Utah State @ Colorado State preview

Utah State at Colorado State

Last Meeting ( Oct 7, 2017 ) Colorado State 27, Utah State 14

Riding a nine-game win streak, No. 13 Utah State continues its Mountain West division-title quest Saturday afternoon as it visits struggling Colorado State. The Aggies (6-0) enter the weekend a game ahead of Boise State (5-1) in the Mountain Division, and provided both teams win this week as heavy road favorites, the division title will be decided in their Nov. 24 showdown in Boise.

Utah State hasn’t lost since dropping a season-opening 38-31 decision at Michigan State, and will be bringing the FBS’ highest-scoring offense (51.3 points per game) to Fort Collins. But despite the host Rams being out of the bowl picture at 3-7 after three straight double-digit losses, Aggies coach Matt Wells is proceeding with caution. “It’s round seven for, and the biggest thing as you look ahead, (Fort Collins) is a tough place to win, and they always play well there,” Wells said Monday at his weekly news conference. “We haven’t won there since 2012, and we’re zero for our last two times in Fort Collins. It’s a new stadium, and it will be Senior Day, so they will be emotional.” Two of Colorado State’s three wins have come at home, including a 34-27 upset of Arkansas on Sept. 8.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, AT&T Sports Network. LINE: Utah State -28

ABOUT UTAH STATE (9-1, 6-0 MW): The Aggies rolled up a school-record 804 total yards and scored at least 60 points for the fourth time this season in routing visiting San Jose State 62-24 last Saturday in their home finale. Sophomore quarterback Jordan Love threw for a career-high 491 yards and five touchdowns on 32-of-42 passing and leads the conference in passing efficiency with a 164.4 rating, throwing for 24 TDs and only four interceptions on the season. Running back Darwin Thompson has rushed for 281 yards and four TDs over the last two weeks while the Aggies’ defense, led by linebacker David Woodward and his 10.3 tackles per game, is allowing 21.9 points and 360.5 yards per outing and has forced a conference-most 26 turnovers, including 10 over the last three contests.

ABOUT COLORADO STATE (3-7, 2-4): The Rams’ 49-10 loss late Saturday night at Nevada dashed their hopes for a sixth straight bowl appearance as the host Wolf Pack rolled up 636 total yards, including 401 and four TDs for quarterback Ty Gangi. Sophomore Collin Hill has replaced senior transfer K.J. Carta-Samuels as the Rams’ starting QB the last two weeks but has struggled with one TD toss and three interceptions while throwing for 519 yards. Wide receiver Preston Williams ranks third nationally with 7.8 receptions per game and is ninth with 102 receiving yards, but slowing the opposition has been a sore spot on the other side of the ball as the Rams are surrendering 38.5 points and 462.8 yards per outing.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Colorado State has won three of the five meetings since Utah State joined the Mountain West in 2013, including 27-14 and 31-24 victories the last two seasons.

2. The Aggies are 6-1 all-time as a ranked team while the Rams have lost 20 straight against ranked foes since a 19-14 win over No. 6 Colorado in 2002.

3. Utah State has set school single-season records with its 66 TDs and 513 points so far this season.

PREDICTION: Utah State 48, Colorado State 22