Colorado Buffaloes vs. Arizona Wildcats Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 19th 2024
Preview and Prediction
Colorado's two-way star Travis Hunter, who is in the running for the Heisman Trophy, will return to the field this Saturday as the Buffaloes face off against Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.
Hunter was absent for the second half of Colorado's 31-28 loss to then-No. 18 Kansas State last week due to a right shoulder injury.
The junior, who excels at both wide receiver and cornerback, is expected to defend Kansas State's All-American receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
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According to Arizona coach Brent Brennan, "Hunter's impact on the game and his ability to make an impact on both sides of the ball is remarkable. It's one of the challenges when facing this team, knowing that he is on the field."
Hunter sustained his shoulder injury in the second quarter of the game against Kansas State when he was tackled after a 14-yard reception. So far this season, he has 49 receptions for 587 yards and six touchdowns, as well as 17 tackles and two interceptions.
Colorado's receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., who suffered a leg injury early in the Kansas State game, is expected to play this Saturday, according to coach Deion Sanders. Horn has 26 receptions for 347 yards this season.
However, two other receivers for Colorado (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) who were also injured in the Kansas State game, Omarion Miller and Terrell Timmons Jr., will not be playing against Arizona. Miller is out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery for a leg injury.
Regardless of their injuries, Sanders is anticipating a stronger effort from his players this week.
At the start of the practice week, Sanders stated, "The guys took it upon themselves and came out with a different attitude. Sometimes, when you're winning, you can get complacent and think you're invincible. But Saturday was a wake-up call for many of us."
One of the biggest challenges for the Buffaloes will be containing McMillan, who Sanders describes as "one of the best receivers in the nation and definitely a pro."
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McMillan currently ranks third in the nation with 742 receiving yards on 42 catches, and has four receiving touchdowns.
Arizona (3-3, 1-2) is coming off back-to-back losses, including a 41-19 defeat against BYU last week. The Wildcats also lost to Texas Tech at home the week before.
The team is also dealing with significant injuries, with starting defensive backs Treydan Stukes and Gunner Maldonado reportedly out for the rest of the season with leg injuries.
Brennan, in his first year as head coach at Arizona, inherited a program that went 10-3 last season and defeated Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl. Despite their current record, he remains optimistic, saying, "Last year, this team was 3-3, which is where we are now. The only difference is how we feel about it because of the expectations going into the season. But we still have six opportunities left to play."