Buffin' Up for the Holidays

Back in the day, this was a conference game.

That's before Colorado joined Arkansas -- with Nebraska and Texas A&M soon following -- in saying sayonara to the old Southwest Conference/Big Eight, mostly because they all got sick of Texas big-dogging it.

No one on the field tonight in San Antonio's Alamodome will have any real memory of what was once an annual event. All they'll know about the other side is what they'll see in game videos.

Taking a look at the Bovada data tool on our Home page, you'll see that the Buffaloes are sitting at -3. Given that this is a neutral-site game, that trip is obviously not a home-field thing.

Frankly, it's notable that the number's that close.

Colorado's three losses were to USC, Washington, and Michigan, the latter in Ann Arbor. That's when they were leading the Wolverines until QB Sefo Liufau departed with an injury.

Oklahoma State's explosive, but the Cowboys don't have the all-around game of those three opponents. What the 'Pokes do have now and next year is Mason Rudolph chucking to James Washington.

Points should get posted in this one, but who in the Big XII has stopped anyone defensively?

Colorado, meanwhile, showed a lot of everything to make it to the Pac-12 championship game:

If the winner rings up 40 in this one, it'll be Oklahoma State's game.

If not, Colorado will probably find a way. It'll come down to how efficient the Rudolph-to-Washington connections are. On a fast track like the Alamodome, that should be lethal.

San Antonio is BBQ country, and Buffalo burgers will be on the menu tonight.

Prediction: Oklahoma State +3

Result: Cowboys 38 Buffaloes 8 ... Oklahoma State covers