The Arizona Wildcats are aiming to end their 17-game losing streak against Colorado.
The Arizona Wildcats have yet to secure a win in more than two years as they prepare to play in the Rocky Mountain foothills on Saturday afternoon.
The Wildcats, who are currently 0-5, experienced another loss last Saturday night against UCLA in Tucson, falling 34-16. This marks the team’s fifth straight game without scoring more than 20 points.
Coach Jedd Fisch’s team embarks on a 550-mile journey to Folsom Field in Boulder for a matchup against the struggling 1-4 Buffaloes. The goal is to secure a victory against a team that has failed to score more than 14 points against any FBS opponent this season.
The game between the Wildcats and Buffaloes is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 p.m. Arizona time on Saturday, and will be aired live on the Pac-12 Network.
Increasing the Chances of Success on Saturday
The Wildcats have an opportunity to end their lengthy Power Five losing streak in Saturday’s game, but three Arizona sportsbooks are not feeling confident about their odds.
As of Wednesday morning, BetMGM Arizona, DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona, and FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona all have the Buffs as 6.5-point favorites.
If moneyline bets interest you, Arizona has odds of +210 on BetMGM and FanDuel, and +205 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
BetMGM and FanDuel Sportsbook in Arizona have set the over/under for the contest at 46.5, but DraftKings Sportsbook has it at 47.
Will the Wildcats be able to secure a win in honor of Fisch?
Arizona is still looking to help Fisch secure his first win as a head coach in Tucson, after missing opportunities to defeat BYU and FCS Northern Arizona earlier in the season.
Fisch’s team will have to adapt to a new quarterback this week as Jordan McCloud suffered an injury and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season following the game against the Bruins.
Although he has only posted a net QBR of 33.5 in three appearances this year, all signs suggest that former Washington State Cougar QB Gunner Cruz will be named the starter.
Cruz struggled on Saturday, managing to complete only 4 of 7 passes for 48 yards and earning a 14.9 QBR in the team’s 34-16 loss to UCLA.
As a freshman, he delivered his most outstanding performance of the season in the first game against BYU, completing 34 out of 45 passes for 336 yards and a touchdown.
Count Fisch is confident in the freshman’s ability to lead the Wildcats, telling the media this week that Cruz has the skills to duplicate his impressive performance from the first game.
“I trust Gunner,” he declared. “Gunner proved himself during training camp with his exceptional throwing skills to earn the starting position. We should go back to that week leading up to the BYU game, remind him of his accomplishments, and focus on the positive plays he executed against BYU.”
Expect Cruz to target junior WR Stanley Berryhill III early against the Buffs, as the former Marana Mountain View High School standout is predicted to be the team leader in receptions (40) and receiving yards (397).
During his conversation with members of the media, Fisch expressed his belief in the strong relationship between Cruz and Berryhill.
Fisch pointed out that Cruz’s strong arm made him well-suited for the perimeter throwing game, which allowed him to swiftly deliver the ball to his receivers. This tactic paid off when Stanley and Casteel successfully executed big plays along the sideline.
We will evaluate his accomplishments and pinpoint areas for growth to enhance his self-assurance. Confidence is crucial, and once he recovers it, his momentum will come naturally.
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Author
Peterson Christopher has over seven years of experience covering sports and sports betting in Arizona. He has held positions at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News. Currently, he is the lead writer at yengols.com.
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