Colorado does not like Texas.

We Texans invade their ski resorts, act like we own the state and can’t drive in snow and ice. And don’t even bring up Super Bowl XII.

For the next four weeks, Texas loves Colorado. That’s Texas, as in the University of, and Colorado, as in the Buffaloes football team.

Texas needs a strong finish from No. 22 Colorado to help in the BCS standings. It’s not as dire a situation now that Virginia Tech has lost, but the Longhorns best not leave anything to chance with a Rose Bowl berth at stake.

The Longhorns already have beaten Colorado, 42-17, on Oct. 15 in Austin. The Buffaloes remain the best chance for the Big 12 North to put a ranked representative in the Big 12 Championship game on Dec. 3 in Houston.

Colorado could be 9-2 by the time it reaches Reliant Stadium. Iowa State, Colorado’s next obstacle, already has three losses. Missouri, the only other team with a shot at the championship game, already has four defeats.

Winning in Ames, Iowa, won’t be easy for Colorado. However, this isn’t quite the North showdown that was expected before the season. The Buffaloes could lose to the Cyclones and beat Nebraska and still clinch the North.

Why is Colorado in such a strong position? Because the Buffaloes have had something Iowa State missed when running back Stevie Hicks was injured: balance.

Colorado is sixth it the Big 12 in rushing offense and second in passing offense.

The Buffs’ offense is dictated by the defense’s weakness — they used big back Lawrence Vickers last week to overpower Missouri, 41-12.

“Going into the game Saturday, we weren’t going to force any issues; we were just going to take what they gave us,” coach Gary Barnett said. “They gave us some things in the running game and the passing game which we were able to take advantage of.”

The schedule advantage Iowa State had going into the season has been negated. Both Colorado and Iowa State played Texas A&M and Oklahoma State from the Big 12 South. Colorado’s third South opponent was Texas; Iowa State lost a home game to Baylor.

Whereas Iowa State opened conference play with a three-game losing streak, the Buffs have chugged along and not let losses to Miami and Texas derail them. Colorado doesn’t have the overall speed and athleticism to beat those teams, especially on the road, but it’s got a smart coach and a veteran quarterback who won’t make mistakes.

Joel Klatt opened the Missouri game with 12 straight completions. He has thrown only four interceptions this season. His current streak is 122 passes without a pick.

Klatt is a senior who spent some time after high school playing minor league baseball. He may not have the strongest arm or the fleetest feet, but he’s got something a lot of Big 12 quarterbacks lack: wisdom.

“We pride ourselves on being balanced and efficient,” Klatt said. “When you do that, it provides a great picture from my seat because the defense has to play base. They can’t load the box or just defend the pass.”

The Buffaloes also possess the best kicking combo in the nation, and maybe the best of all time. Mason Crosby is deadly accurate from beyond 50 yards and in clutch situations. John Torp not only leads the league with a 46.4-yard punting average, Colorado is also best in the Big 12 in net punting.

A kicking game like that is an immense advantage for CU’s defense, which isn’t too shabby. The Buffs are fourth in the league in total defense and 23rd nationally.

All of which doesn’t make Colorado any more of a threat to knock off Texas in the Big 12 title game, although anyone who remembers 2001 had better not take the Buffs lightly.

But it does paint a picture that Colorado has a pretty nice team. Balanced, smart and efficient. There’s a lot to like, even if you’re not from Texas.