After opening at 16.5 yesterday, the line for Colorado's visit to Ohio State has now fallen to Colorado +14.5 according to the Wynn Hotel. The Buffaloes take on the Buckeyes in Columbus at 1:30 MT, in a game that is being televised by ABC and mirrored on ESPN2 for some parts of the country.
Colorado will be back on the road for the second time this season after getting their first win against the Colorado St. Rams 28-14. The Buffs started slowly, but a re-energized rushing attack in the second half helped them to defeat their in-state rivals. Senior running back Rodney Stewart finished with 98 yards rushing on 19 carries and 93 yards receiving with seven receptions. Much of the conversation leading up to this Saturday's game (at least on the CU end of things) will most likely center around Speedy, who is from Westerville, Ohio.
The Buckeyes lost their first game of the season in week three, falling to the Hurricanes in Miami, 24-6. The OSU offense was anemic through the air, with quarterbacks Joe Bauserman and Braxton Miller completing only four passes for 35 yards. The Buckeye running game had more success with 174 yards on 37 carries. Miami running back Lamar Miller gashed the OSU defense for 184 yards on 26 carries.
Much of the conversation leading up to this game will center around OSU hoping to rebound from the loss in Miami and the continued absence of suspended players Mike Adams, Boom Herron and DeVier Posey, but there are going to be some very interesting match-ups to break down leading up to kick-off. The Buffaloes will have to overcome their 18 game road losing streak by avoiding the slow starts and numerous mistakes that have plagued them away from Boulder, but this OSU team is not the juggernaut of years past and could be vulnerable. If the CU running attack can continue the success found in the second half against CSU the game may be close enough to cause some Buckeyes fans to sweat.
Much more to come this week...