Colorado State 2018 Betting Preview: Roster Turnover Will Hold Back Rams

Colorado State 2018 Betting Odds

• To win the Mountain West: +4000
• To win the Mountain Division: +1400
• Win Total: 5.5 (over -115, under -115)

All lines as of August 17. Always shop for the best line.

Colorado State 2018 Schedule, Betting Odds

The Action Network Projected Wins: 5.2

Bet To Watch

Colorado State Under 5.5 wins (-115)

The Rams rank dead last overall in returning production as the Nick Stevens-Michael Gallup era of exciting offense is gone.

But fall camp has been a K.J. Carta-Samuels showcase thus far. Carta-Samuels, a graduate transfer from Washington, will be pushed by Collin Hill once the redshirt QB recovers from an ACL injury. The Colorado State offense is talented — it ranked 44th in offensive S&P+ last year — but there will be new faces all over the field against Hawaii on Aug. 25.

The defense gets its own makeover, which may not be a bad thing after it ranked 103rd in S&P+ defense in 2017. A new defensive coordinator takes over the Rams with a scheme change to a 4-3, and plenty of blitzes and stunts are planned for the season.

While the offense and defense take their lumps with returning production, the Rams' special teams unit (ranked fifth overall in S&P+) returns one of the best punters in the nation, Ryan Stonehouse.

Head coach Mike Bobo takes pride in his special teams, and Stonehouse will be a major asset for Colorado State.

This has been one of the most exciting teams to watch in years past. It even had one of the most epic moose spots against Boise in 2017. However, there is plenty of player turnover and defensive scheme change to go under 5.5 wins (-115). The Rams are favored in only four games, and two September matchups with SEC opponents may have an impact on depth.

What else you need to know about Colorado State

The season kicks off on Aug. 25 with Hawaii visiting Colorado State. The Rainbow Warriors are moving to a run-and-shoot offense, while the Rams are changing defensive schemes. My projections should have this game around a touchdown, while S&P+ rankings have a projection close +10.5.  There is value on Hawaii +14 to open the season.

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