College Football Predictions – Colorado St Rams 2020 College Football Preview
July 2020
OCTOBER 2020 – Schedule notes updated.
2019 Recap
Record – 4-8
ATS – 7-5
The Rams sputtered for the second consecutive season and managed to win a mere four games. They didn’t beat an FCS team in the first half of the campaign but did get mildly hot in the second half of the year when they rattled off three consecutive wins (New Mexico, Fresno St, UNLV). Those three squads were PURE FILTH a season ago so it’s clear that the Rams didn’t have much to celebrate in 2019.
Steve Addazio comes over from Boston College to take the reins. What can we expect from the Rams in 2020?
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
Mountain Division – TBD
Mountain West – TBD
Colorado St Rams 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Rams were able to successfully MATRICULATE down the field via the passing game a season ago (#3 MW passing offense) but couldn’t get the ground attack going (#10 MWW rushing offense). Colorado St will almost certainly be relying heavily on the THROW GAME this year given the talent that is coming back to Fort Collins. Senior QB Patrick O’Brien threw for almost 3,000 yards LY in just 9 starts but had a mediocre 13-7 TD to INT ratio. O’Brien will be glad to know that star WR Warren Jackson returns for his senior campaign (77, 1,119, 14.5, 8 TD LY) as well as the vast majority of last season’s key contributors. WR Dante Wright booked over 800 receiving yards and TE Trey McBride caught 45 balls for over 500 yards and 4 TDs. Former Auburn Tiger WR Nate Craig-Myers is also back in the mix. It’s unclear how the ground game will improve with the departure of leading rusher Marvin Kinsey Jr (703, 6 TD) who averaged a fine 5.8 YPC LY. Also note that Kinsey Jr was an effective receiver out of the backfield (16-209, 13.1, 2 TD). The #2 and #3 RBs return this season (Marcus McElroy, Jaylen Thomas) but it’s unclear if either is a true #1 option. The offensive line is probably the biggest question mark on offense with only two starters back for duty and recall that the Rams were #T8 in the conference in sacks allowed and #10 in TFL allowed per game in 2019.
They’ll do some work through the air but the ground game is still likely to struggle.
DEFENSE
The Rams had a horrible time trying to stop the run last year and allowed almost 200 YPG (#9 MW, #104 FBS). They were one of the top ranked pass defenses in the country (#7 FBS) in terms of passing yards allowed but were mid-pack in the Mountain West in terms of pass efficiency defense (19-6 TD to INT, 58%). Hey, if you were their opponent why risk throwing when you can gash the run defense ALL NIGHT LIKE LUMBERJACK? This year the Rams will be switching to a 4-3 alignment under new DC Chuck HEATER and it may work out given that the DL appears to be the strength of the defense. Two of last season’s top-three sack leaders (Ellison Hubbard, Emmanuel Jones) will anchor things up front and the LB unit brings back #2 tackler Dequan Jackson. The bad news is the departure of their fine safety, and leading tackler by a wide margin, Jamal Hicks who ran out of eligibility.
The Rams ended up last year as the #5 total defense in the conference (377 YPG) and that feels like the high-water mark this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Colorado St boasts an excellent punter in Ryan Stonehouse and the Rams were #6 (!) in the FBS in net punting LY. The FG kicking was a fiasco last season as they were 14/24 as a team on three-pointers, but it’s worth pointing out that they were 1/6 from 50+ yards. It’s unclear who will get the nod as the starting PK to start the campaign. The Rams lose KR Anthony Hawkins who took one to the HOUSE in 2019.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The plandemic schedule has the Rams drawing road games with Fresno St and San Diego St which isn’t ideal. Two of their first three games will determine if they have any hopes of competing in the Mountain Division (Wyoming, at Boise St).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – UNLV (November 21)
This game is sandwiched between a road date with Boise St and the rivalry game with Air Force.
Season Win Total
TBD
MEGALOCKS says:
TBD
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Colorado has a yuuuuuge series lead over Colorado St in the ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHOWDOWN (67-22-2) and they have won five straight in the series, the last two coming by a combined score of 97-34.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
There’s enough to like on this team to see them getting to a bowl game. The offense should be able to SCORE THE FOOTBALL unless the offensive line is a total mess. The defense looks mediocre on paper but there’s upside if the new coaching staff can figure out how to make things work. They might also get a JOLT of energy with HC Addazio on board in year one.
Want more Colorado St Football ?
WEBSITE
https://csurams.com/sports/football
FORUM
http://chat.coloradostate.sportswar.com/message_board/ramnationathletics/
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NEWS
http://www.coloradoan.com/sports/csu-football/
http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/36/
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