Woelk: Takeaways From Buffs Vs. USC

CU's Laviska Shenault races to the end zone with a touchdown Friday against USC. (Tim Benko, Benko Photographics)

BOULDER — Mel Tucker's baseline rules for winning a football game are not complicated.

The Colorado Buffaloes head coach has some simple, fundamental truths about the game: run the ball effectively, win the turnover battle, convert third downs, score in the red zone, don't give up big plays on defense and keep penalties to a minimum.

When the Buffaloes have done those things this year, they have given themselves a chance to win. When they have not, the results have been predictable.

But what is becoming more and more apparent is that in their close games — win or lose — turnover…