“I’m at a loss for words. I take responsibility for the foolishness we call football.” This wasn’t just accountability from Deion Sanders after the Houston loss, but a proclamation for the future games. The plan is to avoid any more losses and, hopefully, make it to the Big 12 game. Surely, that seems ambitious, but Coach Prime is taking one step at a time. The next step challenge is an undefeated BYU Cougars coming to Boulder, and by the looks of it, it is expected to be a tense game. So, let’s dive into what we can expect in the game, from the announcers to ongoing predictions.

Colorado, so far, has lost two games against Houston and Georgia Tech, and is 112th nationally in total defense. The offense has also regressed a lot and is ranked 83rd nationally, with Colorado giving up 375 yards per game so far. BYU, on the contrary, has been solid this season, winning all three of its previous games in a blowout fashion. As for BYU’s offense and defense, they are placed 33rd nationally in total offense and a stellar second nationally in total defense. On paper, it sure looks like a blowout for BYU, but underestimating Colorado can derail their season. The coverage then is going to be electric.

The game will air at 10 PM ET on Saturday, September 27th. The announcers for the game will be Mark Jones, who will be the play-by-play announcer, while Roddy Jones will come in as an in-game analyst. Quin Kessenich, on the other hand, will serve as the sidelines reporter at Folsom Field. Apart from the live coverage at ESPN, folks can also watch on the ESPN app, through an ESPN+ subscription, and also explore plans at Fubo, which is currently offering a free trial, too.

Both Mark Jones and Roddy Jones are prolific sportscasters in their own right, and both of them come with a wealth of experience. For instance, Roddy Jones joined ESPN fairly recently in 2017 as a sideline reporter; he was covering ACC football for Raycom previously. Before that, Roddy was a standout player for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, playing from 2008 to 2011 for the team. His role as an accomplished running back was pivotal for Georgia Tech in the 2009 season, as the team won the ACC title, defeating Clemson. Roddy then takes his experience both as a player and sportscaster and combines it to provide in-depth analysis. As for Mark Jones, he is also a veteran in the broadcasting field.

Mark Jones, a basketball athlete for York University in Toronto, Canada, was pivotal for the team’s three Ontario Universities Athletic Association championships from 1981. His achievements were so pronounced that Mark was inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame in 2016. However, Jones was destined for the broadcasting world and joined TSN Canada, where he worked until 1990. From then on, ABC and ESPN came calling, and Jones has been giving those coverages flawlessly ever since. Coming to the game’s predictions, Deion Sanders has laid out his plan.

Predictions for the Colorado Buffaloes vs the BYU Cougars game and betting odds?

BYU is currently the heavy favorite for the Week 5 clash in Boulder, owing to the superior stats they have charted this season. The spread favorites then are the Cougars with a -6.5 spread, while Moneyline has the Cougars’ odds listed at -250 and the Buffaloes at +205. That wholly makes BYU a 49.5 favorite going into the game, with major betting agencies predicting a fourth straight victory for the Cougars. Despite that, Deion Sanders is coming full throttle, although he expects difficulty in the game.

“Every week is a proving ground. We’ve got to win these types of games. We’ve got to be dominant in these types of games…We got our swagger back… but BYU ain’t Wyoming. They physical, they disciplined— we gotta match that fire or it’s gonna be a long night,” said Deion Sanders about facing BYU. Colorado also has unfinished business in the game, as BYU defeated the Buffs in the Alamo Bowl last season.

Colorado and BYU have met 13 times previously, with the Buffs holding a 7-4-1 record. Deion Sanders needs to win the game to keep the Big 12 title hopes alive, while BYU will not leave any stone unturned to extract a win. Of course, ideally, the game at Boulder should favor Colorado slightly. But the team has already lost a game against Georgia Tech (20-27) at home, and that surely could happen again if Deion Sanders hasn’t made any major changes.