No. 15-ranked Boise State has a sizable lead in the Mountain West race, especially after last week’s 29-24 win at UNLV, but the Broncos aren’t the only team in the conference that controls its own destiny.
Colorado State (5-3, 3-0 Mountain West) squeaked past New Mexico 17-6 last week, earning its third-straight conference win. Even without star wide receiver Tory Horton, who will miss the rest of the season, the Rams have enough talent on offense and a schedule that is just soft enough to play spoiler to UNLV’s bid for another shot at the Broncos in the championship game.
UNLV (6-2, 2-1) dropped its eighth-straight game against Boise State (6-1, 3-0), including last season’s Mountain West Championship at Allegiant Stadium.
The Rebels are chomping at the bit for another shot at the conference’s flagship program. But to get one, they’re going to have to win out and hope Colorado State slips up.
This week, the Rams are a 2.5-point college football betting odds favorite on the road against Nevada, which is coming off a 34-13 loss to Hawaii. The Over/Under is 45.5 points.
No Gauntlet For Colorado State
The biggest feather in the Rams’ cap this year is a schedule that doesn’t include Boise State, UNLV, Hawaii, or San Diego State, which is 2-0 in Mountain West play.
Colorado State’s remaining opponents, including Nevada, have a combined 11-23 record. The Rams host Wyoming on Nov. 15, travel to Fresno State on Nov. 23, and wrap up the regular season at home against Utah State on Nov. 29.
If the Rams get past Fresno State on the road, there’s a good chance they’re going to win out, and it will be Colorado State – not UNLV – facing Boise State in the Mountain West title game.
San Diego State could theoretically crash the party, but the Aztecs have a much tougher schedule to navigate than the Rams. San Diego State travels to Boise State this week, and the Aztecs go on the road to face UNLV on Nov. 16. They also host a suddenly dangerous team from New Mexico on Nov. 8.
Fresno State (5-3, 3-1) isn’t out of the running for a spot in the title game, but the Bulldogs have to beat Hawaii and Colorado State and hope UNLV loses a game. The Rebels cruised to a 59-14 win over Fresno State on Sept. 28.
There is still a lot of football to be played, and anything can happen, but Colorado State is the team that has the best chance to spoil UNLV’s quest for another shot at Boise State.
Replacing Tory Horton
If the Rams are going to run the table, they’re going to have to figure out how to keep winning without Horton, a likely NFL Draft pick who has 3,615 career receiving yards.
The good news is they can lean on experienced quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and a surprisingly potent rushing attack, which ranks No. 6 in the Mountain West with 182.2 rushing yards a game.
Nevada transfer Avery Morrow has four 100-yard rushing performances in the Rams’ past five games, and he posted 89 yards and a touchdown against New Mexico. He leads the team with 711 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Justin Marshall is averaging 4.4 yards a carry, and he’s No. 2 on the team with 410 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
A pair of sophomore wide receivers will try filling the void left by Horton’s absence. Caleb Goodie has emerged as a deep threat the past two weeks. He hauled in a 46-yard touchdown against New Mexico and posted 103 yards and a TD on three catches against Air Force. Baylor transfer Armani Winfield caught six passes for 108 yards and a touchdown against San Jose State, and he’s No. 2 on the team with 21 catches.
