Colorado’s September games against Oregon and USC seemed like complete wipeouts before the season began. However, after Colorado stunned TCU as a 20-point underdog, the Buffaloes might be legitimately good. They could give Oregon and USC some problems, or at least the possibility of CU being problematic has to be taken more seriously.
If Colorado can somehow upset Oregon on September 23, the result would help USC in the Pac-12 standings while also giving the Trojans more clarity and focus heading into their own meeting with the Buffaloes on September 30.
We asked our Pac-12 panel, “How worried should Oregon be about Colorado?”
Matt Wadleigh, Trojans and Buffaloes Wire: As good as Colorado looked vs TCU, Oregon shouldn’t be worried. The Ducks have one of the best offenses in the country, and Bo Nix is a mastermind at quarterback.
Zachary Neel, Ducks Wire: I don’t think Oregon should be “worried” about Colorado at all. If anything, this woke them up to the fact that Week 4 won’t be a cake-walk like Portland State. I will still pick the Ducks by a large margin.
Matt Zemek, Trojans Wire: The Ducks get Colorado in Autzen, which should help them, but the Oregon secondary against the Sanders-Hunter passing connection is a matchup UO should not feel comfortable about. Colorado won’t have any fear heading into Eugene. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being extreme fear, Oregon should be at a 5.
Check out our Pac-12 football predictions roundtable for the 2023 season.