The first bowl game that I really like is Colorado State -13.5.... Since Nick Stevens became the starting QB, they have been hands down the most impressive offense in the MW, maybe the best team... Stevens came in during the 2nd half of the Colorado State/Utah State game, CSU was down 21 at half but Stevens lead the offense to a 31-24 victory. The next week they lost by 5 at Boise State. In the last five games of the season the Colorado State offense scored 42 at UNLV, 37 vs Fresno St, 46 @ Air Force, 49 vs New Mexico and finally 63 at SDST. Their only loss was by 3 pts at Air Force. They had trouble stopping the triple option, but it was probably Air Force's best game of the season. Down the stretch Colorado State looked like a completely different team, their offense actually had to ease up against New Mexico and SDST. Starting with Stevens this CSU team has a ton of talent at the skill positions, they have a great 1-2 punch at RB with a big bruising back, Izzy Matthews, and a perfect change of pace/more explosive RB in Daryl Dawkins... The thing that makes Colorado State so dangerous, is that they're jelling at the perfect time. There offense has a ton of balance, Not only do they have a very good QB, they have two good RB's and IMO, they have the best WR in the MW, Michael Gallup. I would be surprised if Gallup isint eventually a starting NFL WR. If you're not as familiar with the MWC here are Gallups season stats: Gallup has 70 catches, for 1164 yards and 11 TD's on the season, and those numbers would be even higher if Stevens started all season. Since Stevens came in this is Gallup's game log:
Utah State: 7 Rec, 20 YPC, 140 yards, 60 yd long, 1 TD
Boise ST: 4 Rec, 22.8
YPC 91 yards, 54 long, 1 TD
UNLV: 7 Rec,13 YPC, 91
yards 36 long, 1 TD
Fresno ST: 9 Rec, 126 yds,
14 YPC,30 Long, 1 TD
Air Force: 13 Rec
213 yds, 16.4 YPC, 49 Long, 1 TD
New Mexico: 5 Rec 116 yds 23 YPC 65 Long 1 TD
SDST: 7 Rec 139 yds, 19.8 YPC, 35 long, 3 TD
The reason I am willing to spot the 13 points, is because this game will be played on Dec 17th, which I think benefits Colorado St. Idaho just played this past saturday, so CSU will have an extra week to prepare, but it's not too long of a lay off where they will lose the momentum they have been playing with. This team is playing with a lot of confidence on both sides of the ball, Not only did they score on every first half possession at New Mexico, their defense shut down the New Mexico offense. The following week, they scored 63 points against the MW champion SDST, while holding Pumphrey to a career low 53 yards. CSU has 4 OLineman that made a MW all conference team... I just think they will be too much for the Idaho Vandals.
Hot Forum Topics
