Colorado: The pressure is on the Buffaloes to win and win now, as the 2016 season opens. The Buffs last winning season was 2005 and their last bowl appearance was in 2007 (Colorado lost to finish 6-7). Colorado joined the Pac-12 in 2011 and the Buffs are a pathetic 5-40 in conference play. Mike MacIntyre enters his fourth season at Boulder and enters 2016 at 10-27 overall, including 2-25 in the Pac-12. However, there is talk that Colorado is close to having a breakout season. The Buffaloes lost five games last season by eight points or less. Colorado enters this season with one of the conference's and nation's most experienced rosters with 17 returning starters, including senior QB Sefo Liufau who has set or tied 75 program records.

Colorado State: The Rams enter Year 2 of the Mike Bobo era, who was the former Georgia offensive coordinator. Nick Stevens (21 TDPs and 12 INTs) returns, as do RBs Dalyn Dawkins and Izzy Matthews (a combined 1,678 yards and eight TDs in 2015). However, Stevens has lost his best receivers. Also, the defense has plenty of question marks, as just four starters return and last year's unit ranked 106th in the FBS against the run (213.3 YPG).

The pick: This marks the 90th meeting of the Rocky Mountain Showdown, with the schools having met every year since1995. Bottom line is that the Rams are just 7-18 in this series since 1987 and I expect Colorado to win this year's game by a much bigger margin than last year's three-point OT win. If Colorado is to approach six wins in 2016, winning here and home to Idaho St. next Saturday, are musts. Lay the points and make Colorado an 8* play.