Oregon State Beavers at Colorado State Rams
Saturday, August 26, 2017, 2:30 pm Eastern, TV: CBS Sports Network
Hughes Stadium – Fort Collins, Colorado
Opening Line: Colorado State -3 1/2
Current Line: Colorado State -4
Opening Total: 62 1/2
Current Total: 58 1/2
Opening Money Line: CSU -185 / OSU +160
Current Money Line: CSU -200 / OSU +170
This year, college football starts a few days early with five games this weekend. The first game of the season matches the Oregon State Beavers of the Pac 12 against the Colorado State Rams of the Mountain West Saturday in Fort Collins, Colorado. The series is tied 1-1 but the teams haven’t played since 1975. Colorado State makes the return trip to Corvallis in 2020 to complete the home and home.
Oregon State went 4-8 under coach Gary Andersen last year. The Beavers went 3-6 in the Pac 12. Oregon State was 9-3 ATS and the total was 5-7 last year. Colorado State was 7-6 last year and 5-3 in the Mountain West last year under coach Mike Bobo. The Rams lost to Idaho in the Idaho Potato Bowl 61-50. Colorado State was 10-3 ATS and the total was 7-6 last year.
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Oregon State averaged 366 yards per game on offense including 192 rushing yards and 174 passing yards, plus 26 points a game. The Beavers allowed 429 total yards per game including 218 rushing yards and 211 passing along with 31 points a game. OSU was -2 in turnovers and forced 18 turnovers. The Beavers averaged 72 penalty yards per game. Oregon State was 67/187 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents were 86/200. The Beavers were 66/76 scoring in the red zone with 52 touchdowns and opponents were 72/88 with 50 touchdowns.
Marcus McMaryion and Darrell Garretson split time at quarterback for the Beavers last year. McMaryion transferred to Fresno State after JUCO transfer Jake Luton was named the starter. Garretson will back up Luton. Garretson threw for 617 yards with 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions and rushed for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Running back Ryan Nall had 147 carries for 951 yards and 13 touchdowns, plus 22 catches for 214 yards and 2 touchdowns. Artavis Pierce had 98 catches for 523 yards and 4 touchdowns, plus 21 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown. A couple of transfers Trevorris Johnson from TCU and Thomas Tyner from Oregon will add depth. Johnson is questionable with a leg injury.
Receiver Victor Bolden, Jr. is gone after making 46 catches for 542 yards and 2 touchdowns. Seth Collins had 36 catches for 418 yards and a touchdown. He is the leading returning receiver, but is out with a finger injury. Jordan Villamin had 21 catches for 253 yards and a touchdown. Timmy Hernandez had 19 catches for 241 yards and a touchdown. Hunter Jarmon will also get plenty of catches. Noah Togiai is the tight end.
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Colorado State averaged 463 yards per game on offense including 218 rushing yards and 245 passing yards, plus 35 points a game. The Rams allowed 419 total yards per game including 214 rushing yards and 205 passing along with 30 points a game. CSU was -1 in turnovers and forced 14 turnovers. The Rams averaged 54 penalty yards per game. Colorado State was 86/195 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents were 105/216. The Rams were 50/53 scoring in the red zone with 42 touchdowns and opponents were 44/47 with 36 touchdowns.
Quarterback Nick Stevens lost his job to to true freshman Collin Hill at the start of last season. Hill tore his ACL midway through last season and Stevens regained the job. Stevens will start in 2017 but Hill could see some snaps. Stevens threw for 1,936 yards with 19 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, and had 2 rushing touchdowns. Hill threw for 1,096 yards with 8 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, plus a rushing touchdown.
The top three running backs are back for the Rams. Dalyn Dawkins had 161 carries for 919 yards and 4 touchdowns, plus 20 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. Izzy Matthews had 153 carries for 734 yards and 13 touchdowns. Marvin Kinsey, Jr. had 93 carries for 546 yards and 7 touchdowns. He suffered a torn ACL late last season and is questionable for the start of the season.
Receiver Michael Gallup is back. He had 76 catches for 1,276 yards and 14 touchdowns. Olabisi Johnson had 28 catches for 613 yards and 4 touchdowns. Dietrich Clark will also start at receiver. Dalton Fackrell takes over as the tight end.
Oregon State is 7-0 ATS on field turf, 7-1 overall and 4-1 against Mountain West teams.
Colorado State is 7-1 ATS overall, 5-1 on fieldturf, 14-4-1 in non-conference games, and 5-2 at home.
Oregon State struggled on offense last year, and need to improve if they want to avoid another losing season. The Rams were one of the most balanced teams in the country last year.Neither defense was that great. The total has dropped four points and I like the over. I also think Colorado State wins a close game.
