Colorado State vs. Utah State Game Preview: Three Keys for a Rams Win
Rams Look To Avenge Last Second Loss From A Year Ago
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Colorado State Opens Conference Play On The Road
WEEK 5: Colorado State Rams (1-3) vs. Utah State Aggies (2-1)
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 — 5:30 PM MT/4:30 PM PT
WHERE: Logan, Utah • Maverik Stadium (25,100)
TV: CBS Sports Network
STREAM: FuboTV – Get A seven-day free trial
RADIO: Rams Radio Network | Aggie Sports Network
SERIES RECORD: Utah State trails San Diego State 12-1 all-time, including a 1-8 road record. SDSU won its last matchup with Utah State 40-13 on Oct. 28, 2016 — its tenth straight against the Aggies.
LAST WEEK: Colorado State lost to Toledo 41-35 while Utah State defeated San Diego State 23-17 for their first win against the Aztecs in 52 years.
GAME NOTES: Colorado State | Utah State
ODDS (via OddsShark): Utah State -9.5
Keys To The Game
1. 4 Quarters
It’s game number four and it’s about time Colorado State put together a complete game in all phases of the game. To this point the Rams have started fast, started slow, finished great and finished terribly. Even in their lone win of the season against Western Illinois the Rams missed three field goals and lost two fumbles.
Mike Bobo has to find a way to get 60 minutes of football out of his team. The game is at night, on the road and in conference. It’s not outside the realm of possibility that Colorado State upsets Utah State but they are not going to do if they do not play a complete game.
2. Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold
Colorado State lost a heartbreaker last year as a successful Hail Mary was waved off due to the fact the Preston Williams illegal caught the ball on a freezing day in Fort Collins.
The win would have lessened the blow of such a miserable season for the Rams but it was not to be. While there may not be snow in the forecast this year, there is an 80% chance of rain on Saturday so it could be a slick, slippery pigskin where anything can happen. Colorado State needs to remember the loss from a year ago and use it as motivation. They played with Utah State step for step a year ago and there is no reason why they cannot do it again.
3. It’s All About The D
Make no mistake that the Colorado State defense IS the problem. The Rams they have give up 52, 55, and 41 points respectively. They rank 113th in total defense out of 130 FBS teams and 123rd in average points allowed (40). Colorado State is good enough offensively (even with running back Marvin Kinsey and wide receiver Warren Jackson questionable for Saturday) to win a shootout with Utah State but even then the defense has to come up with a stop or two and win the turnover battle which they seem unable to do.
Utah State quarterback Jordan Love hasn’t been great from a statistical standpoint (four TDs with three INTs) but he is a veteran and knows how to spread the ball around to a slew of weapons.
He’s arguably the best quarterback that the Rams have faced or will face this season and Colorado State has been gashed at times by the others so it’s hard to look at this game and think that the Rams can hold down Love and the Aggies offense enough to roll out of Logan with a win. If they can, let’s face it, it will inject an enormous amount of confidence into this 2019 team and its fan base.
