BOULDER — Another week means another critical Big 12 matchup for Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes.

The Buffs (4-2 overall, 2-1 Big 12) need a win Saturday at Arizona (3-3, 1-2) to keep pace with the conference leaders. Colorado currently sits in a five-way tie for fourth place but just one game behind the three teams tied for first.

Thus, a victory over the Wildcats (3-3, 1-2) would keep CU in contention for a Big 12 title game appearance and the College Football Playoff berth that goes to the conference winner.

The Wildcats have not quite lived up to preseason expectations. Picked to finish fifth in the league in the preseason media poll with three first-place votes — and ranked 21st in the nation in the preseason AP voting — Arizona has dropped its last two games, including a 41-19 thumping at the hands of BYU last week.

Still, the Wildcats are a dangerous team offensively and a capable team defensively. They own a 23-10 win over Utah and have one of the nation’s best receivers in Tetairoa McMillan as well as a solid quarterback in Noah Fifita.

(The matchup between McMillan and Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter could be spectacular.)

The Buffs are coming off a narrow 31-28 loss to then-No. 18 Kansas State that ended a three-game CU winning streak. Led by quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Colorado’s offense continues to operate at a prolific pace while an opportunistic defense has produced 12 sacks and 10 turnovers in the last four games.

The Buffs will need that pass rush against the Wildcats, as Arizona has given up just six sacks this season. Meanwhile, CU must also shore up its run defense, which yielded a season-high 185 yards last week against Kansas State. While UA is by no means a power running team, the Wildcats are still averaging a respectable 141 yards per game on the ground.

Earlier in the week, Coach Prime made it clear that the Buffs are no longer content to play close games against good opponents. They expect to win those close games — CU is 2-1 in one-score affairs this year — and after what he termed a “wake-up call” against Kansas State, he expects the Buffaloes to deliver a win on Saturday.

To accomplish that, the Buffs will have to be solid on both sides of the ball. Our weekly Fast Five keys for CU:

1. Create opportunities on defense. The Buffs have been outstanding in this area over the last four games, producing five interceptions and five fumble recoveries in that stretch.

They need to come up with a couple more of those momentum-shifting plays against the Wildcats.

Turnovers have been a big problem for Arizona this season. UA has turned the ball over 12 times — nine interceptions and three fumbles — and opponents have turned those takeaways into 56 points.

This is where CU’s pass rush will be critical. While Arizona quarterback Fifita can create big plays, he’s also thrown nine interceptions and just eight touchdown passes. If the Buffs can get to Fifita and force a mistake or two, CU’s secondary will be ready to take advantage — and it will give their offense some extra opportunities. BJ Green II had a couple sacks last week and Taje McCoy has a team-best three this season. Expect both to apply some pressure and push Fifiita into some poor decisions.

The Buffs have been very good this year in converting turnovers into points, turning their 10 takeaways into 35 points. A couple of those moments Saturday will go a long way in helping CU to a victory.

2. Establish the threat of a run game. After a solid outing two weeks ago in a win over UCF, the Buffs took a step back against Kansas State, finishing with minus-29 yards on the ground. The Buffs’ leading rusher was QB Sanders, who had 24 yards on the ground — but he also lost 74 yards on sacks. Otherwise, CU got a combined 21 yards on 10 carries from Dallan Hayden and Isaiah Augustave.

The Buffs don’t have to overpower UA with their rushing attack. But they do have to prove they can move the sticks on the ground and they have to be better on first downs. Colorado last weekend averaged just 1.3 yards per carry on first down rushes, which opened the door for the Kansas State pass rush.

If CU can make the Wildcats at least respect the threat of a run game, it will open up opportunities in the secondary and give Sanders a little more time in the pocket. If he gets that time, he can do damage while also reducing the kind of big sacks that put CU in too many unmanageable down-and-distance situations against K-State.

3. Continue to win the red zone. Colorado has been very good in the red zone on both sides of the ball. The Buffs are seventh in the nation in red zone defense, not allowing a score in eight of opponents’ 24 trips inside the 20 while giving up just 12 touchdowns.

Meanwhile, CU’s offense has been extremely proficient in that area, scoring 17 times in 19 red zone trips, including 14 touchdowns.

Those situations are often the difference in a close game. If Colorado can own the edge in the red zone, the Buffs will be in good position down the stretch to collect a road win.

4. Continue to win the second half. Colorado’s defense has given up just 43 points after intermission this season — just a shade more than seven points per game. That’s been a difference maker, as CU came back to beat North Dakota State and Baylor after trailing both teams at the half.

Meanwhile, CU’s offense has been stellar after the break, averaging just under 17 points per game.

Colorado needs to continue that trend in what oddsmakers say is basically a tossup game. This one likely won’t be decided until down the stretch — and if the Buffs can continue their flair for taking care of business in the final quarter, they’ll be in good shape.

5. Match their own expectations. As Coach Prime noted this week, the loss to nationally ranked K-State hurt. The Buffs know they let a huge opportunity slip away in a game they expected to win. Now they have the chance to regain some ground by collecting a critical road victory.

CU is playing with confidence and a quiet swagger. The offense has been productive in clutch situations and the defense — for the most part — has come up big as well in critical moments.

The Buffs won’t be bothered by UA’s homecoming sellout crowd. They are accustomed to the big stage and they now enter every game believing they should win — not hoping. If they play up to their potential, keep self-inflicted wounds to a minimum and execute their game plan, they should return to Boulder with a key Big 12 win.

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Story by Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor for CUBuffs.com. Content courtesy of the University of Colorado at Boulder.