Deion Sanders and No. 21 Colorado will head to Texas Tech as part of the Big 12’s top seed

No. 21 Colorado (6-2, 4-1 Big 12, No. 20 CFP) at Texas Tech (6-3, 4-2), Saturday, 4 p.m. ET (Fox)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Colorado at 3 1/2.

Series record: Draw 5-5.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Last weekend on the opening date, Colorado moved right into a tie for second place in the Big 12. The Buffaloes are tied with No. 17 Iowa State, which was undefeated before a 23-22 home loss to Texas Tech last Saturday. It was the Red Raiders’ fifth one-point victory of the season, moving the Red Raiders to 7-2 in (*21*) games during coach Joey McGuire’s three seasons on the job. The losses were suffered by eventual CFP teams TCU in 2022 and Texas last 12 months.

KEY MATCH

Buffs QB Shedeur Sanders faces the worst passing defense in the Big 12. Sanders is second in the league with 323.9 passing yards per game and a career-high 21 TDs. He accomplished 220 of 300 passes (73.3%) and had six interceptions. The Red Raiders are allowing 307.2 yards passing per game, 46 greater than another team, and have a league-high 20 TDs through the air. But only two teams have greater than 11 steals.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colorado: Outfield standout Travis Hunter logged over 350 snaps on each side of the ball. No other FBS player has greater than 50 snaps on each offense and defense. Hunter is second in the Big 12 with eight touchdown catches and third with 757 receiving yards. At cornerback, he leads the conference with seven pass breakups and two interceptions.

Texas Tech: RB Tahj Brooks is 121 yards shy of breaking Bryon Hanspard’s school record of 4,219 yards, which has stood since 1996. Brooks is second in the Big 12 and fifth in the FBS with 130.9 yards per game this season and has eight rushing TDs over the last five games.

FACTS AND FIGURES

The only Texas Tech quarterback with fewer interceptions than Behren Morton’s five through the first nine games of the season is Zebbie Lethridge (three in 1997). Morton threw for two,300 yards and 19 TDs. … Colorado’s Isaiah Augustave has a streak of TDs in three consecutive games. … Alejandra Mata made seven straight field goals for Colorado and converted all 32 extra points.