Statistical Comparison - Colorado Buffaloes Vs Arizona Wildcats

Advantage	Conf	National	Actual	Category	Actual	National	Conf
	Rank	Rank				Rank	Rank
	12	114	94.4	Rushing Offense	94.67	112	10
	9	47	245.60	Passing Offense	370.11	4	1
	11	95	340	Total Offense	464.78	18	3
	12	112	18.6	Scoring Offense	29.33	51	7
	12	94	191.4	Rushing Defense	169.44	74	9
	12	115	158.41	Pass Efficiency Defense	153.11	112	11
	11	101	447.2	Total Defense	452.22	106	12
	12	117	38.7	Scoring Defense	34.78	106	11
	3	22	38.78	Net Punting	37.42	44	8
	9	102	4.6	Punt Returns	4.54	103	10
	11	108	18.77	Kickoff Returns	20.33	85	9
	10	82	-.3	Turnover Margin	-.56	96	11
	9	97	255.8	Pass Defense	282.78	112	11
	9	77	124.21	Passing Efficiency	146.8	27	5
	6	41	2.2	Sacks	.89	114	12
	6	83	5	Tackles For Loss	4.56	100	8
	11	108	2.9	Sacks Allowed	2	64	6

Well, this is it, Colorado's last opportunity for a home win in 2011. While losses to California and Washington State came down to the wire, this team is still in danger of becoming the first Buffs team ever to finish the year without a victory at Folsom. Arizona has undergone a very rough season of their own, firing head coach Mike Stoops after a disastrous loss at Oregon State. After a win over UCLA in the first game under interim head coach Tim Kish, the Wildcats have now dropped back to back games to Washington and Utah.

 Don't let Arizona's record fool you, this offense can hum, especially through the air (the nation's fourth best passing attack). Quarterback Nick Foles has the ability to pick apart the Colorado secondary piece by piece if he is allowed to stand in the pocket and make his reads. The Buffaloes pass rush is going to HAVE follow the example set last week by the Utes, don't let Foles get comfortable and pressure him from multiple locations. 

 Luckily for CU, the Wildcats run game is as bad as their passing game is good. Greg Brown, who knows this offense very well after coaching under Mike Stoops, should be able to dedicate his preparation time this planning to slow the passing attack and rely on his the players up front to shut down any rushing attempts that the Wildcats may deploy. Remember, this offense is very similar to Texas Tech, where the short passing game is basically the running game, and the Buffaloes defense will have to tackle well at the first contact. 

 What's that you say? There's a defense worse than Colorado's? You're damn right there is and Tyler Hansen and Rodney Stewart get to face them on Saturday. After a slate of defenses over the past few weeks that included USC, Stanford, Oregon and Ohio State with multiple injuries for CU on offense, Arizona should be much more willing to surrender plenty of yards. The question will be whether or not the Buffs can capitalize on those opportunities or if the red zone issues that played such a large part in the losses to Washington State and Cal will once again rear their heads. 

 Colorado should have an advantage in the special teams game as well as the Wildcats have suffered here all season. But Will Oliver and field goal unit had better iron out the issues that they have had lately, as a field goal attempt could mean the difference between winning and losing.