Upcoming Match-ups

Colorado State vs Fresno State Odds and Picks

Chris Amberley

by Chris Amberley in College Football

Updated Mar 3, 2021 · 2:56 PM PST

Moby Arena at Colorado State
No. 24 Colorado clashes with rival Colorado State Friday night. Photo by LUSportsFan (Wikimedia Commons) [CC License].
  • The Colorado State Rams are 1.5-point road favorites over the Fresno State Bulldogs on Thursday, October 29th (10:00 pm EST)
  • CSU will be making its season debut, while Fresno State was blown out in its first game
  • See below for analysis, odds and a betting prediction

It took longer than expected, but the Colorado State Rams will finally make their season debut on Thursday, at 10 pm EST, against the Fresno State Bulldogs.

CSU was supposed to begin its Mountain West Conference schedule last week against New Mexico, but coronavirus concerns ultimately cancelled that contest.

Fresno State meanwhile, played its season opener last week versus Hawaii, and were blown out by the Rainbow Warriors.

Colorado State vs Fresno State Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Colorado State Rams -1.5 (-112) -124 Over 57.5 (-115)
Fresno State Bulldogs +1.5 (-109) -102 Under 57.5 (-106)

Odds taken Oct. 26th at DraftKings.

The Rams are currently a 1.5-point favorite in a game that features a total of 57.5. CSU has lost a significant amount talent from last year’s 4-8 team, and will also be debuting a new head coach.

A Lot of Question Marks for CSU

Steve Addazio brings nearly a decade’s worth of head coaching experience with him, and most recently had control of the Boston College program. It’s no secret that he prefers to run the ball, as his BC teams averaged over 220 yards on the ground during his final three seasons with the program.

The problem is that this roster may not have the talent to lean so heavily on the run. CSU lost three starters from their offensive line from a season ago, as well as their leading rusher. They averaged just 4.0 yards per carry in 2019, and scored the second fewest points in their division.

They had much greater success through the air, averaging 305.3 yards per outing, but while starting QB Patrick O’Brien is back, his number one target is not.

Warren Jackson is foregoing this season to focus on the NFL Draft. He racked up 1,119 receiving yards and 8 TD last season, and that kind of production doesn’t grow on trees. His absence, along with a new coach and a revamped offensive line could lead to some early season struggles on offense.

Bulldogs Looking to Bounce Back

Fresno State actually built a 13-0 lead last week against Hawaii before the wheels completely fell off. The Bulldogs were outscored 34-6 from that point on, and their defense allowed Hawaii to produce 552 yards on offense.

On the other side of the ball, Junior quarterback Jake Haener threw for 289 yards and a score, but was a turnover machine. He tossed three interceptions and fumbled once, leading to 10 Rainbow Warriors points.

It could be another long night for Haener and the passing game versus Colorado State, as the Bulldogs return nearly every starter on their defensive line. CSU surrendered just 181.6 passing yards per game in 2019, which ranked 7th in the Nation.

The Verdict

A total of 57.5 seems awfully optimistic for these two teams. Granted, the Fresno State defense doesn’t project to offer a ton of resistance, but there are too many question marks surrounding the Rams offense to expect 30-plus points.

Both programs are much weaker against the run than the pass, and an abundance of carries for both sides isn’t exactly a recipe for a shootout.

I’m banking on a slow start from CSU, and unless the Bulldogs can clean up their sloppy play, this game has a great chance to stay under the total.

Pick: Under 57.5 (-106)

 

 

Author Image