Nevada vs Colorado State: Keys to a Rams Win, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction
CSU hosts Nevada to close out the season
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Can the Rams get some momentum to end the season?
WEEK 9: Nevada Wolf Pack (7-4, 4-3 Mountain West) vs Colorado State Rams (3-8, 2-5 Mountain West)
WHEN: Saturday, November 27th β 7 PM MT/6 PM PT
WHERE: Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins, CO
TV: CBS Sports Network
STREAMING: Fans can sign up to receive a free one-week trial of Fubo, which includes CBSSN, by following this link.
RADIO: The Colorado State broadcast can be found in and around the Fort Collins area on 102.9 FM. The Nevada broadcast can be found in and around the Reno area on 94.5 FM.
SERIES RECORD: This will be the 17th matchup between these two schools. Colorado state leads the series 12-4. Nevada won the last matchup 49-10 at Nevada in 2018.
LAST WEEK: Colorado State lost to Hawai’i 50-45, while Nevada lost to Air Force in 3OT 41-39.
WEBSITES: NevadaWolfPack.com, the official Nevada athletics website | CSURams.com, the official Colorado State athletics website
GAME NOTES (PDF): Nevada | Colorado State
ODDS (as of 11/24, via Vegas Insider): Nevada -4
SP+ PROJECTION: Nevada by 2.3
FEI PROJECTION: Nevada by 3.2
The Colorado State Rams lost their fifth game in a row last week at Hawai’i. It looked like it would get out of hand early before the Rams decided to wake up and make it a shootout. The Rams defense was no where to be seen and the running game decided to go to sleep as well.
This week the Rams host the Nevada Wolf Pack. The Rams want to win this game and get some momentum going headed into the offseason. Nevada is out of the running for the West division title, but are still looking to improve their bowl standing.
Here’s how the Rams can end their losing streak and beat the Wolf Pack.
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For our πππππ.Help us honor our outgoing seniors in a pregame ceremony beginning at 6:35 p.m. SaturdayβΌοΈ pic.twitter.com/CEhs7YWE66
— Colorado State Football (@CSUFootball) November 25, 2021
Three Keys to a Rams Victory
1. Throw The Ball
Steve Addazio and offensive coordinator Jon Budmayr want to run a balanced offense that tends to be run heavy. The problem for the Rams is that they stick to this plan until it is almost too late. Last week against Hawaii, the Rams showed they could be a passing team as Todd Centeio finished with 527 passing yards.
The Rams might have to try to go shot for shot with the Wolf Pack if they want to have a chance to win. CSU has the targets and Centeio has shown he can throw it, so it’s just a matter of the coaches calling the plays and the Rams executing.
2. Secondary Be Ready
Jack Howell was named Mountain West Freshman of the Week last week after leading the team with 11 solo tackles. Howell, Marshaun Cameron, Robert Floyd, and the rest of the Rams secondary need to be prepared to go all out for the entire game.
For the second time this season, @Jackhowell1205 is the @MountainWest π΅πππππππ ππ πππ ππππ!
He is the 1st offensive or defensive player to earn the honor twice this season. #RamClash π€π€ pic.twitter.com/1FRw837kM8
— Colorado State Football (@CSUFootball) November 22, 2021
The Wolf Pack have the nations fourth ranked passing offense. The air raid has proven effective in college football and Nevada has shown how effective in the Mountain West. The Rams secondary will have to be on their toes and be ready for anything the Wolf Pack will throw at them.
3. Get After Carson Strong
With a mainly passing offense comes more opportunities for sacks. Nevada is near the bottom of the nation when it comes to giving up sacks, as they rank 118th in the country giving up 3.18 sacks per game. The Rams defensive line is salavating at this as they rank 9th in the nation with 3.27 sacks per game.
This will also help their seconday. If Scott Patchan and company can make Carson Strong uncomfortable in the pocket, they can force him to make bad throws and not get through his progressions. Getting after Strong will be a key for the Rams defense to win the game.
Prediction
Colorado State has shown their offense has some fire power in it. They might finally use it to its fullest extent here. The Wolf Pack will get their shots in, but the Rams will build momentum heading into next season.
Colorado State 38, Nevada 35
