Colorado State vs. Wyoming - Rams' keys to the game

Colorado State and Wyoming will meet for the final time at Hughes Stadium this weekend. Saturday will be the 49th meeting in the ‘Bronze Boot’ portion of the series. Both teams have won 24 games since 1968.

Here are the five keys to the game for the Rams:

Avoid getting into a shootout

CSU comes into Saturday as a near-touchdown favorite. There are a number of ways for the Rams to win. But if the CSU defense struggles to keep Brian Hill and Tanner Gentry in check, this one could turn into a slugfest in a hurry. That would likely tilt the advantage toward Wyoming.

Back to the basics with tackling

Defensive coordinator Marty English really emphasized tackling this week, after the Rams missed more than 20 against Minnesota. It will be interesting to see how CSU fares against Wyoming’s bell cow running back in Hill.

Another first for Collin Hill

Not only will this be the first Border War game for the Rams true freshman quarterback, but also his first showing to the Mountain West. Look for Hill to bounce back from a 15-for-30 performance.

Will the offense continue to round into form?

Since the change at quarterback, we’ve seen guys like Michael Gallup and Marvin Kinsey Jr. start to become legitimate forces in the offense. But what about Dalyn Dawkins, Elroy Masters Jr., Olabisi Johnson and Xavier Williams? It’s imperative that the Rams get production from more than just one or two players.

Use home field to advantage

In what should be close to a sellout, head coach Mile Bobo and the Rams expect Hughes to be electric Saturday night. But can this young CSU team manage their emotions and execute?