I t’s not much of a stretch to say that Colorado’s bowl hopes for this season likely hinge on the outcome of Thursday’s showdown at West Virginia. A win evens the Buffaloes’ record at 2.2 headed into Big 12 play. A loss drops head coach Dan Hawkins’ squad to 1.3 and faced with finding five wins on an eight.game conference slate that includes four teams in the current AP top 25 and another at No. 26.

Colorado bounced back from losses to Colorado State and Toledo with a 24.0 shutout of Wyoming on Sept. 19. Other than that first convincing win, however, there’s been little impressive about the Buffaloes’ performance so far this season. They rank dead last in the Big 12 in total offense (342.7 yards per game) and total defense (410.0 ypg). Additionally, they allow opponents a conference.worst 25.7 points per game — even counting the shutout.

A lot of conjecture has been made about Hawkins’ decision to tap QB Cody Hawkins, the coach’s son, to start his third.straight campaign under center for the Buffaloes following a disappointing 5.7 season in 2008. The younger Hawkins eventually shared time with freshman QB Tyler Hansen last year, but it appears likely that Hansen will redshirt this season — leaving father and son to share an increasingly hot seat in Boulder.

Cody Hawkins needs a breakout game in Morgantown. Through three contests thus far, he has completed just 52.7 percent of his passes for a respectable 753 yards and five touchdowns, but with four interceptions. Not helping matters is an offensive line that has given up eight sacks.

But for all the doom and gloom, there are some bright spots. Sophomore RB Rodney Stewart has returned from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the first two games, and Colorado is a perfect 12.for.12 on red.zone scoring opportunities. They simply need to get there more often.

The Mountaineers won their first two games against Liberty and East Carolina before stumbling in a 41.30 loss at Auburn. Dangerous junior RB Noel Devine has 320 yards and five touchdowns so far, including a 128.yard, three.touchdown effort against the Tigers. Senior QB Jar.rett Brown, on the other hand, has been rather inconsis.tent, completing 68.4 percent of his passes for 798 yards and five touchdowns, but five interceptions as well.

Records: Colorado 1.2 (0.0 Big 12 North); West Virginia 2.1 (0.0 Big East). Coaches: Colorado’s Dan Hawkins (67.37); West Virginia’s Bill Stewart (12.5). Series: Colo.rado leads 1.0. Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday. TV: ESPN.

Key for Colorado: A big defensive outing. The Buffa.loes simplified their defensive package against Wyoming, and they’ll need a stellar effort to counter a West Virginia team eager to avenge last year’s 17.14 Colorado triumph in Boulder. Key for West Virginia: Poise under pressure. The Mountaineers had six turnovers against Auburn, including four interceptions in the fourth quarter once Auburn had rallied from a 14.0 deficit to seize the lead, which it never relinquished.

THE REST OF THE MATCHUPS

Kansas St. vs. Iowa St. (in Kansas City, Mo.)

Records: Kansas State 2.2 (0.0 Big 12 North); Iowa State 3.1 (0.0 Big 12 North). Coaches: Kansas State’s Bill Snyder (138.70.1); Iowa State’s Paul Rhoads (3.1). Series: Iowa State leads 49.39.4. Kickoff: 2 p.m. CT Saturday. TV: FCS.Central.

Key for Kansas State: Get in gear. The Wildcats have struggled offensively, averaging just 23.5 points per game, which ranks 87th among FBS teams. Luckily, Iowa State isn’t much better at 74th. QB Carson Coffman has thrown just two TD passes this season with four interceptions. Key

for Iowa State: Stop Thomas to win. Standout RB Daniel Thomas rushed 26 times to rip Tennessee Tech for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Without his production the Wildcats have been meek at best, and it could help the Cyclones capture their first conference win since 2007.

New Mexico at Texas Tech

Records: New Mexico 0.4 (0.1 Mountain West); Texas Tech 2.2 (0.0 Big 12 South). Coaches: New Mexico’s Mike Locksley (0.4); Texas Tech’s Mike Leach (78.40). Series: Texas Tech leads 33.6.2. Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday. TV: FSN.

Key for New Mexico: Keep the white flag handy. The Lobos have managed just five offensive touchdowns, while surrendering 17 to their opponents. Key for Texas Tech: Fill the big hole. Senior OL Brandon Carter was stripped of his captaincy and suspended indefinitely for an undisclosed violation of team rules. A first.team All.Big 12 selection last year, Carter was an All.American candidate this season.

Kent State at Baylor

Records: Kent State 2.2 (1.0 Mid.American); Baylor 2.1 (0.0 Big 12 South). Coaches: Kent State’s Doug Martin (21.41); Baylor’s Art Briles (40.37). Series: First meeting. Kickoff: 6 p.m. CT Saturday. TV: None.

Key for Kent State: Especially special teams. The Golden Flashes blocked a punt and ran a kickoff back 92 yards for a touchdown to minimize a lackluster night offensively in a 29.19 victory over winless Miami (Ohio) Saturday. Key for Baylor: Hold fast. Baylor’s outlook for the rest of the season is up in the air with the loss of QB Robert Griffin, but the Bears are still capable of making noise in the Big 12. Yet senior QB Blake Szymanski, the full.time starter in 2007, was also hurt in the same game, and his status is unclear.

Texas A&M vs. Arkansas (in Arlington, Texas)

Records: Texas A&M 3.0 (0.0 Big 12 South); Arkansas 1.2 (0.2 SEC). Coaches: Texas A&M’s Mike Sherman (7.8); Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino (47.18). Series: Arkansas leads 38.24.3. Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday. TV: ESPN2.

Key for Texas A&M: Attack, attack, attack. The Razor.backs defense has been woeful in its past two games, giving up a combined 955 yards of offense and 87 points to Georgia and Alabama. The Aggies lead the nation in total offense with 574.3 ypg to go with 18 touchdowns. Key for Arkansas: Give Mallett time. Sophomore QB Ryan Mallett has shown big.play ability, throwing for seven touchdowns with just one interception. But Alabama sacked him three times and held him to 160 yards passing with one score and one pick.

Oklahoma at Miami (Fla.)

Records: Oklahoma 2.1 (0.0 Big 12 South); Miami 2.1 (2.1 ACC). Coaches: Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops (111.25); Miami’s Randy Shannon (14.13). Series: Series tied 3.3. Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET Saturday. TV: ABC.

Key for Oklahoma: Time for the cream to rise. Regardless of whether Sam Bradford returns or not, it’s imperative that Oklahoma’s stars shine Saturday night. Bob Stoops’ team has dropped its last two games against ranked opponents .. BYU and Florida last season. If Miami is able to hobble the Sooners, the rest of the Big 12, par.ticularly Texas, will start to smell blood. Key for Miami: A favorable forecast. Playing in a downpour in Blacksburg, QB Jacory Harris completed just nine of 25 passes for 150 yards and an interception as the Hurricanes fell 31.7 to Virginia Tech.