CSU Rams (3-5, 1-3 Mountain West) vs. Wyoming (5-3, 2-2)
When/where: Friday, 6 p.m./War Memorial Stadium
TV/Radio: CBSSN/1600 AM, 104.3 HD2
BetMGM Line: Wyoming -6.5, 41.5 over/under
Weather: 48 degrees at kickoff, partly cloudy with 16 mph wind.
Five storylines
Looking to rebound: CSU and Wyoming enter the 115th edition of the Border War coming off their worst offensive showings of the season. The Rams managed just 13 points (none in the second half) against Air Force in a 30-13 loss at snow-filled Canvas Stadium. While Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi had 297 yards on 28-of-45 passing, the Rams had just one red zone trip and their lone TD came on a 61-yard pass. On the other side, Wyoming quarterback Andrew Peasley followed a pair of three-touchdowns games with an 83-yard dud on 10-of-20 passing in a 32-7 loss at Boise State.
Running on empty: With the second lowest yards-per-game average (74.0) in FBS, the banged-up CSU run game has struggled all season. That was again the case in last week’s snowstorm against Air Force, when lead back Avery Morrow, who returned from injury a week earlier, didn’t carry the ball once, and walk-on Vann Schield was limited to 53 yards on 14 rushes. Can the Rams change course against a Wyoming defense that was just gashed for 227 yards on the ground at Boise State and ranks 111th in FBS at 178.9 rushing yards allowed/game?
How’s Horton?: After a sensational September that saw him haul in 45 passes for 540 yards and six TDs over four games, wide receiver Tory Horton’s October could’ve been better. While the CSU senior caught 25 balls for 250 yards, he was held without a touchdown over four contests and was knocked out of last week’s game with an injury. Coming off a short week, it’s unclear what Horton can give CSU vs. the Pokes — if anything at all.
Centennial State flavor: Good luck finding another FBS game that features as many Colorado natives as the Border War. Both programs traditionally rely heavily on Centennial State talent, and this year is no different. While the Rams have 28 Coloradans on their roster — including starting safeties Henry Blackburn (Fairview) and Jack Howell (Valor Christian) and linebacker Chase Wilson (Ralston Valley) — the Pokes aren’t too far behind at 22. In fact, Wyoming’s current roster has more Coloradans on it than from any other state.
Home cookin’: If there’s one place you don’t want to see Wyoming this season, it’s in “Laradise.” The Pokes are 5-0 at War Memorial, including wins over then-ranked Texas Tech (35-33, 2OT) and Fresno State (24-19). It’s been eight years since CSU last won in the Cowboy State, and the Rams are 3-7 at War Memorial in their last 10 visits. Of course, of greater concern is the fact the Wyoming has won six of the last seven overall in the series — a run that has them at 30-25 vs. CSU since the Bronze Boot was first introduced in 1968.
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: CSU 35, Wyoming 31
The Bronze Boot game, one of my favorite traditions in all of college football, will come down to the wire. Both teams played Air Force tough in losses, but the Cowboys looked lost in their 32-7 blasting by Boise State last week. In the start of a pivotal home stretch for the Rams, who need to win three of their last four to make a bowl game, Dallin Holker reaffirms his case for the Mackey Award with a pair of second-half TD grabs to help CSU pull away from an early shootout.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Wyoming 23, CSU 20
Jay Norvell will release the hounds after the way Air Force — and crowd control — got away from him at snowy Canvas last weekend. But with Tory Horton hurting, how many big dawgs do the Rams have at their disposal? The Pokes were a mess in Boise, but I fear that Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi forcing the issue on a cold, windy night on the Plains ends up dooming the Rammies late.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: Wyoming 24, CSU 23
A chilly November night is tailor-made for Craig Bohl’s conservative, punt-to-win style. Especially in Laramie. The Rams offense has made real strides in Year 2 of the Jay Norvell era. The next step is winning one of the Rams’ rivalry games against CU (0-1), Wyoming (0-1) or Air Force (0-2).
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