Minnesota @ Colorado State preview

Minnesota at Colorado State

When sizing up Saturday’s matchup between Minnesota and Colorado State in Fort Collins, it’s not at all a stretch to say the Golden Gophers proved more in a loss last week than the Rams did in a win. That’s the shape of things after one team hung tough in 23-17 loss to second-ranked TCU and the other had a 65-13 cakewalk against Savannah State, an FCS program which suffered its 22nd straight setback.

Minnesota spotted the visiting Horned Frogs a 17-3 third-quarter lead, but outscored the visitors 14-6 down the stretch and TCU couldn’t feel safe until it recovered an onside kick with 1:30 to play. The Gophers’ defense was particularly impressive, holding the Frogs and Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Trevone Boykin to half of their 46.5-point scoring average of a year ago. “I think people should understand how good of a football team we have after sticking with TCU because they’re better than they were last year,” Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner told reporters. “And so are we.”

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Minnesota -6.5

ABOUT MINNESOTA (0-1): Leidner went 19-of-35 for 197 yards and a touchdown in the opener while Rodney Smith rushed for 88 yards and a TD on 13 carries and KJ Maye caught four passes for 73 yards and a score. Smith, a redshirt freshman, was particularly impressive coming off the bench in his first collegiate game, and he’s likely earned a larger role going forward. Elsewhere, though, the Gophers are a little banged up with offensive tackles Ben Lauer (knee) and Josh Campion (concussion) and safety Damarius Travis (unspecified) all regarded as question marks for Week 2.

ABOUT COLORADO STATE (1-0): Less-than-formidable competition or not, the Rams put up some crooked numbers in the head-coaching debut of former Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, scoring 47 seconds into the contest on a fumble recovery in the end zone and following with six touchdown drives of two minutes or fewer in notching the program’s largest margin of victory since 1997. Sophomore Nick Stevens had an impressive debut at the helm of the Rams’ no-huddle attack, completing 20-of-28 passes for 289 yards, five TDs and no interceptions. Still, there are concerns in Fort Collins, namely the team’s five turnovers in the contest and the seemingly minor but still unspecified leg injuries suffered by All-American wide receiver Rashard Higgins and tight end Kivon Cartwright.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Minnesota has won both its games against Colorado State (2004 and 2005) and is 10-3 against current members of the Mountain West Conference.

2. Colorado State has won a school-record nine straight home games.

3. The Rams are one of four Group of Five programs with a win over a Power Five team in each of the last three seasons, beating Colorado in 2012, Washington State in 2013 and Colorado and Boston College last season.

PREDICTION: Minnesota 37, Colorado State 33