What we're watching for, prediction for Colorado State at Utah State

The Colorado State football team has recently ended their losing streak, and now the Rams have the opportunity to stack a couple of victories together. The Rams are heading to Utah State for a Halloween afternoon game at 1:30 p.m. on October 31. Here are the things to watch for and a prediction for the game's final score.

Hauss Hejny, the Colorado State quarterback, has been impressive with his 36 non-kneel down drives leading to 20 touchdowns. Despite playing in only 13 quarters this season, he has recorded 13 touchdown passes and three rushing touchdowns. This electric performance has made the Rams nearly unstoppable with Hejny leading the offense.

Although Utah State has struggled overall, their defense has been effective, allowing only 16 points against both Washington and Washington State. The Utah State team that scored 66 points against CSU two weeks ago managed just 20 points against Utah State in their most recent game.

CSU's star receiver, RJ Vick, is expected to return after missing two games due to injury (listed as probable on the injury report). However, running back Mel Brown is questionable, while tight end Juice Vereen is expected to be out. This means the Colorado State offense still has some injuries, but Hejny and his teammates should have a strong arsenal of weapons.

The outcome of the game may depend on which team has the better unit, which is Utah State with its poor offense (scoring 14.9 points per game) and Colorado State's poor defense (allowing 44 points per game). If Utah State can score 21 points, it would be a massive success for the Rams, who have allowed 54 points per game over their last five.

Utah State coach Jim Mora has cautioned against the danger posed by quarterback Grady Brosterhous. Mora stated that Brosterhous is big, stoic-looking in the pocket, fearless, and a threat to throw downfield, making it difficult to predict his actions. Brosterhous has completed 56% of his passes for 1,120 yards per game, scoring seven touchdowns and six interceptions, as well as gaining 392 rush yards (with a net of 270 due to sacks).

If CSU loses this game, the path to three more wins and bowl eligibility would become very narrow. However, a win would have the Rams and fans officially on bowl watch. Four wins in the remaining four games would give CSU a realistic chance of reaching the six-win mark and potentially securing a bowl appearance. Although the game may not yet be a bowl elimination game for CSU, it will have a significant impact on the team's chances.

The Colorado State vs. Utah State score prediction is Colorado State 37, Utah State 31. The game line has moved from Utah State being favored by 3.5 points to being favored by 6.5 points, indicating a toss-up game. The author predicts a victory for Colorado State, crediting the strength of the Ram offense over Utah State's weakness.