Boulder, Colo. ? Colorado’s defense, which has been burned all year through the air, is about to face perhaps its biggest test in Texas Tech quarterback B.J. Symons.

Texas Tech ranks No. 1 in the nation in scoring offense (45.1 points per game), No. 1 in passing offense (513.5 yards per game) and No. 1 in total offense (615.4 ypg).

Symons has completed 304 of 459 passes for 3,914 yards, 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season.

This isn’t good news for the Colorado defense, which ranks 115th out of 117 Division I teams in allowing 303.9 yards per game.

“We’ve just got to go in and make sure we play technique football and get a ‘W,”‘ CU cornerback Phil Jackson said.

Last year, the Buffaloes limited Texas Tech to 359 total yards and harassed quarterback Kliff Kingsbury all day in a 37-13 victory. But Colorado is just 3-5 this season (1-3 Big 12) and playing the Red Raiders (5-3, 2-2) is no break.

Missouri beat Texas Tech last week, 62-31. Symons went 40-for-62 for 408 yards and four touchdowns but also threw a season-worst three interceptions.

Tech entered the game leading the nation with a 47-point average but couldn’t recover from three turnovers in the first half.

Missouri rotated its defensive backs to keep the freshest legs possible on the field to combat Tech’s wave of receivers. Jackson said the Buffs are “well-conditioned,” so he doesn’t expect a similar strategy this weekend.

“We were ready to play last year,” safety Clyde Surrell said. “We knew they were going to throw the ball around the field. You’ve got to watch a lot of film and be ready.”