The Buffs have the two best players on the field at this game, and one of them (Shedeur Sanders) also happens to play the most important position in the sport. BYU will test Colorado physically, but the Cougars don't have the secondary to run with Travis Hunter and the rest of CU's wide receivers for an entire game. Buffs by a TD here.

In a bow, season filled with lackluster games because of team gutted by the transfer portal or coaching carousel, this one rates as a throwback bowl showcase -- the kind you used to reserve holiday time for as a must-watch. Colorado has protected the future of its star players by taking out insurance against potential injuries and BYU is expected to be at full strength as well. The Cougars had two losses by nine combined points that kept them out of the CFP. Their top-20 defense will be the stingiest the Buffaloes have faced all year and that factor will be the difference.

BYU will be without some missing pieces on the offensive line today. The Buffaloes have the more talented players by far, but don’t have the strongest rushing defense. BYU is 29th in rushing success rate and 22nd in EPA per rush which is where it hurt the Buffaloes like when they played Kansas, Kansas State and Nebraska. It’s hard to think that Shadeur Sanders and Travis Hunter will play the entire game with them getting ready for the NFL Draft as well.

The magic of a great season can be disrupted with a bowl game layoff. For the Colorado Buffaloes they will be undergoing a major transformation as Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter head to the NFL. BYU has the intel to take away Colorado’s strengths with extra preparation, and were the Big 12 college football playoff front runner for the majority of the season. Look for BYU to end Coach Prime’s Buffaloes season on a poor note. Take the Cougars.

BYU was a revelation this season, but the Cougars also cut it very close on many occasions, often relying on late-game magic from QB Jake Retzlaff. The Cougs, however, were not steaming down the stretch, losing twice in November and without a spread cover in their last four games. As far as revelations go this season, Colorado was as good as any, as Deion Sanders' Buffs won eight and covered nine of their last ten, narrowly missing the conference title game. With most draft-eligible Buffs (like both Sanders boys and Heisman winner Travis Hunter) sticking around for the bowl and not many CU players opting yet for the portal, expect the Deion momentum to continue for one more night. Play Colorado (Alamo Bowl)

BYU started the season 9-0 but lost two of their last three games to miss the Big 12 championship. They didn't cover their last four games. Colorado covered nine of their last 10 games but lost to Kansas to miss out on the Big 12 championship. Here they are meeting when they didn't even meet in the Big 12 this season. The big news here is that Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter will play even though they will be top three picks in the NFL draft. Colorado's defense got better this year but not as good as BYU's which is 20th in the nation allowing 317 yards per game. The Buffs want to be playing in the Alamo Bowl. Colorado wins this game.

This game will be an excellent showcase for both teams. But why Colorado has more to show is because of it being the final look at both Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. This game can help strengthen both players draft stock and I expect it to be a high scoring affair coming from the Buffs side of things.