Paul Finebaum expects 'powerful performance' from Colorado vs. North Dakota State

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum expects a powerful performance from Colorado to open the season against North Dakota State.

Long considered a game that was extremely intriguing, despite the FBS vs. FCS matchup, Finebaum sees Deion Sanders and crew getting through unscathed. But don’t discount the upset potential.

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Still, Finebaum thinks the talent difference is clear going into Thursday night.

“I expect a really powerful performance by Colorado, and it’s not because Deion said they’re going to do this or that,” Finebaum said on First Take. “I just think, second year, you overcome some things. Now they looked great, as we all know, at the beginning of last year, but I think this is a really, really great opportunity at home, at night, perfect atmosphere, against a good team. But this is not the Bison of a couple years ago, when they were owning their division, they’ve fallen off a little bit.” 

The task is simple, Colorado can’t play with its food.

“So I think for Deion Sanders and Shedeur and Travis Hunter and the entire team, it’s just get out there, jump to a lead, put this team away,” Finebuam said. “Don’t let this game go down to the final couple of minutes. The flip side of this is there is a lot on the line. 

“I don’t think that’s really the issue going in, but it could be the issue coming out if they don’t perform, if they make a lot of mistakes, and if that Colorado offensive line can’t protect Shedeur Sanders like they were unable to last year.”

Paul Finebaum expects win from Colorado to open season

Basically a win for Colorado will quiet down the criticism for now, according to Finebaum.

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“There are many, many pundits who are just who are going to tune in this game, and if Colorado is behind, they are going to fixate and start preparing their tweets and their columns and their shots, and that’s the one thing that Deion does not need,” Finebaum said. “And listen, we’ve had a lot of conversation about him this week, but we both feel the same way. We’re rooting for him, but a lot of people are rooting against him tonight, and I think that’s important to remember. 

“And if he loses this game, suddenly … the headline tomorrow is Deion spent all week clapping back at the media instead of preparing, even though that’s not true, even though he really didn’t say very much, and it was magnified and aggregated ad nauseam. That will be the narrative.” 

What is a successful season for Colorado? Well, it’s probably not CFP like Sanders has suggested before. Finebaum has a different take.

“And the most important thing for this program this year is to get to a bowl game,” Finebaum said. “Without that, there’s no way to consider it a success. Yes, I know he wants a playoff, that’s to come, but this year, it’s about getting a winning record at a bowl game, and a loss tonight would make that very difficult.”