Colorado State
vs.
Minnesota
College Football Pick
By Jason Green
9/25/16
Minnesota is off to a solid 2-0 start including beating a Power 5 Conference team in Oregon State in their season opener. They have a solid rushing offense and are a pretty big 16.5-point home favorite facing Colorado State.
Colorado State was trounced in their season opener losing to in-state rival Colorado 44-7 and then has won their last 2 Games. However, those Games were facing less than stellar teams of University Texas at San Antonio and Northern Colorado.
In their last Games each team won easily with CSU beating Northern Colorado 47-21 and Minnesota beating Indiana State 58-28.
These teams met last season at Colorado State where the Golden Gophers beat the Rams 23-20 in OT.
Both of Minnesota’s Games this season have been at home and this will be the first Game of the season on the road for Colorado State.
Colorado State racked up the offense last week facing Northern Colorado, but they also gave up 411 total yards. Their pass defense only ranks 114th in the nation while their run defense ranks 43rd. In putting up 58 points last week Minnesota QB Mitch Leidner passed for nearly 300 yards with 4 TD, WR Drew Wolitarsky caught 8 passes for 125 yards, and RB Kobe McCrary rushed for 176 yards and 2 TD.
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With CSU’s issues in the secondary their line has to play well not only against the run, but getting to Leidner. If they cannot do that the Rams may be in for a long afternoon in the LAnd of 10,000 LAkes.
In the Northern Colorado Game QB Collin Hill got his first career start and he took advantage of it passing for 315 yards with 4 TD and he also rushed for 56 yards and a TD, The Rams have 3 RB’s who have at least 124 yards and while the WR corps is a pretty deep one only Michael Gallup has over 100 receiving yards.
Minnesota has been solid against the run this season ranking 22nd in the nation in run defense while only ranking 77th in pass defense.
While CSU is 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 non-Conference Games they are only 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road Games.
Minnesota has covered the spread in five of their last 6 Games facing a team with a winning record and they have covered the spread in their last 5 Games coming after a bye week.
Jason’s Pick: I look for Minnesota to win this Game, but the CSU offense has been solid in their last 2 Games and should keep this within the number. Colorado State +16.5