New York Times' prediction for Colorado's 2009 football season

Could this be it? Could this be the year when Dan Hawkins and the Buffaloes break through and win the Big 12 North? Will Colorado win 10 games, as Hawkins so brazenly predicted at the tail end of last fall’s five-win finish? So many questions. First things first: Colorado is not winning 10 games, not in the Big 12 and not with this schedule. (In the team’s defense, it does get Kansas and Nebraska at home.) However, that doesn’t mean the Buffaloes can’t be very good, especially if they can overcome the debilitating injury bug that has plagued the program in each of the last two seasons. Some groups – offensive and defensive line, for instance – remain enigmas, but each has the potential to be very good, especially the young and talented offensive front. The big question revolving around the C.U. offense is what type of play the Buffaloes will get from the quarterback position: if the team gets good – not spectacular, just good – play and consistency, the offense will be much, much better. So I expect an improvement from this team in 2009; however, to be honest, I can’t justify placing Colorado any higher than No. 43. But I could see the Buffaloes, with some luck, the development of their young players and a largely injury-free campaign, being a dark horse Top 25 candidate. A lot would have go right, however. My prediction is a little more guarded: I believe Colorado will finish 7-5, 4-4 in the Big 12, third in the North.