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The final score of last years game was 31-17 seems close right? Not really, Colorado State dominated the second half scoring the final 24 points of the game after being down 17-7. The Rams did it with two running backs both going over 100 yards rushing. The Ram defense frustrated the Buffs all game only giving them two deep touchdown passes. This years game is different because there is a new coach in town. Jim McElwain left for Florida so comes in Mike Bobo continuing where McElwain left off. Bobo has one thing going for him, and that's both McElwain and McEntryre won their Rocky Mountain Showdown debuts.
Date: September 19th 2015 5PM
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: 105.5 ESPN Radio/ 850 KOA AM
Odds: Colorado -3.5
Colorado is coming off a 48-14 drubbing of UMass in their home opener. They are 1-1 on the season after losing to Hawaii the opening week of the season. The Buffs feature Sefo Liufau at quarterback who is going to a dual threat on the ground and in the air. The Rams defense will need to contain him and prevent Nelson Spruce from having a big game if they want to win. Michael Adkins and Philip Lindsay got the ground game going and will need to perform well if the Buffs have a chance of winning.
Colorado State will need to clean up the turnovers if they have any chance of winning. Turning over the ball four times is not going to win you a lot of games. Whether it's Nick Stevens or Coleman Key quarterback needs to be better. The Rams have too much of an arsenal at receiver to waste with bad quarterback play. Dalyn Dawkins, and the running game should be licking their chops to get a chance to run wild on a team they pushed around last year. The Rams should be able to do that again this year, pushing around a small front seven.
Prediction: Colorado State 34 Colorado 17; Despite winning last week against UMass, Colorado hasn't shown me anything impressive so far this year. UMass isn't going to be very good this year and the Colorado State defense is much improved this year. Also after last week they are confident that they can line up and beat anyone after pushing around a team much bigger than them. Nick Stevens gets back on track, the running game goes wild, and the Rams win big.