Colorado Football: 2017 Buffaloes season preview, predictions
By Zach Bigalke
2017 schedule
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION |
| 1 | Sept. 1 | vs. Colorado State | Denver, Colo. |
| 2 | Sept. 9 | vs. Texas State | Boulder, Colo. |
| 3 | Sept. 16 | vs. FCS Northern Colorado | Boulder, Colo. |
| 4 | Sept. 23 | vs. Washington | Boulder, Colo. |
| 5 | Sept. 30 | at UCLA | Pasadena, Calif. |
| 6 | Oct. 7 | vs. Arizona | Boulder, Colo. |
| 7 | Oct. 14 | at Oregon State | Corvallis, Ore. |
| 8 | Oct. 21 | at Washington State | Pullman, Wash. |
| 9 | Oct. 28 | vs. California | Boulder, Colo. |
| 10 | Nov. 4 | at Arizona State | Tempe, Ariz. |
| 11 | Nov. 11 | vs. USC | Boulder, Colo. |
| 12 | Nov. 18 | BYE WEEK | |
| 13 | Nov. 25 | at Utah | Salt Lake City, Utah |
What’s in store for Colorado in 2017?
A return to the Pac-12 championship game is a tall order for this year’s Colorado team. The loss of so much established talent, combined with Leavitt’s departure as the coordinator, will lead to inevitable regression on defense. Even if Montez performs at a replacement level to what Liufau offered at quarterback last year, it will be harder to keep ahead of teams on the scoreboard in 2017.
That said, the Buffaloes should still get back to a bowl game this season without too much difficulty. The annual state rivalry game against Colorado State at Mile High Stadium is a tough start to the season, but there are no Power Five opponents on the non-conference schedule.
In Pac-12 play, the Buffaloes managed to avoid Stanford and Oregon in interdivisional play. They also play both Washington and USC at home this season. The Buffaloes aren’t likely to be back in Santa Clara in December, but another positive campaign is in the works.
Next: 5 reasons why Colorado Buffaloes will struggle in 2017
Prediction: 8-4, 5-4 Pac-12
Though they could lose to the Rams in the Friday-night opener in Denver on September 1, the Buffaloes should be 3-0 by the time Pac-12 play rolls around. Despite playing the Huskies and Trojans at home, both games project as losses for this year’s Colorado team.
They will likely lose a couple more conference showdowns this season, with road trips to Pullman and Salt Lake City the likeliest culprits. A year after winning the Pac-12 South, MacIntyre’s team will fall to third in the division.