Examining CSU football's last three opponents: How Rams can go bowling

For Colorado State Rams football, it hasn’t been a perfect season.

Heck, no seasons are perfect, no games are perfect; football always leaves one wanting more.

But, for Mike Bobo and his Rams, a bowl game is still up for grabs despite multiple pitfalls in his first year as head coach. That’s because CSU was able to knock off their heated and hated rival in the Wyoming Cowboys last Saturday 26-7, running the ball relentlessly while winning the turnover battle 4-1.

With three games remaining on the schedule, Colorado State wants nothing more than to sweep all three and find themselves bowling in December.

Here’s how they can do it:

UNLV (3-6, 2-3 MW): Saturday, Nov. 14, 5 p.m. MT

This Saturday, the Rams’ final home game of 2015, it’s all about using the emotion in the building. It will be Senior Day as Colorado State celebrates 26 graduating seniors, including many of their most important players. As redshirt senior SteveO Michel explained, this class has already changed the culture of CSU football, meaning they must win this week to cement that change to winning first.

The Rebels have a seriously strong rushing attack, averaging 209.3 yards per game on the ground, which is 26^th best in the nation. Last week, two UNLV backs gained 120-plus yards; Keith Whitely (124, 1 TD) and Lexington thomas (120, 1 TD) in the Rebels 41-21 victory over Hawaii. Simply, the Rams run defense – which has given up 204.6 YPG and 16 rushing TDs – must be at its best this week. Explosive plays have to be kept to a minimum, and CSU’s D should be able to build confidence after limiting Brian Hill nearly all game last week.

Offensively, CSU needs to run the ball themselves – Dalyn Dawkins and Izzy Matthews carried the team with Jasen Oden a late scratch last Saturday – but also find a better balance. They ran 51 times compared to only 15 passes against Wyoming; look for Nick Stevens to throw the ball a bit more this week.

At New Mexico (5-4, 3-2 MW): Saturday, Nov. 21, 3:30 p.m. MT (ROOT Sports)

The Lobos are the toughest team the Rams will face during this three-game stretch to end the season, but they’ll look to ride the momentum of two straight wins. New Mexico, like Air Force, utilizes the triple-option, which burned Colorado State to the tune of 269 yards and three touchdowns earlier in the year. But, the Rams found a way to win that game 38-23; they’ll need to look at the Falcons tape and take away the positives as they gear up for New Mexico next week. The Lobos are even better than UNLV at running the football, at 13^th best in the NCAA  with 235.4 yards per contest, meaning two true tests for that run defense in a row.

Protecting the ball on offense while forcing New Mexico to turn over the ball on defense (multiple times) will improve the Rams chances in Albuquerque in two weeks.

At Fresno State (2-7, 1-5 MW): Saturday, Nov. 28, 7 p.m. MT (CBS Sports Net.)

Finally, at Fresno State to end the season. The Bulldogs are the second-lowest scoring team in the Mountain West, at 20.4 points per game, meaning three touchdowns should beat them. And, the good news for CSU is Fresno State allows 39.7 points per in what has been a tough season for them.

Marteze Waller has been a shining star for them this season, rushing for 734 yards and four touchdowns; he’ll likely be a focal point for the Rams defense in the game.

So, the theme to end the season will be “defend the run” in every, single game.

It won’t be easy, but the Rams can win all three games to finish the season on a four-game win streak and end 7-5. That record would be enough to make a bowl game, with the New Mexico Bowl – Ram fans’ favorite – as the likely destination for CSU.

Winning out and making a bowl game would mean the third straight season the Rams participate in the postseason, earning a trip bowling in Bobo’s first year. Talk about a storybook ending.