Compared to the past couple of quarterbacks the Colorado Buffaloes have faced, Texas Tech's Graham Harrell is a sitting duck.

Unfortunately for the Buffs, that's no guarantee they'll break out of their recent sack slump this week.

After registering nine sacks in their first three games of the season, the Buffs have just two in their last five games. While part of the discrepancy has come from the threat of a mobile quarterback slowing the pass rush, much of it has also been due to the fact that the Buffs have faced quarterbacks in spread offenses who get rid of the ball quickly.

Harrell fits into the latter category, with possibly the quickest draw of any of the Big 12 Conference gunslingers.

"He gets the ball out of his hand within three seconds of the ball being snapped almost every play," said CU defensive tackle George Hypolite, who is tied for the team lead with three sacks.

Mix in a host of screen passes and draw plays the Red Raiders run as part of their nation-leading passing attack to keep the defensive line honest, Hypolite said, and getting to Harrell isn't as easy as simply selling out to go after the immobile quarterback.

"Now what is a consequence of (the passing onslaught) is they're going to throw the ball in some places they probably don't want," Hypolite said. "In a couple of games we did convert and get some interceptions but haven't been lately, and that's what we've got to do if teams are going to get the ball out of their hands quick."

Despite just one combined sack in wins over Oklahoma and Baylor, the Buffs forced six total turnovers. In losses to Kansas State and Kansas the past two weeks, CU grabbed just two takeaways.

"If you can't get to the quarterback, you've got to find other ways to be successful," CU defensive coordinator Ron Collins said.

That's something Collins' crew managed to do well last year in a 30-6 victory over Texas Tech.

Even with Big 12 sack leader Abe Wright last season, the Buffs sacked Harrell just twice. But they did manage to force him into three interceptions and caused two Red Raider fumbles.

"Obviously, that's kind of been our Achilles heel the last couple of weeks and we need to generate turnovers to be successful," Collins said. "I don't think you're going to fool him at all. You've got to create your own magic in this game. We've got to get after the ball."

Do that, Hypolite said, and the lack of sacks will be easier to swallow for the guys chasing the quarterback.

While he acknowledged hitting Harrell is certainly key to keeping him from getting in a rhythm, Hypolite said just as important last season was how the Buffs swarmed to the ball and prevented Tech receivers from turning short catches into big plays.

"You want to get the sacks, but if you're getting the ball back and getting turnovers like we have in a few of the other games, you really can't be too mad," Hypolite said.

Packing a wallop

For better or for worse, CU kickoff specialist Tyler Cope hasn't been one to shy away from making tackles when the opportunities come his way.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound redshirt freshman from Portland, Ore., has six tackles on the season. That's four more than any other Buff kicker has had in a season since special teams tackles began being tracked separately in 1987.

Mitch Berger had two in 1993 and Crosby equaled the feat in 2003. Crosby never made another tackle in his final three seasons.

North vs. South

With a win Saturday, the Buffs can lock up their third-ever sweep of Big 12 South opponents.

The Buffs also won all three of their games against South teams in 1996 and 1998, and have had winning records against the South in eight of 12 seasons, including this fall.

Overall, the Buffs are 20-15 against the South since the conference started football play in 1996, tying them with Nebraska for the best mark among North teams.

Injury update

Fullback Jake Behrens, who sprained an ankle during conditioning on Sunday, is questionable for Saturday. ... Linebacker R.J. Brown (concussion) is out. ... Running back Kevin Moyd (illness) is day-to-day. ... Cornerback Jimmy Smith, who sprained his knee against Kansas, is probable. ... Cornerback Terrence Wheatley, who bruised his elbow against Kansas, is probable.

Notable

The date for the memorial service for former CU tight end Tennyson McCarty was listed incorrectly in Wednesday's Camera. The service will be held Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. at Macky Auditorium on the CU campus. ... Texas Tech is one win shy of clinching its 13th winning season in a row and is the only Big 12 school without a losing season since the conference began. ... At 540 miles from Boulder as the crow flies, Texas Tech, located in Lubbock, is CU's closest Big 12 neighbor.