Wyoming Struggle to Score, While Colorado State Aim to Boost Offense
Wyoming Cowboys vs Colorado State Rams: A Mountain West Showdown
This Friday, Wyoming Cowboys (2-7, 2-3 MWC) will visit Colorado State Rams (6-3, 4-0 MWC) at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins for a key Mountain West Conference matchup. While Wyoming is largely out of the MWC title race, Colorado State remains a contender, sitting just half a game behind first place. Both teams face significant challenges: Wyoming’s offensive struggles and Colorado State’s need for more scoring efficiency despite solid defensive play.
Wyoming Cowboys: Defensive Resilience Not Enough for Struggling Offense
Wyoming has endured a difficult season, and their 2-7 record has left them out of contention for postseason play. After snapping a three-game losing streak with a 49-45 win over New Mexico last week, the Cowboys face another tough test. Despite their defensive potential, Wyoming’s offensive output has been consistently underwhelming, ranking among the worst in the nation.
The Cowboys are averaging just 21.6 points per game, which ranks them 113th in the FBS, and their 336.8 total yards per game places them 107th in the country. Their running game is somewhat more productive, averaging 143.0 rushing yards per game (90th), but their passing attack has been largely ineffective, with an average of just 193.8 passing yards per game, ranking 104th nationally. This lack of offensive balance has made it difficult for Wyoming to stay competitive in games, especially against higher-scoring teams.
On the defensive side, Wyoming has shown flashes of resilience, but their numbers suggest they have struggled to contain opposing offenses. They allow an average of 31.7 points per game, which ranks them 108th in the nation, and give up 427.1 total yards per game, placing them 115th overall. Their rushing defense has been particularly porous, allowing 196.0 yards per game (116th), while their pass defense (231.1 yards per game allowed) is more middle-of-the-pack at 86th in the country.
Wyoming’s defense has been led by standout linebacker Shae Suiaunoa, who leads the team with 70 tackles, and defensive end Braden Siders, who has recorded 3.5 sacks this season. The Cowboys also have Wrook Brown in the secondary, with three interceptions to his name.
Colorado State Rams: Strong Defense, But Offensive Improvement Needed
At 6-3, the Colorado State Rams are in a better position heading into this game, sitting just a half-game behind the conference leader. They’ve won four straight games, but there’s a clear area of concern: their offense. Although the Rams have relied heavily on their defense to stay competitive, their offensive production has been modest, ranking 100th in the nation with just 23.6 points per game and 109th in total yards (365.1 per game).
The rushing attack has been Colorado State’s bright spot, averaging 181.9 yards per game (43rd), with running back Avery Morrow being the focal point. Morrow has rushed for 788 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and has scored eight touchdowns this season. However, the Rams’ passing game has been inconsistent, ranking 110th in the nation with only 183.2 yards per game. This has been an area where Colorado State has struggled to make explosive plays, especially in the absence of top wide receiver Tory Horton, who is sidelined with an injury.
Defensively, the Rams have been more solid. They allow 24.1 points per game, which ranks 65th nationally, and they give up 408.2 total yards per game, placing them 104th. Their rushing defense is strong, allowing just 144.7 yards per game (64th), but their pass defense has been more vulnerable, surrendering 263.6 yards per game (122nd). This could be an area where Wyoming, despite their offensive struggles, might be able to exploit if they can establish a passing rhythm.
Leading Colorado State’s defense is linebacker Buom Jock, who has 81 tackles on the season, along with defensive lineman Gabe Kirschke, who has recorded 4.5 sacks. In the secondary, linebacker Chase Wilson has been a playmaker with two interceptions.
Conclusion
Despite Wyoming’s solid defensive effort, their offensive woes will likely prevent them from pulling off an upset. Colorado State’s defense should be enough to stifle the Cowboys’ attack, but the Rams will need to improve offensively to ensure a comfortable victory. As it stands, Colorado State appears poised to win, but they’ll need to find a way to convert on offense to make a statement in the Mountain West.
while Wyoming has some defensive talent, the lack of offensive firepower is a glaring issue. Colorado State, despite offensive inconsistencies, has enough defensive stability to secure the win, although they’ll need to address their own scoring issues moving forward in the race for the Mountain West title.
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