Locked On Jayhawks - Daily Podcast On Kansas Jayhawks Football & Basketball - Travis Hunter vs Cobee Bryant, Leipold vs Prime: Kansas Jayhawks vs Colorado Buffaloes Crossover

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Colorado Buffaloes and the Kansas Jayhawks, they have a lot at stake this weekend. Who's going to come out victorious? You are locked on college crossover, part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team every day. What is up, everybody? This is a Locked On Buffs, Locked on Jayhawks crossover, and it's brought to you by FanDuel. You can start the season with a big return on FanDuel.

Starting point is 00:00:29 New customers can place a $5 bet, and you'll get started with $150 in bonus bets if you win your first $5 bet. Visit FanDuel.com to get started. I'm Kevin Borba. This is Derek Johnson, and we are I'm Locked on Buffs. He's Locked on Jayhawks, and we're going to be talking about one of the biggest matchups in the Big 12 this weekend. The Buffs are heading to Kansas City, Missouri to take on the Jayhawks at Arrowhead Stadium in a game that I think has a lot at stake. And I think most people around the country may not realize this, but Colorado has no room for air in this Big 12 race.

Starting point is 00:01:00 There's too many teams in the mix and Kansas has no room for air if they want to make a bowl game. So let's talk about Colorado from the Kansas perspective what do you think how do you think this game has changed right at the beginning of the year this was looking like the the stretch of death for Colorado where they had Utah Kansas Oklahoma State and now it's not looking as difficult but what is how does Kansas view this yeah I mean at the beginning of the year too like this almost looked like a like BYU was thought to be maybe five six win team last week then colorado was like the over under win total i think was six and a half and then baylor was thought oh maybe dave arando would be fired by the time you played them next week and now it's like no baylor's good colorado's a

Starting point is 00:01:38 college football playoff contender and byu was undefeated when you had to play him so things have certainly changed um it felt like there were some similarities with this year's Colorado team to last year's team at the beginning of the year. I mean, you have the close one with North Dakota State, the 18-point loss to Nebraska where it just looked like they were out-physicaled. And I don't understand what has happened to Nebraska and Colorado since then. I don't know what the big difference has been, but it has been everything for both of those teams.

Starting point is 00:02:04 And I've been super impressed with Colorado to this point. And I think, you know, they'd be a deserving big 12 champion. Obviously they got to finish it out and everything. But I think it's just in a league where a lot of the teams are very close together. Right.

Starting point is 00:02:19 I mean, like we've seen that with Kansas winning these last two weeks where say the top team in the big 12 might be the 15th best team in the country or the 10th best team in the country and you know the bottom two or three in the big 12 might still be like the 40th 50th best team in the country but somebody has to lose some of these games you see a situation where Colorado is set up for it in a real way because I say all the time like a lot of times the one score games are going to go to who has the advantage of coach and quarterback and with Colorado you're going to feel good about both of those things but I think the biggest thing I've been impressed with from last year to this year it has to be the defense it's been so much better for Colorado I've loved

Starting point is 00:02:58 what the pass rush has done I mean obviously they're leading the big 12 in sacks BJ Green with over five of them six players with three sacks or more on the season for colorado i think that's been what's really made things different because now you have this setup almost like those you know prime peyton manning colts teams where it's like hey we're gonna throw it across the yard like we're gonna we're gonna get leads and then we're gonna be able to close it with dwight freeney and robert mathis and and uh just been really impressed with with what they've been able to do after things looked a little dire at the beginning of the year. Yeah, I remember I did an episode after the Nebraska loss,

Starting point is 00:03:30 and I was like, New Year, same problems, right? It felt the exact same. It was like, can't protect anybody, very reliant on the offense. And all of a sudden, they flipped a switch. And I think it was that UCF game where they shut down what at that point was the number one rushing attack in the country. And think Colorado sort of everyone's gonna remember that video where that guy's like oh oh got my swagger back like that's what Colorado was like they lost their swagger they got it back and they found an identity on both sides of the ball right and I think

Starting point is 00:03:57 the thing that stands out to me about this Kansas team is they're gritty they're tough and you look at the record and it's four and six, right? So this is the definition of a trap game, quote-unquote trap game, because Colorado's hot and Kansas is also hot, but you look at their record and it's like Kansas is losing this game, right? And then you go visit our friends over at the Oddsmakers, who they know a little bit of something, right? They know what happened to Jay Leno, I think,

Starting point is 00:04:23 and they know what happened to – they know what's going to happen in these games, right? They know what happened to Jay Leno, I think, and they know what happened to – they know what's going to happen in these games, right? They know what's going to happen. And Kansas is only a three-point dog, and Colorado only has a 54.5% chance, according to ESPN's FBI. And so this Kansas team looking really gritty, looking really good, why are they – why is this such a close line? What do you think about that?

Starting point is 00:04:45 Well, it's one thing when you look at the record, right? And then you have a lot of the odds makers. They're using systems, formulas, analytics that are looking at the process of the game. And the process of the game, Kansas, like I tweeted this out there over the weekend, the Chiefs lost to the Bills. KU football has a better point differential this season than the chiefs do and the reason why is because they have five one score losses on the season they have five games that they led in the fourth quarter that they couldn't hold on to and weird things happened in a lot of them some of them were just them making mistakes like west virginia they were up

Starting point is 00:05:18 two scores with under four minutes to go and they lost uh unlv they came up like a 12 play drive at the 12 minute excuse me at the end of the game there was a fumble a lot of people saw it on social media that like five guys on Kansas couldn't recover that would have sealed the game like just things like that were happening all season long and at one point they flashed in the graphic of the Iowa State game when they were two and six at the time and they showed point differentials of teams dating back to the year 2000 they were the best point differential of any two and six team at the time so since then you had the best point differential you've since earned two top 25 wins in a row uh for the first time in program history mind you uh including last week giving byu their first loss of the season doing it on

Starting point is 00:05:59 the road this is the best four and six team in the country i think that's the case and and i think that's why this spread ends up being a little bit closer than you might've thought. Yeah. And really, by the way, FanDuel 30% profit boost. If you're going to be in the state of Kansas for,

Starting point is 00:06:13 for the game. Hey, I was in the state of Tennessee this past week and I learned that you cannot bet on college sports, which was a fun experience. I literally was like, I should, or Sanders is going to torch this,

Starting point is 00:06:24 this defense. I need, I need you like, Shador Sanders is going to torch this defense. I need you guys. Where are you guys at? The thing that's interesting to me about Kansas is they flipped a switch too, and I don't know if it was as drastic as Colorado, but they go, and you just talked about the stretch a little bit. They lose the UNLV off of what, like, that was a disastrous fumble. I think almost everyone on the defense touched it.

Starting point is 00:06:44 There was, like, three guys that you could tell were trying to pick it up and run rather than fall on it like it was just like if you just put your body on that ball that game is over right and who knows what happens after that does matthew sluka enter the portal like that that was like a whole chain of events right um then they lose the tcu and tcu kind of had their way um west virginia like you mentioned also blew that lead arizona state close one then they blow out houston and it's like okay where'd this come from because houston another team that despite the record pretty solid right and then kansas state i think you guys should have won that game realistically i think um the fourth quarter you guys went a little silent at the wrong time and name it again yeah yeah we're starting to go silent um and then you rattle off to like the

Starting point is 00:07:26 Iowa State win was dominant um the score doesn't indicate that as much but it was dominant and BYU you guys made Jake Retzlaff look like I think the Jake Retzlaff that PFF had ranked as the worst quarterback in the Big 12 prior to the season they made him look like that and so this Kansas team I think will colorado more trouble than people realize if they can establish a run if they could sort of take advantage of colorado slow starts because i'll be honest with you derrick i don't know if there's a stat for this i don't know if there's a metric but colorado's slow starts are absolutely disastrous like i don't know what it is they're scripted plays maybe the worst in the country um it's just first play of last week pick um should or

Starting point is 00:08:06 sanders throws a pick uh north coast state i think they i think they went three and out um that one against against uh ucf sure should or sanders pick like on the very first drive i don't know what it is about the first drive for colorado but they are disastrous so if kansas could take advantage of that this game will end up being a lot closer. And obviously the odds makers, the guys with the crowbars ready to break some kneecaps, they know they know something's up. Right. So we have to sort of be aware of this. For those of you as Colorado fans, this Kansas team is not the Kansas teams of the past where it's like they are the worst team in college football because this is not the worst team in college football. In fact, I think had they say they had four more games on their schedule, Derek,

Starting point is 00:08:46 I think they'd go 3-1. I don't know what the games would be, but I think they'd go 3-1 based off how they're playing. Would you agree with that? Yeah, they're playing at the right time. It's unfortunate the hole they've gotten in, and that's been kind of a common theme as they've won these past couple weeks. You hear Kansas fans being like, man, that was awesome,

Starting point is 00:09:03 but it just makes me wish we would have won one or two of those other games before because then you'd be in a better situation to be bowl eligible right now. And this is a program that's never been to three straight bowl games. So it does mean something still to Kansas. I know bowl games are coming the way of the dinosaur a little bit in college football with everything being geared around the playoff, but it does mean something to Kansas. So yeah.

Starting point is 00:09:24 Yeah, and it means something to Colorado too. I think the one thing I don't want Colorado new or old fans to sort of get entrenched in is like, remember where Colorado was right. Colorado was one 11, two years ago. Dion Sanders made a promise to miss Peggy. If you're not familiar with her,

Starting point is 00:09:39 she's adorable little 100 year old lady who had a twin sister who unfortunately passed away. I don't know when, but they had always gone to Colorado games. Right? And he made a promise to her that they'd get her to a bowl game. And I think a lot of people, Colorado fans need to remember that this is a big deal for the program to be at a bowl game right now for bowl contention. Now, not only being in conference title contention, that's an even bigger deal, but let's not, if things don't work out how we all hope or think they can for Colorado this

Starting point is 00:10:07 isn't a failure right this Colorado program has come out of the mud as the kids say and I think Kansas understands that just as well as anyone as well because these two programs I think two years ago maybe three years ago for Kansas right it would have been like 1-11 versus 1-11 it would have been rough yeah I think three years ago there would have been two and ten but i mean if you go back into the 2010s you have i think multiple oh and 12 seasons you have some one and eleven two yeah yeah so these programs both trending in the right direction very very important that fans remember it's still a big deal to make a bowl game regardless of what the playoff um the the bougie people of the playoff the bourgeoisie if you will um regardless of what they say it's a big deal.

Starting point is 00:10:45 When we come back, we're going to be talking about why Kansas is getting hot and why this should concern Colorado. But first, a quick break. This episode of Locked on Buffs and Locked on Jayhawks is brought to you by PrizePix. Let me tell you about PrizePix. This is the best and most fun way to win money. It's a real place that you should go check out right now

Starting point is 00:11:06 with over 10 million members and billions of dollars in awarded winnings. PrizeFix has made daily fantasy sports accessible to all. You can just pick more or less on at least two players for a shot to win up to 100 times your cash. Run your game all season long on PrizeFix. You can now win up to 100 times your money on PrizeFix with as little as four correct picks. Sign up today and get $50 instantly when you play $5.

Starting point is 00:11:27 You don't even need to win to receive that $50 bonus. It's guaranteed. PriceFix also offers weekly promotions that can lead to huge payouts like Taco Tuesday. Each Tuesday, PriceFix discounts select players' projections up to 25% to provide even more value for your lineup. So if you want to get in on this action, download the app today and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE to get $50 off or to get $50 instantly, excuse me, after you play your first $5 lineup. Again, download the app today and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE. It's L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N-C-O-L-L-E-G-E

Starting point is 00:11:57 to get $50 after you play your first $5 lineup. PriceFix, run your game. Welcome back. play your first five dollar lineup price fix run your game welcome back it's locked on buffs it's locked on jayhawks i'm joined by derrick johnson i'm kevin borba if you guys didn't already know ku's getting hot derrick i don't know what happened i don't know if they maybe had a a little come to jesus moment i don't know if lance lipo pulled off a great speech in the locker room why are they hot and why is it now well they figured out the quarterback position they figured out uh really the play calling early in the season new offense coordinator jeff grimes they were struggling to find the rhythm and it didn't help the jalen daniels threw a bunch of interceptions i mean he was leading the big 12 and interceptions usually in the country and interceptions

Starting point is 00:12:42 through the first i think three or four weeks of the season since then Jalen Daniels has looked like the guy we're used to from the two previous seasons where it was never a question about the performance it was just a question about staying healthy and he has been awesome for KU these past I guess really four maybe five games like the Arizona State game he was good uh the Kansas State game he was good enough to nearly win the game. Obviously, he had the tough fumble at the end, but the Houston game, he was good. So I guess like five games in a row now, he's looked like that guy.

Starting point is 00:13:12 That's a huge difference for this team because all the way along, even when they were losing games, they were still running the ball well. They were still – the defense isn't – it's not a top-five defense in the conference, but it's been improved from where it has been over the last year and the year before you know that's been the big thing it's been the quarterback play it's been that now obviously last week was about the defense and being able to shut down byu but uh beyond that it's uh just kind of sticking with it and that's the

Starting point is 00:13:41 biggest thing i can say about this team about about Lance Leipold, about the players right now, is the fact that you got to 2-6. You had all these expectations of the world of winning, you know, nine or ten games this year of competing for the Big 12. You didn't do it, but you didn't quit on the season, and this team stayed together, and they're staying resilient to the very end. Yeah, I think mental toughness is an undervalued quality. I think one of the reasons I felt like Colorado collapsed last year was they

Starting point is 00:14:06 lacked it. I think the Stanford game is one that I remember vividly, right? They go up 29, zero at halftime, right? And everyone's, everyone's vibing with Colorado.

Starting point is 00:14:17 It's a Friday night. Shador Sanders is posting advertisements on Instagram at halftime. Like it was, it was like, this game's over. And then a fellow by the name of Alec Ioman from Canada just absolutely emerges

Starting point is 00:14:29 and breaks out. From that point on, it felt like every time Colorado got down in a game or every time there was a negative moment, interception, touchdown, or whatever, it felt like they were like, oh, here we go. This is the beginning of the collapse here. I don't see this with Kansas this year,

Starting point is 00:14:45 or at least the past few games. And I don't see it with Colorado. One of the things that I'm, I would say, more proud of, or I guess I've noticed a lot this year for Colorado, is their ability to get punched in the mouth and not just like, okay, we tried. Like, this is it for us. And I think it's going to be really important

Starting point is 00:15:02 that they do this against this Kansas team, because you just mentioned it. Kansas, they found it, right? They found out quarterback or whatever, but they've also stayed confident. They've stayed mentally tough. They stayed resilient. I think that's an underrated aspect that really isn't a stat. So let's talk about Jalen Daniels.

Starting point is 00:15:19 Outside of him not turning the ball over seemingly like every three throws, what else has he been doing good at in the stretch? So he's been running the ball over seemingly like every three throws. What else has he been doing good at in the stretch? So he's been running the ball really well. And I think that was something that they were afraid to take the kid gloves off a little bit early because of those aforementioned previous injuries. Only three games played last season. Year before that, it was like eight and a half games played, including the bowl game. And they maybe wanted to make sure he was easing into things also he didn't want to get him injured well lately because their backs are against the wall they they have no more losses they can afford

Starting point is 00:15:51 and feeling like he's gotten more comfortable back in it they've kind of uh taken the governor off and they've allowed him to run it a little bit more so that's added another element to his offensive game um he's hitting guys downfield more. The explosive plays are happening a lot more often like we were used to seeing in the past. And then the big one is, yeah, like he hasn't been throwing interceptions. He did have one against BYU last week that didn't end up leading to points the other way.

Starting point is 00:16:15 But besides that was good holding onto the ball against, I mean, the last two weeks, BYU and Iowa State combined have over 30 interceptions this year, the top two numbers in the Big 12. He only has one interception in those two games combined so night and day from from where he was early in the season like the illinois game he's thrown three interceptions uh just i don't know if it's comfortability in the offense for him i don't know if it's just comfortability of after missing all that time finally gaining his confidence back but

Starting point is 00:16:40 whatever it's been it's been a it's been a brand new jalen and brand new offense maybe and this is just a suggestion maybe it's because he doesn't have jason bean looking over his shoulder i'm just saying jason bean was a really good guy no just kidding but he was really good last two years with jason bean so he was yeah no they they had a nice little dynamic there um realistically this game is going to come down to a couple of keys for each team. Can Colorado do this? Can Kansas stop that? And we're going to talk about that, but first, a quick break. This episode of Locked on Buffs and Locked on

Starting point is 00:17:18 Jayhawks is brought to you by our sponsors over at ZBiotics, a pre-alcoholic drink. The probiotic drink, excuse me, is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Here's how it works. When you drink, alcohol gets converted into a toxic byproduct in the gut. This byproduct, not dehydration, that's to blame for your rough next day. Pre-alcohol produces an enzyme to break that byproduct down. Just remember to make Z-biotics your first drink of the night. Drink responsibly and you'll feel your best tomorrow. Here's exactly how you need

Starting point is 00:17:44 to use it. So that way you don't wake up. What's the word? Not feeling is great. Derek, we'll go with that. Step one, drink pre-alcohol. For best results, make pre-alcohol your first drink of the night. Step two, drink responsibly.

Starting point is 00:17:55 Paze yourself, hydrate, and get a good night's sleep. And step three, enjoy tomorrow. Wake up feeling refreshed. Go to zbiotics.com slash LockedOnCollege to learn more and get 15% off your first order. When you use LockedOnCollege at checkout, ZBiotics is backed with 100% money back guarantee. So if you're unsatisfied for any reason, they'll refund you your money. No questions asked. Remember to head to ZBiotics.com slash LockedOnCollege and use code LockedOnCollege at checkout for

Starting point is 00:18:17 15% off. This episode is also brought to you by our sponsors over at FanDuel. Get ready to tackle the NFL action with FanDuel, America's number one sportsbook. Because right now, new customers can bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets if you win. The FanDuel Sportsbook app gives you everything you need to place live bets on the NFL all in one place. So when you get a hunch in the middle of the game, you can check out the latest stats, view live play-by-play, and so much more on the same place where you place your bets. Just visit FanDuel.com to join today.

Starting point is 00:18:44 You'll get started with $150 in bonus bets if you win your first $5 bet. That's FanDuel.com. Never waste a hunch and make every moment more with FanDuel, the official sportsbook partner of the NFL. Okay, Derek, this is Locked on Buffs. It's Locked on Jayhawks. They're squaring off on Saturday. Let me give you the rundown of what you need to know weather-wise, time-wise.

Starting point is 00:19:09 Kicking off at 3.30 Eastern. Obviously, we already talked about it. Colorado, three-point favorites. They opened as two-and-a-half-point favorites, so clearly there's a half-point advantage now. I don't know where it came from, but sure, we'll pretend that matters. Colorado, 54.5% chance of winning. Game time weather weather it's

Starting point is 00:19:25 looking a little cloudy 58 degrees is what the weather projection is what is a key to victory for kansas well can you pressure shadir sanders without blitzing so sanders averaging over nine yards per throw against the blitz this year it's slightly under eight when he's not blitzed and you need that extra coverage to be back because those receivers are really good players the thing for Kansas they haven't been a great pass rush team this season they've been better at the defensive tackle spot than they have a defensive end now their top two pass rushers are a defensive end but consistently I like the defense tackle spot a little bit better good news is you look at PFF grades Colorado's offense line a little weaker on the interior than it would be on the exterior so maybe that's something good

Starting point is 00:20:08 for kansas here but you have to be able to get to the quarterback and hit him without being able to blitz because one they aren't always consistent in wanting to blitz but two if you end up having to blitz because you're not getting pressure one then that becomes a little bit more predictable and two then all of a sudden it's kind of a 50 50 over uh is shooter sanders just going to go for like 400 yards 500 yards or something like that like that's kind of the scare in this one if you end up being in that situation i think on the offensive end of the ball i gotta establish the run colorado's actually been pretty good uh against the run so far this season they're giving up under four yards per carry uh you do

Starting point is 00:20:44 go back to the k State game, though, which was the one loss for Colorado. DJ Giddens had over 180 yards rushing. Devin Neal is an awesome running back. He's celebrating Senior Day. He's the local Lawrence kid who is the all-time career rusher for KU. Go out and have a big game. Give him 25, 30 carries.

Starting point is 00:21:03 Possess the football. Keep the Colorado offense off the field. Try to get 200 yards. Whatever it takes, run the ball. go out and have a big game give him 25 30 carries possess the football keep the colorado offense off the field try to get 200 yards whatever it takes run the ball and uh try to keep that other offense off the field and grind things out so those are the keys for kansas winning the game i'll talk about the keys colorado win the game um for starters i think the defense needs to make this a jaylen daniels game where it's no devvin Neal, right? If Devin Neal gets going, that's where we've seen Colorado struggle and their two losses, both teams were able to run the ball, right?

Starting point is 00:21:30 And obviously they've dramatically improved after both those games, but still anyone, any day in big 12, anything can happen. So take Devin Neal out of this game and make Jalen Daniels beat you, beat Travis Hunter, right? Beat DJ, DJ DJ McKinney Preston Hodge I think Colorado arguably has one of the better secondaries in college football right now headlined by Travis Hunter and make it so Daniels has to beat you with his arm I'm not saying he can't but that's not his game right he's not a guy who could solely beat you just airing that thing out and if this turns into a Shador Sanders versus Jalen Daniels shootout, I personally would trust Shador Sanders.

Starting point is 00:22:07 That's kind of like the situation that he thrives in the most. And then offensively, you got to protect Shador Sanders. That's always a must. He's still getting sacked a lot. It has improved, and some of the sacks are actually his fault. I think it's been, I want to say the last three games, PFF has credited him with more sacks or as many sacks in the offensive line where it's just him holding the ball too long and not getting rid of it so

Starting point is 00:22:30 Chador needs to protect himself the offensive line he needs to protect him as well and I think Colorado has a chance to win this game Derek before we go do you have a bold prediction for this game um man bold prediction for this game um I'll say somebody gets a pick six how about that i like doesn't always happen every game but there's a lot of guys who can do it like right travis hunter can obviously do it right uh kobe ryan mellow dots and we've seen them do it multiple times each throughout their career so i'll say somebody gets a pick six but beyond that i think what's interesting is colorado i was looking at Shader Sanders completing 83% of his passes over the middle of the field. That is really good.

Starting point is 00:23:08 And Kansas struggles the most defensively guarding the pass over the middle of the field. But of Shader Sanders, seven interceptions, six of them are interceptions over the middle. So maybe it's a linebacker getting a pick six or something for Kansas. Maybe it's Jalen Daniels having one of those old interception issues and they get to pick six. I'll say somebody has picked six in this one. I'm going to go, and obviously the spread may not make this as bold, but I think this comes down to the final possession.

Starting point is 00:23:34 And it feels bold in the sense that Colorado has won their past, I think, four games by double digits. They've been hot. They've been blowing teams out. Even the Texas Tech game, it was a little close at the end there, but the game wasn't that close in the second half. Colorado had taken over. So I think it comes down to the final possession.

Starting point is 00:23:49 I think this game is going to be uncomfortably close for Colorado, and I don't know what's going to happen. I don't have the crystal ball in front of me, but I know it's going to be a great game. Derek, I appreciate you for doing this. I appreciate you for crossing over with me. This has been Locked on Buffs and Locked on Jayhawks. Make us your first listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Starting point is 00:24:05 Make sure to like, subscribe, and follow. And we will see you guys during our live reaction shows on Saturday or Sunday, depending on when Derek does his. But we appreciate you guys and all the support that you give us. And we will see you guys tomorrow.

Locked On Jayhawks - Daily Podcast On Kansas Jayhawks Football & Basketball - Travis Hunter vs Cobee Bryant, Leipold vs Prime: Kansas Jayhawks vs Colorado Buffaloes Crossover

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.