Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Colorado Buffaloes: Match updates, live score

BOULDER, Colo. – More than 52 years after their last meeting in Mountain Time, the Cincinnati Bearcats will play the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday night at Folsom Field. For Buffaloes fans of “Coach Prime” Deion Sanders, prime time kickoff is at 8:15 p.m., while Bearcats fans will watch the game after midnight as it is 10:15 p.m. in the Eastern Time Zone.

The game is crucial as both teams are 5-2 (3-1 Big 12). Both teams have Davey O'Brien quarterbacks on the watch list: Shedeur Sanders leads Colorado's aggressive air attack, while Brendan Sorsby leads the balanced run-pass approach that coach Scott Satterfield has used. In his media messages Tuesday, Buffaloes coach Sanders said the UC offense isn't “sexy.”

At the start of Saturday, the Cincinnati Bearcats were 6.5 point underdogs on the road against Colorado, according to DraftKings. About an hour before the scheduled kickoff, the line has shifted half a point in Cincinnati's favor, leaving the Bearcats six point underdogs. The total score remains 57 points.

What does the scouting report say about Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders?

One of the three keys to the game will be limiting the signal-caller, who is among the top quarterbacks in completions, passing yards, touchdowns and more.

Cincinnati's road trip to Colorado will be only the second meeting between the two schools.

Cincinnati visited No. 2 Colorado of the Big 8 Conference on September 16, 1972. Colorado won 56-14 before finishing 8-4 and losing to Auburn in the Gator Bowl. The Bearcats finished the season 2-9 after a 2-2 start.

Here are five things to look for as the Bearcats take on Colorado in a primetime matchup against the Buffaloes, including healthy offensive and defensive play from Travis Hunter and the Bearcats' balance with runs from Corey Kiner and passes from Brendan Sorsby offensive game plan.

Points are scored

The Buffaloes, with Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, have the No. 7 passing offense, while UC has the No. 52 rushing offense with Sorsby, Corey Kiner and Evan Pryor. The Bearcats' total offense is 24th in the country, averaging 451.4 yards per game, while the Buffaloes are 64th with 398.6 yards.

Watch Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Colorado football on ESPN.com/watch

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Colorado Buffaloes results updates

This section will be updated when the game begins.

1	2	3	4	F
CINCINNATI	X	X	X	X	—
COLORADO	X	X	X	X	—

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Colorado Buffaloes time tonight

Date: Saturday, October 26th
Time: 10:15. Clock (East)
Location: Folsom Field (50,183)

What channel is Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Colorado Buffaloes on tonight?

Cincinnati vs. Colorado will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, with Mark Jones on play-by-play, Roddy Jones as analyst and Quint Kessenich on the sideline. 700WLW features Hall of Famers Dan Hoard on play-by-play and former UC receiver Jim Kelly on color. Former Bearcats quarterback Tony Pike will serve as sideline reporter, while Mo Egger will serve as the show's host/engineer.

History of the Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Colorado Buffaloes

Series balance: Colorado leads 1-0
Colorado's last win: 56-14 in 1972.

Cincinnati Bearcats vs Colorado Buffaloes Predictions

In August, I chose Colorado as the winner in my season picks because I thought the atmosphere would be difficult. While I think the game is more winnable than originally expected, the Bearcats will have to fend off a strong passing attack after facing three top-rated runners in a row (Tahj Brooks of Texas Tech, RJ Harvey of UCF and Cam Skattebo of Arizona State). Turnovers would be a fluke to get a win that would give them bowl eligibility with four games left on the schedule. Nevertheless, I stick with my original result since UC is in a different time zone.

Forecast: Colorado 30, Cincinnati 27

Cincinnati Bearcats vs Colorado Buffaloes odds

DraftKings lines and odds as of Saturday:

Spread: -6.5 Colorado (The entire ESPN GameDay crew chose Colorado)
Over/under: 57
Money line: Cincinnati +200, Colorado -245

Injury updates for Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Colorado Buffaloes

Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jared Bartlett is tied for the team lead in tackles with Antwan Peek Jr. He suffered a bump on Cam Skattebo's second touchdown last week against Arizona State but is probably fine.

Also set to return for Colorado is versatile Deion Sanders-like player Travis Hunter after missing part of the last two games with a shoulder injury.

“Travis is better than he was last week,” Sanders said at his weekly news conference in Boulder. “I think he will be more productive because he feels a lot better than last week. You can just tell by his little excitement and the way he approaches life, with a little more pep in his step.”

Weather update for Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Colorado Buffaloes

Sunny skies are expected from the Weather Channel with a high of 74 degrees in Boulder on Saturday, and evening lows will fall to 47 degrees. The kickoff temperature is expected to be 58 degrees.

Cincinnati Bearcats 2024 schedule

August 31, Towson (W 38-20)
September 7th, Pitt (L 28-27)
September 14th at Miami University (W 27-16)
September 21, Houston (W 34-0)
September 28th at Texas Tech (L 44-41)
Oct. 12 at UCF (W 19-13)
Oct. 19, Arizona State (W 24-14)
October 26 in Colorado
November 9, West Virginia
Nov. 16 at Iowa State
November. 23 at Kansas State
November 30, TCU

Buy Cincinnati Bearcats football tickets this season at GoBearcats.com

Colorado Buffaloes 2024 schedule

August 29, North Dakota State (W 31-26)
September 7th in Nebraska (L 28-10)
September 14th at Colorado State (W 38-9)
September 21, Baylor (W 38-31 OT)
September 28th at UCF (W 48-21)
Oct. 12, Kansas State (L 31-28)
October 19th in Arizona (S 34-7)
Oct. 26, Cincinnati
Nov. 9 at Texas Tech
November 16, Utah
No. 23 in Kansas
Nov. 29, Oklahoma State

Cincinnati Bearcats football news

We may occasionally recommend products and services that may be of interest to you. We may receive an affiliate fee if you make a purchase by clicking on one of the links. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently and this has no influence on our reporting.