The Colorado State Rams and Nevada Wolf Pack are set to do battle on the turf at Clarence Mackay Stadium. This showdown will kick off pretty late for those on the East Coast (10:30 p.m. ET) and fans can catch it live by tuning in to ESPNU. When the two teams met a year ago, Colorado State beat Nevada 44-42.
Colorado State Rams vs. Nevada Wolf Pack Betting Preview
In this Saturday Mountain West game, Nevada is projected as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 13 points. The Rams are also receiving +375 moneyline odds while the Wolf Pack are -550. Should one side can catch a lucky break early it will produce a solid betting scenario in-game. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 61.5 points.
The disappointing Rams are 3-6 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 10.8 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 4-5. The Wolf Pack have gained 0.8 units this season. The team is 5-4 ATS and owns an O/U record of 3-4-1.
The Rams have gone 3-6 straight up (SU), including 2-3 SU against MWC opponents. The Wolf Pack are 5-4 SU overall and 3-2 SU in conference play.
Colorado State enters this one on a two-game winning streak while Nevada has dropped its last two in a row. The Rams will attempt to bounce back after a 34-21 defeat to Wyoming on October 26 where Collin Hill completed 34-of-54 passes for 333 yards and two interceptions. As a team, the Rams rushed for just 20 yards in the defeat.
The Nevada Wolf Pack take the field this week after just earning a 28-24 win over San Diego State. The defense allowed the Aztecs to run for 173 yards on 36 rush attempts. Chase Jasmin was a bright spot in the loss for San Diego State, posting 85 rushing yards on 16 attempts, along with 14 yards and a score on three catches. For Nevada, Ty Gangi completed 23-of-43 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Toa Taua had a monster statline in the win. In addition to 7 yards on 13 rush attempts, Taua also reeled in five catches for 76 yards and a score.
Colorado State’s run the ball on 42.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Nevada has an overall rush percentage of 45.2 percent. The Rams have produced 103 rush yards per game (including 117 per game against Mountain West opponents) and have seven scores on the ground this year. The Wolf Pack are averaging 149 rushing yards per game (135 in conference) and have 17 total rush TDs.
It seems like the Wolf Pack might hold an edge when it comes to RB efficiency. Their running backs has produced 4.7 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 3.6 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Rams have rushed for 3.2 yards per carry while allowing 5.1 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Rams offense has logged 310 yards/game in the air overall (345 per game against conference opposition) and has 20 passing scores so far. The Wolf Pack have produced 268 pass yards per contest (250.8 against MWC competition) and have 17 total pass TDs.
Colorado State appears to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team’s allowed opponents to run for an average of 208 yards and throw for 237 yards per game. The Nevada D has allowed 264.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 143.6 yards per game on the ground. The Wolf Pack are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 7.11 to opponents, while the Rams have allowed a staggering 9.31 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Hill is up to 486 yards on the year, and has connected on 53 percent of his 88 attempts with one passing scores and three interceptions. He has a 3.67 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 5.43 over the past two outings.
Preston Williams (797 receiving yards, seven receiving touchdowns this season), Marvin Kinsey Jr. (202 rush yards, two rush TDs, 144 receiving yards, one receiving TD) and Warren Jackson (227 receiving yards, two TDs) have all played significant roles lately.
On the other sideline, Ty Gangi has connected on 155-of-268 passes for 1,871 yards, 15 TDs and seven INTs. Gangi’s ANY/A stands at 6.68 for the year and 7.40 over his past two games.
As a trio, Toa Taua, Elijah Cooks and Kaleb Fossum have combined for 417 total yards and four touchdowns over the last two games.
Free Prediction: Colorado State Rams at Nevada Wolf Pack
SU Winner – Nevada, ATS Winner – Nevada, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Notes
The Nevada defense has produced 24 sacks on the year while Colorado State has just 14.
The Nevada offense has lost nine fumbles this season while the Colorado State offense has lost six.
The Rams offense has registered seven pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Wolf Pack have accounted for eight such plays.
The Colorado State defense has allowed 12 pass plays of 40+ yards, while Nevada has given up nine such plays.
The Colorado State offense has created six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Nevada has created 16 such runs.
The Rams defense has allowed 14 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Wolf Pack have given up nine such runs.
The O/U for Nevada’s last matchup was 46.5. The over cashed in that 28-24 win over San Diego State.
In its last three matchups, Nevada is 3-0 ATS.
In its last three matches, Colorado State is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Colorado State’s last game was set at 47.5. The over cashed in the team’s 34-21 defeat to Wyoming.
As a team, Colorado State has rushed for 2.9 yards per attempt over its last three outings and 3.0 over its last two.
Nevada has averaged 4.4 yards per carry over its last three games and 4.8 over its last two.
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