by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Oct 18, 2021
Game time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Maverik Stadium, Logan, UT
Where to watch: CBS Sports Network
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Colorado State -3
BetMGM: Colorado State -2.5
Caesars: Colorado State -2.5
Season record
Colorado State: 3-3 (2-0 Mountain West)
Utah State: 4-2 (2-1 Mountain West)
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Colorado State - Utah State preview and analysis
Recent form
CSU: won 36-7 at New Mexico on Oct. 16
Utah State: won 28-24 at UNLV on Oct. 16
The Mountain West is seemingly wide open yet again, and the Colorado State Rams have staked their claim for such tomfoolery.
But they have a tough road game coming up Friday against the Utah State Aggies who always tend to be a tough play in Logan.
The Rams have won three of four and have looked impressive in each game. Even in their 10-point loss at the Iowa Hawkeyes (which now doesn’t look so impressive after the Purdue Boilermakers pulled off the “upset” last week).
But CSU is off to a 2-0 start in Mountain West play after a dominant 18-point win at home against the San Jose State Spartans, and then holding the New Mexico Lobos to only seven points at home for a four-touchdown victory.
Colorado State’s defense is surely making a case for the best in the conference, but a top unit in college football isn’t out of the question. The Rams give up only 19.5 points per game and have held opponents to under 100 yards rushing through the midway mark of the season.
The offense has done just enough as of late to get by, but Rams quarterback Todd Centeio had his best performance of the season against a stout Lobos defense. Centeio completed 16 passes for 289 yards and throwing a total of one touchdown passes with no interceptions. Centeio also chipped in with 35 yards on the ground, including a 26-yard scamper.
Trey McBride caught seven receptions for 135 yards, and Gary Williams caught a 43-yard touchdown. This was all while CSU ran for 163 yards on *cleans glasses* 54 attempts. At least UNM’s defense did something right?
Utah State’s passing attack will serve as a bigger test for the stout CSU pass defense. Logan Bonner threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s win against UNLV, while Elelyon Noa ran the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter to avoid the biggest upset this side of Las Vegas.
Utah State won for the first time in three games after rough home performances against the Boise State Broncos and BYU Cougars.
Prediction
The Utah State Players know they have to play better than they have the past three weeks, but Colorado State’s defense has been so good to the point you consider taking them. The Rams may not be stellar enough to win the conference, but they’re going to plays spoiler for a lot of teams. Colorado State by 10
Betting trends
Colorado State is 12-10 against the spread in its last 22 games.
CSU is 7-4 ATS after an under in the past three seasons.
Colorado State is 0-2 outright when the point total is between 49.5 and 56.
Utah State’s games are 3-12 ATS in the last 15 following a conference game.
Statistical leaders
Colorado State:
Passing: Todd Centeio -- 1,328 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: David Bailey -- 318 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Trey McBride -- 593 yards, 1 TD
Defense: Scott Patchan -- 5.5 sacks
Utah State:
Passing: Logan Bonner -- 1,533 yards, 11 TD, 7 INT
Rushing: Calvin Tyler Jr. -- 477 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Deven Thompkins -- 819 yards, 6 TD
Defense: Justin Rice -- 52 tackles, 3 INT
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
