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Some Surprised Buffs Are Favorites In The Rocky Mountain Showdown

DENVER (CBS4) - Fans are gearing up for the Rocky Mountain Showdown this Saturday evening at Sports Authority Field at Mile High when the University of Colorado Buffaloes take on the Colorado State University Rams.

The Buffs are currently listed as three-point favorites in this game. It's a bit of a surprise to some considering the Rams beat the Buffs pretty handily last year.

The Buffs believe they're trending up, especially after their blowout win over UMass. The Rams believe they should be 2-and-0 after letting one get away at home against Minnesota.

PHOTO GALLERY: Fans Get Wild At 2014 Rocky Mountain Showdown

It should be easy for Rams head coach Mike Bobo to motivate his players for this game.

"I believe that when you have rivalry games, in which we have some here, and obviously this is our first one, it's easier to bounce back after a tough loss or a big win," Bobo said. "As a coach you like these types of games because kids focus, they're a lot more focused starting on day one."

One notable absence in the Minnesota game was wide receiver Rashard Higgins who was out with a sprained foot. The Rams are hopeful he can play against CU.

It's still not clear who the Rams will trot out there as their starting quarterback. Nick Stevens got the first-team reps on Monday, but freshman Coleman Key looked really good in the fourth quarter against the Golden Gophers. Bobo isn't ready to name a starter just yet.

"Both of them are young, both of them are going to make mistakes. We've got to do a good job coaching to limit those mistakes," Bobo said. "We've got to see how they handle that pressure of that position."

The Buffs will be without starting left tackle Jeremy Irwin who tore his ACL in the UMass game and is out for the season.

It looks like there will be a good crowd for the game. CSU students were waiting in line for tickets on Tuesday. They've already sold 26,000 in Fort Collins. Buffs fans have bought 29,000 in Boulder.

It's so much more than a football game on the line this weekend. It's also a lot about bragging rights. But don't tell that to CU quarterback Sefo Liufau.

"I don't want to come out and just say that I hate them. It's just another game. Obviously you want to win and you just want to beat the opponent, basically is how we're treating it," Liufau said.

"The best way for me to explain it is, you win or lose this game and you go out to eat dinner, and the next 365 days the waitress, if she's a CSU fan, or if you run into other people, the waiter, you go to church -- you hear about it," Buffs head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "So it's always a fun one to win because of that to me."

The game is this Saturday. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com.

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