CU Buffs vs. Texas A&M football: 4 things to know, key matchups and predictions

3 years ago 331

No. 5 Texas A&M (1-0) vs. Colorado (1-0); 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Empower Field astatine Mile High

TV/Radio: KDVR-31/850 AM, 94.1 FM

Line: Texas A&M -17, 50.5 over/under

Weather: 91 degrees, mostly cloudy

What to know

Starting slow. CU and Texas A&M scored blowout wins implicit Northern Colorado (35-7) and Kent State (41-10), respectively, successful Week 1, but some stumbled retired of the gates. In the Buffs’ case, the people was conscionable 14-0 astatine half, with 3 of their archetypal 5 drives three-and-outs. As for the Aggies, they were up conscionable 10-3 astatine the interruption acknowledgment to a brace of Haynes King interceptions. A speedy commencement could spell a agelong mode for either team.

Aggies’ ceramic wall. CU whitethorn not look a much talented antiaircraft beforehand each play than what it volition brushwood Saturday. Defensive tackle DeMarvin Leal is the sixth-rated imaginable connected Mel Kiper’s 2022 Big Board and anchors a defence that was No. 2 successful the federation against the tally successful 2020. With 12 of A&M’s apical 15 tacklers from that portion back, Jarek Broussard and Co. volition person to gain each inch of Mile High turf.

SEC speed. The Buffs’ young secondary was mostly up to the task against UNC past week, with lone upperclassman Mekhi Blackmon coming up with an extremity portion interception and the Bears averaging conscionable 5.6 yards per pass. But CU’s sum portion volition person to beryllium adjacent amended against A&M’s walk catchers — a radical that includes aboriginal NFL choky extremity Jalen Wydermyer and do-everything receiver Ainias Smith.

Penalty problems. One of the reasons for the Buffs’ stop-and-start show successful their play opener: 12 penalties for 118 yards. Repeat that against A&M, which had emblem issues of its ain successful Week 1 (6-70), and it volition beryllium a agelong day successful Denver.

Key matchups

A&M RBs vs. Buffs defense. The Aggies person NFL endowment up beforehand (LT Kenyon Green is simply a sure-fire first-round pick) and 2 backs who tin instrumentality vantage of it successful inferior Isaiah Spiller and sophomore Devon Achane. Both ran for implicit 100 yards against Kent State successful Week 1, and their operation of thunder (Spiller) and lightning (Achane) volition trial a Buffs defence that allowed conscionable 20 yards connected 18 carries past week. NT Jalen Sami and CU’s talented linebacker corps request a repetition performance.

Freshman vs. Freshman. Which freshman QB volition emergence to the juncture successful their archetypal commencement against Power 5 competition? Brendon Lewis showed flashes against UNC, but wasn’t asked to bash excessively overmuch (10 of 15, 102 yards) successful CU’s vanilla crippled plan. That volition alteration against an A&M defence definite to unit respective third-and-long situations. Meanwhile, Haynes King threw for 292 yards past week but was besides intercepted 3 times. If CU tin get A&M disconnected schedule, King is conscionable greenish capable to marque mistakes.