Two teams hoping to get off on the right foot in 2010 collide in Denver this weekend, as the Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State Rams lock horns in a Rocky Mountain showdown at Invesco Field.

Colorado State head coach Steve Fairchild has high hopes for his club this year and considering how poorly the team closed out 2009, the only way to go is up for the squad. After winning three straight to open the campaign, beating the Buffs, Weber State and Nevada, the Rams hits the skids with nine straight losses and that means the program is tied with Washington State with the third-longest losing streak in the nation heading into the 2010 campaign. Needless to say, CSU went winless in Mountain West Conference action with eight setbacks in as many matchups.

As for the Buffaloes and head coach Dan Hawkins, they too struggled last year and managed just three wins overall as well. Victories over Wyoming, Kansas and Texas A&M did little to satisfy the CU fan base and that’s why Hawkins is again on the hot seat. The squad played a couple of close games down the stretch, but still the Buffs ended with a three-game losing streak and dropped five of their last six overall as they finished 2-6 in the Big 12 Conference.

The battle between supremacy in Colorado kicks offs early this year and early evaluation shows the Buffalo’s and their return starters being key even on the road. expect plenty of Buffalo fans on deck as they start the season off right with a win against their rival.