Sept. 23rd – No. 7 Washington – I’m Keeping My Towel

Colorado looked to avenge a 41-10 loss to Washington in the 2016 Pac-12 championship game. Instead, it was a repeat, with the Buffs falling 37-10.

The previous December, the Buffs were down only 14-10 at halftime against the Huskies, but turnovers doomed the Buffs in the second half. In the 2017 Pac-12 conference opener, the Buffs were down only 10-7 at halftime, but turnovers doomed the Buffs in the second half. A pick six thrown by CU quarterback Steven Montez late in the third quarter turned a 17-10 game into a rout.

For the game, Montez completed 21-of-27 passes for 171 yards, but also had three interceptions. His counterpart for the Huskies, Jake Browning, was not much more effective, completing 11-of-21 for 160 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. The difference on the stats sheet came on the ground. Myles Gaskin went for 202 yards on 27 carries, including a 57-yard score to add insult to injury late. CU’s leading rusher, Phillip Lindsay, had 68 yards on 19 carries, posting the Buffs’ lone score.

“This is the best team in the North (division) that we’ll play and they’re a really good football team that’s really well coached”, said CU head coach Mike MacIntyre. “They beat us tonight. We’ve got some things to work on and improve on just like every game. When something happens, they make you pay for it. That’s what good teams do. We do that too. We’ll do that a couple times this year too.”

In preparing for CU’s rematch with Washington, I made myself go back and take a look at the 2016 Pac-12 championship game.

The perception we have been left with for nine months was that the Buffs were humiliated, with the 41-10 final reflecting the Huskies’ domination.

The reality is that the score was 14-7 at halftime, but a pick six in the third quarter helped turned the game into a rout.

The perception of Washington’s 37-10 victory over Colorado to open 2017 Pac-12 conference play will be that the Huskies proved themselves to be College Football Playoff contenders, while exposing the Buffs as a mediocre team which had a fluke of a good season in 2016 (one which will not be repeated in 2017).

The reality is that the score was 17-10 late in the third quarter, but a pick six helped to turn the game into a rout.

6th-year senior OT Jeromy Irwin: Buffs have “unfinished business” v. Washington … Neill Woelk’s Five Keys to the Washington game

CU has won eight straight at home … Washington has won seven straight over CU … Buffs/Huskies stats even

Your “T.I.P.S.” for CU v. Washington … Can the Buffs surprise the Huskies with a “complete game”? …

Fornelli Top 50 – Buffs drop out of Top 20 … CU poll rankings – AP: 27th; USA Today: 28th; ESPN: 22nd