Colorado State vs. Wyoming: Keys to a Cowboys Win, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction
The Cowboys host the annual Border War battle against Colorado State. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for against the Rams.
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The rivalry is back on.
WEEK 10: Colorado State Rams (3-5, 2-2 Mountain West) vs. Wyoming Cowboys (4-4, 0-4 Mountain West)
WHEN: Saturday, November 6th, 2021 – 1:30 pm MT/12:30pm PT
WHERE: Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium; Laramie, Wyoming
TV: CBS Sports Network
STREAMING: FuboTV – Get a 7-day free trial
RADIO: The Colorado State broadcast can be found in and around the Fort Collins area on 102.9 FM. The Wyoming broadcast can be found in and around the Laramie area on 1290 AM.
SERIES RECORD: Wyoming holds the most wins in the series after the implementation of the bronze boot 28-25, while CSU leads the overall series 59-48-5.
GAME NOTES (PDF): Colorado State | Wyoming
ODDS (as of 11/5, via Vegas Insider): Colorado State -3.5
Wyoming once again will attempt to save their season this week in what may be the biggest game to this point. After losing four straight games, after initially winning as many, the pokes are looking at the possibility of not finishing the season in bowl eligibility, a statement that would have seemed crazy just a few weeks ago. Now, as arch rival CSU makes the perilous journey up US 287, and enters the friendly confines of War Memorial Stadium, an annually important game has its significance amplified.
Looking down the road at the rest of their schedule, I don’t believe that Wyoming becomes bowl eligible this year without beating CSU this week, the battle for the bronze boot has become the battle for the 2021 season. Can Wyoming beat their foes to the south? I think so, here are three ways that they can get it done.
1. Contain Trey McBride
There’s no mistake why McBride is CSU quarterback Todd Centeio‘s favorite target, the 6’4″ tight end from Fort Morgan is one of the nation’s best, and is a leader in the Rams locker room. The pokes will have their hands full with this task, but stopping the momentum that McBride brings the team is essential.
2. Eliminate third and long
Too many times during this losing streak for the Cowboys did they end up in third and long situations, which set them up four failure and resulted in fourth down punts. The Cowboys need to have explosive plays on first and second down that lead to a third and manageable.
CSU has a decent rush defense, allowing just over 100 yards a game this season on the ground, Wyoming may be forced to look to quarterback Levi Williams to throw the ball earlier in drives than what is typical of this offense, but should also open up the field for Xazavian Valladay and Titus Swen to run more freely.
3. Feel the energy from the fans
Last week in San Jose the Wyoming offense was finally able to get going, scoring 21 offensive points in a close loss to the Spartans, Wyoming needs to build on that success at home, where they will have not only the energy of a home game, but the energy of a home game against their most fierce rival.
Wyoming can’t fall back on their heels this week and play the boring offensive football that they have lately, they need to feed off the energy of the crowd and play aggressively.
Final thoughts
Wyoming needs to treat this game exactly the way that it is, a do or die game. It’s also a needed win for the Rams, who are 3-5 on the season. With that in mind I believe that it will be another fierce game that adds to the history of this matchup. Both teams want this win, both teams need this win, but only one team will have home field advantage. Sure Colorado State might have had success against teams that beat Wyoming, but this is a brand new week, and I believe that the crowd can positively affect the outcome of high emotion games like this one so often is. Wyoming has the ability to be a fierce football team, we’ve seen glimpses of it numerous times this season, that early season success will have to show itself once more this weekend if they want to regain the bronze boot.
Final Wyoming 27 – CSU 24
