2014-15 Football Previews – (Mountain West) – Rams
The Colorado State Rams finished the 2013 college football season as a clear No. 3 seed in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference, and if we’re being more specific, they were a near finisher at the No. 2 spot ahead of Boise State.
- Mountain West Conference 2014-15 College Football Previews:
- Head Coach: Jim McElwain
- 2013 Record: 8-6
- Colorado State Gambling Odds to win BCS Championship:
- Colorado State Gambling Odds to win Mountain West Mountain Division:
- Colorado State Gambling Odds to win Mountain West Conference: 18/1
The Boise State Broncos are going to be the undebated favorites for first in the division this season, but the No. 2 spot is up for grabs between Colorado State and Utah State.
At this juncture, Utah State has the upper hand in the battle for No. 2 in the Mountain Division. Both USU and Colorado State will fight for the spot, but when it comes down to it, the more proven team has the edge entering 2014.
Team Strengths:
Expect the Colorado State Rams to focus on the passing attack more this season than they did a year ago. In 2013, the star of the show was Kapri Bibbs in the backfield with 31 touchdowns and 1,741 rushing yards, but following his departure, the approach should be more focused on the passing game.
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Garrett Grayson is going to be the one to lead that attack. He is a senior who threw for a record-setting 3,696 yards and 23 touchdowns last season, which was the reason Colorado State compiled a per-game average of 266.4 yards through the air, which was good enough for 31st in the country—subsequently leading the team to 36.2 points per contest, which was the 23rd best mark in the nation.
Along with quarterback, the receiving core is going to be deep, which will only further enhance the passing game in 2014.
Defensively, seven players are back this next season. That’s a good thing considering experience, but there’s one small problem…
Team Weaknesses:
Colorado State’s defense wasn’t all that great this past season. Sure, it’s great to have experience on that side of the ball, but when it’s experience coming from a group that allowed nearly 30 points per game (29.8 to be exact—the 82nd-best number in the country), you have to ask yourself: Who wants all these players back in the first place?
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As good as the offense has a chance to be this season, the offensive line is going to face its challenges. Weston Richburg has since left the program following his senior year, and three of the other four starters have graduated as well.
2014-15 Colorado State Football Gambling Prediction: 8-4
If this group wants to contend for a spot atop the division, let alone second place ahead of the likes of the Utah State Aggies, it’s going to have to develop the running game. An air attack is what will be common in the Mountain West Conference, but with defenses expecting such an approach week in and week out, it’s crucial that this team brings a balanced attack from game to game.
Can this group steal second place away from the Aggies? Sure it can. Utah State has talent, but it’s looking to replace multiple crucial spots on the field that can’t be replicated by youngsters over night.
The problem is that this secondary is going to be vulnerable against the passing schemes of the Mountain West Conference, and while a favorable schedule does this team well in 2014, Utah State still has a slight edge when it comes to second place in the division over CSU.
2014 Colorado State Schedule
- Fri, Aug 29 vs Colorado
- Sat, Sept 6 @ Boise State
- Sat, Sept 13 vs UC Davis
- Sat, Sept 27 @ Boston College
- Sat, Oct 4 vs Tulsa
- Sat, Oct 11 @ Nevada
- Sat, Oct 18 vs Utah State
- Sat, Oct 25 vs Wyoming
- Sat, Nov 1 @ San Jose State
- Sat, Nov 8 vs Hawaii
- Sat, Nov 22 vs New Mexico
- Fri, Nov 28 @ Air Force
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