http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_13001862So, Dan Hawkins is thinking 10 wins this season. I don't see it. I pencil them in for maybe five, at best. What are your thoughts?
-- J.R., Boulder
J.R.: I'm somewhere between Dan and you. I need to see the quarterbacks, although Hawk may not say: "What do you think?" We usually talk about shoes or restaurants. I'm thinking seven, maybe eight at the outside, at best. They don't know who the QB will be, and I'm not sure they have a starting quarterback. Wide receiver Josh Smith leaving was a big-time loss, and they still have depth problems. I'm not wild about the wide receivers, or the defensive backfield.
Here's a clip-and-save prediction: Colorado will beat CSU; Toledo; Wyoming; lose at West Virginia and Texas; win against Kansas; lose at Kansas State (although this is a toss-up); beat Missouri, Texas A&M and Iowa State; and lose at Oklahoma State. After that, I think the Nebraska game makes or breaks the season. Beat Nebraska and you go to a good bowl. Lose to Nebraska, and the Buffs will be in the also-ran bowls.
We all know the Cornhuskers will be better, but not much better than the Buffaloes. Plus, the game is in Boulder. No way Colorado wins 10 (hello, Texas; and Okie State still has the best quarterback out of Colorado in a while in Zac Robinson from Chatfield). But the Buffs will win more than five. They will win four or five of their first six games.
Really Paige?