CU Buffs vs. UNC Bears football: 4 things to know, key matchups and predictions

3 years ago 309

Northern Colorado astatine Colorado; 7 p.m. Friday, Folsom Field

TV/Radio: Pac-12 Network/850 AM, 94.1 FM (CU); 1310 AM, 102.3 FM (UNC)

Line: CU -38.5, 55.5 over/under

Weather: 32% accidental of thunderstorms, 74 degrees

What to know

Mystery Bears. There whitethorn beryllium nary bigger achromatic container successful assemblage shot than the UNC Bears, who not lone person a caller caput manager successful erstwhile Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey, but besides 65 players suiting up successful bluish and golden for the archetypal time. The Bears haven’t played a crippled successful 650 days aft opting retired of the outpouring season. McCaffrey hasn’t coached a crippled since his Valor Christian Eagles mislaid successful the Class 5A authorities semifinals 2 years ago. Suffice it to say, the Bears are an enigma.

Easily transfer-able. The transportation portal turned into a free-for-all this offseason, with seniors fixed an further twelvemonth of eligibility and each athletes granted the quality to transportation and play close away. Coach McCaffrey took afloat advantage, bringing 17 transfers to Greeley from the FBS ranks. That, of course, includes his lad Dylan (Michigan) astatine quarterback. The Buffs weren’t shy either, taking successful 3 players from assemblage shot bluish bloods Ohio State (LT Max Wray), Oklahoma (LB Robert Barnes) and Notre Dame (LB Jack Lamb), among 4 others.

Quarterback shuffle. For the 2nd twelvemonth successful a row, the Buffs unfastened the play without a azygous backmost connected the roster with collegiate starting experience. While Brendon Lewis did spot immoderate enactment — and occurrence — vs. Texas successful the Alamo Bowl, this volition people his archetypal commencement astatine CU. Sitting down him connected the extent illustration are existent freshmen Drew Carter (Portland, Ore.) and Jordan Woolverton (Durango).

No gimmes. Outside of possibly Stanford, which plays thing but Power 5 programs, determination mightiness not beryllium a much challenging docket successful the state than the 1 CU undertakes this fall. With Texas A&M up adjacent astatine Empower Field, and Minnesota visiting Folsom Field a week later, this marks the lone clip the Buffs volition beryllium dense favorites this season. That makes Friday nighttime a must-win if CU wants to spell bowling for the 2nd twelvemonth successful a row.

Key matchups

CU corners vs. UNC receivers. Going disconnected endowment and production, the UNC passing crippled could beryllium special. QB Dylan McCaffrey was a four-star enlistee retired of Valor, and helium has 3 FBS-level transfers lining up astatine receiver: Dylan Thomas (TCU), Kassidy Woods (Washington State) and Jonah Morris (Akron). Throw successful sophomore Jaren Mitchell (48 receptions-740 yards successful 2019), and CU’s young CB corps (junior Mekhi Blackmon is lone upperclassman) is successful for a challenge.

Dorrell vs. McCaffrey. As unfamiliar arsenic these 2 teams mightiness be, there’s plentifulness of familiarity betwixt the caput coaches, arsenic CU’s Karl Dorrell was erstwhile Ed McCaffrey’s presumption manager with the Broncos from 2000 to ’03. But portion McCaffrey really had immoderate assemblage crippled movie to review, Dorrell and Co. were reduced to dissecting Valor portion successful an effort to glean what McCaffrey’s Bears mightiness look similar travel Friday night.