Colorado (4-6, 1-6) at Washington State (4-6, 1-6)

When/where: 8:30 p.m. Friday/Martin Stadium

TV/Radio: FS1/850 AM, 94.1 FM

BetMGM Line: WSU -4.5, 64.5 over/under

Weather: Partly cloudly skies with low of 32 degrees, slight wind.

Five storylines

Buffs’ game management: After last week’s loss at the buzzer, Deion Sanders didn’t take kindly to questions about the Buffs’ game management this season. But the Buffs coaching staff has struggled with clock management, whether it be at the end of halftime (see: a key TD in the Oregon State loss) or the waning moments of the fourth quarter (see: narrow defeats to Stanford and Arizona). It’s proof there’s a learning curve for Sanders, who’s only in his fourth year as a college coach.

Finding a balance: CU’s lack of a run game is killing them. CU had 70 net rushing yards on 30 attempts in last week’s loss to Arizona, an average of 2.6 yards per carry, while the Wildcats ripped off 207 rushing yards on 27 attempts (7.7 yards per carry). That lack of a run game negated a positive for the O-line, which matched a season low with three sacks allowed. CU is dead last in FBS with 699 total rushing yards, 2.33 yards per carry and 69.9 yards per game — which has made the Buffs one-dimensional all season.

Containing Cam Ward: The Cougs QB was sacked six times in last week’s loss to Cal, but still managed to throw for 354 yards and three TDs, plus ran for another score. CU needs to study the film from Wazzu’s romp of CSU in Fort Collins earlier in the season, when Ward helped fuel a blowout with 451 yards passing and four total TDs. WSU goes as their QB goes, and Ward has shown he can hang with the big boys of FBS this year after starring for two seasons at FCS Incarnate Word.

Bowl eligibility tracker: It’s crunch time for the Buffs if they want to make their first bowl since the condensed 2020 season, and first bowl game in a normal season since 2016 (both appearances were losses in the Alamo Bowl). Coach Prime has said all along that he “doesn’t care” about a bowl game, but that it’s hard to believe. The CU fan base sure cares.

Series History: The Buffs have lost three straight games to the Cougs, including a 41-10 beatdown in Pullman in their last matchup in 2019. CU is 6-7 overall against Wazzu dating back to their first meeting in Boulder in 1981, a 14-10 win by the Cougars.

Predictions

Kyle Newman, sportswriter: CU 31, Wazzu 28

A breakthrough! The Buffs snap their slide with another promising performance by the offense, as Shedeur Sanders runs for a TD and throws for three more to defeat the reeling Cougars, who have lost six straight games coming in. Travis Hunter assures their seventh L in a row up on the Palouse with his momentum-shifting interception in the second half. This time, CU finishes.

Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Wazzu 48, CU 42 (3 OT)

Two mirror images of one another go dueling into the wee hours of the morning, just as the Good Lord and the people at Fox intended. CU storms to a nice lead on the road but coughs it up late, Stanford-style, and Coach Prime vows to never schedule the Cougs ever again. Or visit Pullman.

Matt Schubert, sports editor: CU 35, Wazzu 34

The Cougars have been the anti-CU with their consistency and competence (seven bowl games since 2015), but this Washington State squad has looked broken since the start of October. Is that enough for the Buffs to go into the Palouse and sneak out with a win? Yes … just barely.

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