The College Football season may be a long way off but Matt Fargo is already deep in study and will once again provide his take on each and every NCAA team. We start from the bottom and move up so keep checking in for more previews!

No. 105 Colorado St. Rams
2007 Record ~ 3-9 SU ~ 5-6 ATS
Starters Returning ~ Offense (7) Defense (5)

Picking a team from the Mountain West Conference for a ranking this low might not seem right but it is justified. Colorado St. has fallen mightily and there is no hope in sight this season. After 10 straight seasons with at least seven victories, the wheels fell off in 2004 as the Rams recorded just four victories and they have not had a winning season since. Sonny Lubick is out and Steve Fairchild comes in trying to turn around a once proud and dangerous program. It will happen, just not this year.

The offense has one thing going for it and that is about it. There is plenty of depth at running back. Last season, Gartrell Johnson stepped in and put up 957 yards in place of the ineffective Kyle Bell, who was still suffering from lingering ACL issues and gained just 691 yards. In spring camp, Bell looked like the back that gained over 1,200 yards two years ago so the duo should be a force. After that, it is anyone’s guess. Quarterback Billy Farris has no experience and his receivers are just as inexperienced.

Colorado St. finished 107th in the nation against the run as it allowed 207.3 ypg and goal number one is to stiffen up the rushing defense. Only one starter returns across the line and Tommie Hill is a star but it will be up to newcomers to help out. The linebackers are the strength of the defense as all three starters return and that alone should keep the opposition out of the third level. The secondary was a mess last season with injuries galore at the safety spot. The corners have little to no experience and will be tested early.

Colorado St. rarely plays patsies and this year’s slate is a big challenge. Granted, Sacramento St. is in the mix but the three other non-conference games are against rival Colorado, Houston and California. The MWC schedule sets up fairly nice as the Rams host BYU, TCU and New Mexico, arguably three of the top four teams. The rushing game should be awesome but the problem is that other teams know this and will load up the box. Let’s see a few games first before laying anything on this rebuilding bunch.
 

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