College Football Preview: Colorado State at Air Force
By Joe Morrone
Nov 22, 2014; Fort Collins, CO, USA; Colorado State Rams running back Dee Hart (10) celebrates his rushing touchdown with offensive lineman Mason Myers (50) and offensive lineman Fred Zerblis (54) in the third quarter agains the New Mexico Lobos at Hughes Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado State Rams wrap up the regular season on Friday when they travel to Colorado Springs to take on the Air Force Falcons. The Rams are looking to finish the season on a 10 game win streak and with a little help from Utah State, they are also hoping to host the Mountain West Conference Title Game next Saturday.
If the Rams win on Friday and Boise State loses to Utah State on Saturday, the Rams would win the Mountain Division and host the championship game on December 6th at Hughes Stadium. If all that happens and the Rams win that championship game, there’s a decent chance that they would be invited to play in a New Year’s Day bowl game.
The Rams, though, must do their part and beat a Falcons team that is playing good football. The game can be seen on CBS Sports TV at 1:30 on Friday afternoon.
The game with the Falcons will be the Rams toughest test since their win over Utah State in October. The Falcons are enjoying a bounce back season after a rough 2013, and always play well at home. The Falcons are 8-3 and averaging 31 points per game. They are coming off of a disappointing effort in a loss to the San Diego State Aztecs.
The Falcons, as they always do, will run the triple option and it has been giving defenses fits all seasons. The offense is led by quarterback Kale Pearson who has over 1,500 yards passing and is a big threat in the running game as well. When Pearson is not hurting the defense, it is running back Jacobi Owens who has more than 1,000 yards on the ground.
The good news for the Rams defense is they just beat the New Mexico Lobos who also run the option offense. The game plan for the Jim McElwain will be the same as it was versus the Lobos, jump on the Falcons early and make them play from behind.
As good as the Falcons are at running the ball, it won’t do them much good if they are down 21-0 as the Lobos were last week. That will be the plan but the Falcons are a much better team than the Lobos, and they will score some points.
As with every other Rams opponent, the Falcons are going to have a difficult time with quarterback Garrett Grayson and the rest of the offense. The Falcons just do not have the athletes on defense to matchup with Dee Hart in the running game, or with Rashard Higgins in the passing game. The offensive line for the Rams is also playing its best football of the season, and should overpower an undersized Falcons front seven.
This is a dangerous game for the Rams because the Falcons are a good team and nothing would make the Cadets happier than ruining the title hopes of their in-state rivals. Because of that, the game will be close early and the Falcons may even lead at the half.
However the Rams have too much to play for and too much talent for the Falcons. The Rams use a second half surge to put the Falcons away, and win their 10th straight to finish the regular season at 11-1.
Then it’s onto Saturday where everyone in Rams Nation will be huge Utah State fans. Either way it’s been a special season and maybe, just maybe, they will be one more home game next weekend.
Prediction: Rams-42 Falcons-27