CU RUN OFFENSE VS. EWU RUN DEFENSE --The CU offensive line is very young with two freshman starters at guard this week after Devin Head's suspension and tackle Nate Solder making just his second start at the position. The Buffs still should win this battle even with some missed assignments and mistakes. Four different running backs are likely to get carries and this could be the time to allow freshman Darrell Scott and Rodney Stewart to develop some more confidence at the college level. CU should run for 200 or more yards in this game. The Eagles run defense wasn't tested much until it had its back to the goal line last week. They allowed five rushing touchdowns and 104 yards to a Texas Tech team that almost ignores the running game most of the season. Edge: CU.

CU PASS OFFENSE VS. EWU PASS DEFENSE -- Quarterback Cody Hawkins was efficient in his first outing leading the no-huddle approach. He completed 20 of 29 passes for 214 yards. Hawkins audibled into a play that resulted in the Buffs' first touchdown, a 35-yard passing play. It was an example of his true strength at the position, the mental side of the game. CU is six deep at wide receiver in terms of the number of players coaches have true confidence to play. That's another positive development. Tight ends and running backs also are heavily involved here with screens and passes down the middle of the field. Eagles coach Beau Baldwin said he sees some similarities between what CU is now doing in the passing game and what Texas Tech does. His team won't be overwhelmed with the Buffs passing game, but it did just surrender 536 yards through the air in its first outing of the year without recording a sack. Edge: CU.

EWU RUN OFFENSE VS. CU RUN DEFENSE --Run offense? The Eagles threw the ball 61 times last week. They're certainly not concerned with marching down the field four yards at a time in a cloud of dust. The Eagles ran the ball 22 times for a net of 23 yards against the Red Raiders. There is a running pedigree in the backfield. Senior tailback Dale Morris is the younger brother of Seattle Seahawks running back Maurice Morris. Dale Morris has been hampered throughout his career by knee injuries, but can be dangerous. Heaveraged 71.5 yards a game and scored 12 touchdowns in 2007. The Buffs were strong against a more formidable ground game last week, holding CSU under 100 yards rushing. This should be the second week in row. Edge: CU.

EWU PASS OFFENSE VS. CU PASS DEFENSE -- The Buffs started strong in this area last week but the performance also came against a new quarterback in a new offense. They face a bigger challenge in this area this week against an experienced quarterback with three dependable wide receivers. After finishing 103 in the nation last season in pass defense, it's going to take more than one solid outing to convince us the Buffs will make significant improvement in 2008. CU doesn't have all of it's best defensive backs available and healthy. The Buffs sacked the quarterback five times a week ago against an experienced offensive line. Keeping that pressure up this week is imperative. CU just has too much experience and depth in its defensive front and should win this battle, particularly in the second half. If not, the Buffs could find themselves in trouble. Edge: EVEN.

SPECIAL TEAMS -- We suspect this might be the game in which we see the first blocked kick of the season. Josh Smith returned one kickoff for a touchdown in the season opener and almost took two to the house. The Buffs return game is going to be fun to watch as long as he is back there. New kickers Aric Goodman and Jameson Davis fared well in their debuts and must strive for consistency now. Matt DiLallo is in his third year punting in Boulder and should be able to come through with some big kicks when they're needed with all that experience behind him. Eagles' place-kicker Felipe Macias kicked a 55-yard field goal in Lubbock, Texas, a week ago. He should be good from there at altitude. EWU only forced two punts in Week 1 so the punt return group is still a bit of a mystery. The Eagles averaged about 19 yards on eight kickoff returns. Edge: CU.

COACHING -- Beau Baldwin is unknown to us. All we really have to go by is the way his team performed last week at Texas Tech. The Eagles lost 49-24 but they managed to impress Red Raiders coach Mike Leach to the point that Leach said Baldwin's team was among the opponents he admires most in his career. Sure, it's easy to say stuff like that after a win, but it's clear Baldwin was able to coax maximum effort out of his players, and that's a sign of solid coaching. Still, this is only the second time he's coached against a Division I opponent. Frankly, when it comes to a matchup like this, the coach for the Bowl Championship Series school ought to get the edge every time. Hawkins is making a minimum of $900,000 a year, in part, because he's supposed to among the top minds in the game. He's coached on the big stage of Division I for a decade now as an assistant or head coach. He should be able to adapt pretty quickly to whatever comes his way. Edge: CU.

PREDICTION -- Colorado 45-19

-- Kyle Ringo