UNLV (6-2, 2-2 Mountain West) at Colorado State (2-6, 1-3 Mountain West)
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday/Canvas Stadium
TV/Radio: FS1/Rams Radio Network
BetMGM Line: CSU +4.5, 62.5 over/under
Weather: 33 degrees, clear skies
Series History: CSU leads 17-7-1; UNLV won last matchup, 25-23 in Las Vegas in 2023
Three storylines
Home cooking: The last scheduled matchup between these two teams in Fort Collins was in 2020, but that game was cancelled due to positive COVID tests. CSU has won seven straight against the Rebels in Colorado, but the reeling Rams (losers of five of their last six) will need to re-find some mojo in order to continue that streak. Three weeks ago, CSU set a program record with a crowd of 40,416 in the Rams’ homecoming game against Hawaii, only for the Rams to fall flat in a 31-19 defeat. Will CSU give fans something to cheer for?
Lighting up the scoreboard: While the Rebels are coming off consecutive losses for the first time since 2023, UNLV still boasts the top offense in the Mountain West. The Rebels, headlined by QB Anthony Colandrea, tailback Jai’Den Thomas and several talented wideouts, lead the conference at 36.88 points per game. UNLV’s scored at least 20 points in 30 straight regular-season games, the second-longest active streak in FBS. CSU interim head coach and defensive coordinator Tyson Summers has a tall task matching wits with UNLV coach Dan Mullen on Saturday.
Chance for CSU offense: While the Rebels boast a potent offense, they also have a Swiss-cheese defense. Over their past two losses, UNLV was gashed for 96 points, and the unit is last in the Mountain West with 470 yards allowed per game. That makes Saturday an opportunity for CSU’s offense to find some sort of rhythm after getting shut out by Wyoming in the Border War. Redshirt freshman QB Darius Curry took over in that game, but Summers said last week that redshirt sophomore Jackson Brousseau will remain the starter.
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: UNLV 45, CSU 21
Linebacker and captain Owen Long, who is second in FBS with 103 tackles, can’t win games by himself. Long has another double-digit tackling game and the Rams defense plays decently in the first half, but the ineptitude of the CSU offense remains an Achilles’ heel. CSU throws three interceptions, setting up UNLV with short fields on several occasions, and the Rebels pour it on in the second half. By the fourth quarter, only a smattering of fans remain in the stands at Canvas Stadium as this season goes further down the tubes.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: UNLV 27, CSU 23
Interim coach Tyson Summers said the Rams were reeling from Jay Norvell’s axing and dragged the emotional hangover with them to Laramie. So they’ve had time off to regroup, recoup and plan for the Rebels with clear heads. Will it be enough to keep pace with a UNLV offense that tops the Mountain West in scoring and ranks second in “explosion” plays of 20 yards or more? Doubtful. CSU linebacker Owen Long will be worth the price of admission the rest of the way. This offense won’t.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: UNLV 33, CSU 17
The best thing that could come out of this game is if CSU administrators pulled a stealth move and “accidentally” ran into UNLV head coach Dan Mullen in the bowels of Canvas Stadium. The former Florida and Mississippi State head boss sure would look good in green and gold, wouldn’t he? Alas, that might be shooting a little high for the Rams brass. They’ll at least get to see what a functional FBS offense looks like — and maybe that spurs a few ideas about who to chase over the next four weeks.
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