Font ResizeCU PASS OFFENSE VS. UT PASS DEFENSE -- This is just a guess, but this might be the week we finally see a different player under center for the Buffs if Cody Hawkins struggles once again. Hawkins is completing just 52 percent of his passes and has thrown as many interceptions (7) as touchdown passes. Hawkins has been very effective getting the ball to wide receiver Scotty McKnight, who, along with Stewart, has been the Buffs best offensive player. Hawkins has been sacked 10 times. He still doesn`t make enough plays with his feet, which is where many of his peers really help their respective offenses. His counterpart today is a perfect example of that and what is missing in the CU attack. The Longhorns have 13 sacks and six interceptions and rank 18th nationally in pass efficiency defense. Edge: TEXAS
UT RUN OFFENSE VS. CU RUN DEFENSE -- The Buffs are giving up 201 yards per game on the ground and rank 111th in the nation. Ten of the 23 plays of 20 yards or more this defense has allowed have been rushing plays. The Longhorns veteran offensive line should have its way with a young CU defensive line that has struggled and is undersized much of the time. The Longhorns are one of just three teams in the nation averaging 300 yards passing and 200 yards rushing. So it`s pick your poison for Colorado coaches, who always say their aim is to stop the ground game. Running backs Vondrell McGee and Tre` Newton have each run for more than 200 yards this fall and quarterback Colt McCoy is always a threat to scramble or gash a defense with designed runs. The Longhorns are averaging five yards per carry. Edge: TEXAS
UT PASS OFFENSE VS. CU PASS DEFENSE -- As previously noted, Texas is averaging more than 300 yards passing a game. McCoy has completed 71 percent of his passes and has thrown nine touchdown passes so far. Sixth-year senior wide receiver Jordan Shipley is an even bigger part of the UT offense than Scotty McKnight is to the Buffs. Shipley is third in the nation, averaging nine catches per game. Five different receivers have caught at least nine passes for the Longhorns and four of them have scored touchdowns. The Buffs will be spread out and at risk of giving up more big plays through the air. They have already surrendered six passes of 45 yards or more and 13 passes of 20 or more yards. This could be ugly again. Edge: TEXAS
SPECIAL TEAMS -- The only areas where Colorado appears to match up well with Texas is with its return coverage units. The Buffs have been doing a good job of covering kicks this fall, but the Longhorns have been doing just as well returning them. Texas gets the nod in every other area of the kicking game. CU doesn`t know what it might get from week to week in place-kicker Aric Goodman. Punter Matt DiLallo has been punting well, but he needs to have a solid game in hang time and distance this week to limit dangerous players fielding his kicks. Edge: TEXAS
COACHING -- Mack Brown is 6-1 against Colorado with his only setback coming in the 2001 Big 12 Conference title game. He has led Texas to eight consecutive 10-win seasons and the Longhorns have won 73 Big 12 Conference games during his tenure, more than any other team. Dan Hawkins used to have similarly impressive numbers when he coached in the Western Athletic Conference, but since his arrival at CU, he has struggled to build any consistency in the Buffs and he hasn`t won a road game in almost two full calendar years. Edge: TEXAS
Kyle Ringo`s prediction: Texas 41-16
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