CSU Rams vs. Wyoming football: 4 things to know, key matchups and predictions

CSU Rams (2-7, 2-3 Mountain West) vs. Wyoming (6-3, 4-1)

When/where: 5 p.m. Saturday/Canvas Stadium

TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network / 1600 AM, 98.1 FM

Line: Wyoming -8.5, 42.5 over/under

Weather: 39 degrees, mostly cloudy

What to know

Protection blues: After weathering a nine-sack onslaught at San Jose State last weekend, CSU is on a pace to give up 57 of them this season. The Rams are next-to-last among FBS programs in sacks given up per game (4.78 to Akron’s 5.0). CSU has surrendered fewer than three sacks in a game just twice all season — and won both games (at Nevada, vs. Hawaii). Unfortunately for the Rams, Wyoming ranks 19th in the country in sacks per game (2.89) and second in the Mountain West.

Family ties: It doesn’t take much for a Border War game to get personal, but this one has more of a familial feel — CSU’s defensive coordinator, Freddie Banks, played for Wyoming coach Craig Bohl at North Dakota State while Rams LB coach Adam Pilapil played under Bohl with the Pokes.

Norvell vs. Bohl: Jay Norvell’s faced off against Bohl four times in the Mountain West already, with Bohl’s Cowboys holding a 3-1 edge vs. Norvell’s Nevada squads. Norvell won the last head-to-head meeting, though, by a score of 37-34 in October 2020.

Made in Colorado, but …: Wyoming’s roster features 21 Colorado natives. That ties California as the U.S. state that’s contributed the most players to the Cowboys’ roster. CSU’s squad features 33 Coloradans.

Key matchups

CSU LT Jacob Gardner vs. Wyoming DE DeVonne Harris. The Pokes defender comes into Canvas tied for second in the Mountain West in sacks (7.0) and ranks fourth in sacks per game (0.78).

CSU RB Avery Morrow vs. Wyoming LB Easton Gibbs. Only UNLV (23), Utah State (23), Hawaii (30) and CSU (30) have allowed more red-zone touchdowns to the opposition among MW schools than the Pokes’ 21. Morrow’s got to keep the chains moving and nab the hosts six points instead of three if the Rams are to pull off the upset.

Predictions

Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Wyoming 27, CSU 13

The Cowboys get after the quarterback; the Rams can’t keep their signal-callers upright. Something of a matchup problem, don’t ya think? Bonus: Since 2014, the Rams are 4-12 (.333) when facing a team that’s got the rest advantage, and 2-4 (.333) since the fall of 2018. Under Bohl, the Pokes are 17-9 (.654) when entering a game after at least one off week. For at least one more year, CSU can kiss the Bronze Boot buh-bye.

Matt Schubert, deputy sports editor: Wyoming 24, CSU 20

Matchups aside, the Pokes are more than happy to let teams hang around. It’ll be another long day for CSU quarterback Clay Millen, but the Rams will have a chance to win this in the fourth quarter.

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