Colorado Buffaloes Vs Washington Huskies - Keys To The Game

1-5, 0-0 NR (AP) NR (Coaches Poll)

October 15th, 2011 Who: Colorado Buffaloes vs. Washington Huskies Where: Huskies Stadium - Seattle, WA 1:30pm MT TV: Root Sports Radio: AM 850 KOA Live Stats: ESPN Line: Washington -16 Weather: Partly Cloudy, 59 degrees at kickoff

4-1, 0-0 NR (AP) NR (Coaches Poll)

Another Pac-12 game, another road game where the Buffs have lost 20 consecutive contests away from Boulder. The odds are once again against the Buffs who take on a Washington team with some talented offensive players in one of the more difficult places to play.

Need Someone to Step Up at Receiver

Washington comes into the game with a young secondary that is ranked 117th in the country giving up 323 yards a game through the air. Bad news is the Buffs best receiver, WR Paul Richardson, is out again with a knee injury. Behind Richardson, no one has emerged as a solid second option for QB Tyler Hansen and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. If a guy like WR Toney Clemons or TE Ryan Deehan could get some consistency going with Hansen, the Buffs might be able to score some points today.

Pressure Price

Washington QB Keith Price has exceeded UW fan's expectations this year by a long shot. He is the seventh most efficient passer in the country and has a whopping 18 touchdown passes. The Buffs rank 16th in the country with sacks per game with just over 2.8. Washington ranks 80th in sacks allowed. The opportunity is there for the Buffs to get some three and outs on defense. Rattling Price and containing RB Chris Polk is a must today.

Limit the Big Play

The last few weeks, big plays have killed the Buffs. Whether it was Washington State WR Marquess Wilson scoring late from 68 yards to beat CU at home or an early blocked field goal by Stanford returned for a touchdown that gave the Cardinal a 7-0 lead, Colorado has given up too many big plays this year. On the road, Colorado needs to make Washington drive 10 plays for scores and can't give up the big game changing turnover or special teams mishap. 

Mental Mistakes Must Be Non Existent

The Buffs have struggled mightily with penalties and special teams play. Any sort of run on penalties or poor special teams play, Washington scores 30+ and this game is over quickly.