Utah State vs. Colorado State Odds
| Utah State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-12.5 -115 | 45.5 -110o / -110u | -475 |
| Colorado State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+12.5 -105 | 45.5 -110o / -110u | +380 |
Who doesn't love a little Mountain West Conference football? If you're in that boat, then this is the matchup for you, as the Utah State Aggies take on the Colorado State Rams.
The Aggies lost a ton of talent from last season, and it is really showing through the first six games of 2022.
They had dropped four straight before defeating Air Force last week. However, their opposition may be in even worse shape.
Colorado State has had a similar start to the season, as the Rams lost their first four games, but picked up their first victory at Nevada last Saturday.
The Rams head home for this matchup and the confidence from their first win may carry over, as they are being a bit underrated after their rough start.
How should you play this Mountain West clash? Let's dive in and find out.
Utah State Aggies
One of the few leftovers from last year's squad is the quarterback, Logan Bonner. Bonner has been relied upon to lead this offense, but he hasn't been the same guy in his senior season.
As a junior, he was tremendous and threw 36 touchdowns while racking up over 3,600 passing yards. However, this year, he has thrown two more interceptions than touchdowns and we've seen his completion percentage drop five percent.
While Bonner's drop-off has hampered the offense, this Aggies team has kept the ball on the ground 56% of the time.
However, they have not found much success there either. Running back Calvin Tyler Jr. is only averaging 4.4 yards per carry and has found the end zone just once.
He also doesn't have the greatest matchup here, as the Rams' defensive line has the edge up front. In fact, Colorado State's rush defense is what allowed them to win last week, as the Rams rank 80th in Rushing Success Rate and 51st in Defensive Line Yards.
Unless Bonner turns it around from the pocket, don't expect much explosiveness from the Aggies.
Colorado State Rams
When it comes to the Rams' offense, there's not much to highlight. They rank 128th in points per game and 130th in yards per game.
On top of those numbers, the offense now has true freshman backup Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi at the helm after their starter went down with a shoulder injury two weeks ago.
Colorado State completely flipped its offensive scheme last week with Fowler-Nicolosi at quarterback. He completed just 11 passes for 78 yards.
However, the Rams found great success on the ground, as running back Avery Morrow had a banner day, rushing for 168 yards on 24 carries.
The Rams will likely lean on Morrow to carry the offense on the ground. He should be able to find success in this one, as the Aggies rank 118th in yards per rush allowed.
If Morrow can generate yardage for his team, the Rams could also find the end zone. Utah State ranks 103rd in points per game allowed and 106th in Defensive Finishing Drives.
Utah State vs. Colorado State Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Utah State and Colorado State match up statistically:
Utah State Offense vs. Colorado State Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 111 | 80 | |
| Line Yards | 76 | 51 | |
| Pass Success | 111 | 95 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 7 | 25 | |
| Havoc | 63 | 79 | |
| Finishing Drives | 104 | 120 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
Colorado State Offense vs. Utah State Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 131 | 68 | |
| Line Yards | 96 | 36 | |
| Pass Success | 124 | 99 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 120 | 112 | |
| Havoc | 131 | 60 | |
| Finishing Drives | 131 | 106 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 74 | 72 |
| PFF Coverage | 122 | 32 |
| SP+ Special Teams | 36 | 115 |
| Seconds per Play | 23.2 (15) | 29.5 (121) |
| Rush Rate | 56.3% (45) | 56.3% (46) |
Data via CollegeFootballData.com (CFBD), FootballOutsiders, SP+, Pro Football F,focus, and SportSource Analytics.
Utah State vs. Colorado State Betting Pick
This game will be ugly, as both of these offenses have had their struggles.
However, the unit that may have the most success is the Colorado State defense. The Rams' defense can keep them in the game while the offense drains the clock with a run-heavy scheme.
I find it hard to believe the Aggies can pull away in a game with this type of script, especially with both offenses struggling.
Take the Rams as double-digit 'dogs.
