Cincinnati and Colorado to meet as they flourish in 2nd year with their coaches

Cincinnati (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) at Colorado (5-2, 3-1), Saturday, 10:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Colorado by 5½.

Series record: Colorado leads 1-0.

At 3-1 in conference play, Cincinnati and Colorado need a win to stay in a tightly bunched Big 12 title chase as everyone tries to catch undefeated BYU and Iowa State. Both the Bearcats and the Buffaloes are back on track after struggling last year in their first seasons with a new coach. The Bearcats finished 3-9 in 2023 with Scott Satterfield in charge, while Colorado was 4-8 in Deion Sanders’ inaugural season in Boulder. These two squads both feature standout quarterbacks, with Shedeur Sanders (161.56) and Brendan Sorsby (152.08) ranking 1-2 in the conference in passer rating. The Bearcats are visiting Folsom Field for the first time since 1972, a 56-14 Colorado win.

A Colorado offensive line anchored by freshman left tackle Jordan Seaton will have a tall order keeping Shedeur Sanders secure against a strong Bearcats pass rush. Cincinnati ranks third in the league with 17 sacks. Linebacker Jared Bartlett leads the way with 4 1/2 and defensive end Eric Phillips has four. Same case with Cincy’s O-line as it faces Colorado’s excellent pass rushers. The Buffaloes have 16 sacks over the last three games.

Cincinnati: Joe Royer leads all Big 12 tight ends with 32 catches and 387 yards. Travis Kelce holds the single-season school mark for receptions by a tight end with 45 in 2012.

Colorado: Two-way star Travis Hunter only played on a limited basis last weekend to rest a sore shoulder, unusual for someone who rarely leaves the field. On offense, he leads the team with 51 catches for 604 yards. On defense, he has two interceptions and a forced fumble. "He's feeling much better than last week," Deion Sanders said. "You could just tell with his giddy-up and the way he goes about life, a little more pep in his step."

Cincinnati would be bowl-eligible for a sixth time in seven seasons with a victory against Colorado. … Colorado can become bowl-eligible, too, with a victory. … Like Colorado, the Bearcats used the transfer portal to fill gaps in a hurry. Among the players Cincinnati brought in are Sorsby (Indiana), Royer (Ohio State), linebackers Bartlett (West Virginia) and Jake Golday (Central Arkansas) and safety Derrick Canteen (Virginia Tech). … The Bearcats have converted 7 of 8 fourth-down attempts this year. … Cincinnati’s two losses - 28-27 to Pittsburgh and 44-41 at Texas Tech - have been by a combined four points.

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