stuff.”
Another concern for Brennan is the Wildcats’ rush defense, which yielded 490 yards on the ground in its losses the last two games — 258 to BYU and 232 at Houston.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders said Tuesday that he had yet to return to his home after the loss at Utah because of the amount of work needed in all phases after the blowout loss.
“Last week was a tremendous surprise because of the great practices we had,” he said. “These young men have responded tremendously, and I’m proud of them. I’m trying to push every button I can.”
Arizona’s hopes rest on quarterback Noah Fifita, who hit 24 of 26 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns on Oct. 18 at Houston. Fifita has completed 65.9% of his passes for 1,829 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions in seven games this season.
“The kid, to me, is a pro,” Sanders said. “He can play.”
Fifita gets a chance to burnish his reputation against a Colorado unit that ranks No. 119 in team defense in FBS, yielding 427.6 yards a game.
