Tyler Hansen has been announced as Colorado's starting QB, and this gives me the QB match-up that I was looking for regarding this game. Hansen is more accurate and mobile than Hawkins, and also is less predictable. Hawkins just locked in on McKnight and hoped for the best.
CSU's defense has dominated the offense so far in their scrimmages. This is important to me because the Rams defense has a lot of holes on the D-line, and in general is not much improved over last season. I will say that the Rams defense has improved a lot over the first couple weeks of practices.
Colorado State will be starting Pete Thomas at QB. He is fairly poised, but the Rams defense has been causing him some trouble in practice. In my opinion, too much talent was lost from a team that wasn't really talented to begin with.
Last year, CSU caught CU off gaurd with the deep passes. I don't think that can happen this year with the questionable O-line, Frosh QB, and slower recievers.
I like the returning players for CU. I think this team is an upgrade from last year's team. The right QB will be starting, and I think the team will respond to Hansen. Rod Stewart will carry the load for the Buffs at RB, and I think he can carve up the inexperienced Rams.
CSU is being projected to be one of the worst teams in college football this year, and I agree with all the hype. They look like a slow high school team in practice. I see CU covering the 12.5 pretty easily.
Just my two cents