Paul Finebaum encouraged by Deion Sanders, Colorado despite Week 1 loss

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum came away encouraged by Deion Sanders and Colorado despite the 27-20 loss to Georgia Tech to open the season. The game was there for the taking, but the Buffaloes couldn’t finish.

Still, QB Kaidon Salter had his moments as a dual threat and the defense played well in spots. But in the end, it was a loss. Sanders wasn’t even too pleased with his defense Friday night.

But Finebaum can still see seven or eight wins for Colorado this season. It might not be enough for a Big 12 Championship Game appearance, but it’d be a solid season nonetheless.

“It’s hard to look at that program without a heavy heart, because I think everybody watching this right now is pulling for Coach Prime and really thrilled that he’s overcome what he has,” Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show. “But they looked like a promising football team, and I saw in Prime after the game, a guy who liked what he saw. Yeah, mistakes across the board, the inability to take advantage of gifts that they should have had in the first half. But Georgia Tech is well coached, and I didn’t read a whole lot into it negatively. I still think, right now, the goal, I think all along, has been maybe to grab seven, possibly eight wins. They still can do that, and I feel pretty good about where they are.”

Salter went 17-of-28 passing for 159 yards and one touchdown while adding 13 carries for 43 yards and a score. However, Haynes King showed out for Georgia Tech. The passing numbers were pedestrian: 143 yards and one interception. But it was the run game for the QB that stood out: 19 carries, 156 yards and three touchdowns.

Going into the game, Sanders actually claimed this Colorado team was the best they’ve assembled during his time in Boulder. That’s bold considering there is no Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders. If that is indeed the case, Colorado will have to turn it around fast after starting 0-1. They have Delaware at home next week, followed by the Big 12 opener at Houston on September 12th.

“I think this is the best team we’ve ever assembled thus far,” Deion Sanders said. “We had some tremendous athletes, but we have some tremendous athletes now. Overall, this is the best team, as well as the best staff …

“With the portal, everybody’s got a little bit of this, a little bit of that. But I like the depth. I like — okay, because I’ve got to prepare for the ifs. This happens? Where we going with that? If that happens, let’s make sure we’re straight with it. I like the ifs and we’re prepared for those ifs.”