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The Colorado State Rams take on the Utah State Aggies in Logan, Utah. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EDT on USA.
Utah State is favored by -6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -235. The total is set at 63.5 points.
Here’s my Colorado State vs. Utah State prediction and college football pick for Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Colorado State vs Utah State Prediction
- Colorado State vs. Utah State Pick: Utah State First Half Team Total Over 17.5
My Utah State vs. Colorado State best bet is on the Aggies' first-half team total over. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Colorado State vs Utah State Odds
| Colorado State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 63.5 -105o / -115u | +190 |
| Utah State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 63.5 -105o / -115u | -230 |
- Colorado State vs Utah State point spread: Colorado State +6.5 (-110), Utah State -6.5 (-110)
- Colorado State vs Utah State over/under: 63.5 (-105o / -115u)
- Colorado State vs Utah State moneyline: Colorado State +190, Utah State -230
Colorado State vs Utah State College Football Preview
Colorado State Rams Betting Preview: A Historically Bad Defense
Disaster. Dumpster fire. Pathetic.
However you want to describe Colorado State's defense, it's historically bad. Now at 8.2 yards surrendered per play (a number that's gotten progressively worse in conference play), Colorado State is creeping up on UConn's historic 2018 season, where it allowed a ghastly 8.7 yards per play — worst since at least 2011.
Fortunately for the Rams, the return of Hauss Hejny to this offensive system makes it possible for them to still win football games. Last week, CSU notched its third win of the season and first since Week 2, a 56-49 win over San Diego State. But that's what it's going to take: 50 points or more, since CSU hasn't held an opponent under 49 since September 29 or under 40 since Week 2.
Even without Hejny, the Rams offense has been extremely reliable. It hasn't failed to score 21 this season, and its average is 49.7 points scored. CSU stands inside the top 10 in Adjusted EPA Per Play and 18th in touchdown rate (43.2% of drives). It helps to have a run game as dynamic as OC Pryce Tracy's, only made better by Hejny's ability to run the football himself. Tracy will likely be a hot name in the coming coaching carousel with his Wide Zone-focused system.
But until that defense turns around, CSU cannot be trusted. It has an opportunity to go bowling in Year 1 under Jim Mora (quite an accomplishment given recent performance), but it must secure three wins against Utah State (away), Boise State (home), Washington State (away), Fresno State (away), and a Texas State team that already hung 66 on CSU (at home).
Utah State Aggies Betting Preview: Not Much Left in Store
It turns out, former OC Kevin McGiven was doing a lot of heavy lifting. In just one season, Utah State crashed from 58th in points per drive to 127th while rival Utah (who now employs McGiven) maintains its status as a top-scoring offense. Remove the occasional explosive play and Utah State's offense is one of the two worst offenses in the country. Its 34.2% Success Rate is second-worst behind only Old Dominion.
The offensive line has been a mess due to constant reshuffling caused by injuries and performance issues. Nine different linemen have logged 120+ snaps, and eight of them have played meaningful time at two or more positions, oftentimes on opposite sides of the line.
QB Grady Brosterhous has felt the pressure, but limited pocket mobility has led to 20 sacks on 71 pressures — that sack total is the 10th-most in the country, and his 28.2% pressure-to-sack ratio is the 7th-most among QBs to have been pressured 50+ times.
In short, he is often pressured and takes too many sacks.
The defense has put the team in position to win, but the offense can't hold up its end of the bargain. Four times this year Utah State has held its opponent to under 21 points, and it's only 2-2 in those games. Robert Anae was a questionable hire from the start, despite his ties to Mendenhall, and early on it appears that may have been a misfire.
There's really not much left in store for Utah State. It still has three of the Pac-12's top teams ahead (Fresno State, Oregon State, Boise State), but two losses end its hopes of a bowl bid. Utah State needs more than a couple upsets to continue its season, but an offense stuck in the mud makes that unlikely.
Colorado State vs Utah State Pick, Betting Analysis
For another week, I ask: what will break first: a team's ability to score on Colorado State's defense or the bettor's will to bet over opposing team totals?
Last week didn't give any indication that our will to bet this number into the ground should break.
So, we're back. Thanks to a modest 63.5 total (by Colorado State standards) and a projected one-score game, we get Utah State's team totals at a discount. Math will have it that we get this number under 21 — a number Colorado State hasn't held an opponent under since Week 1 against Wyoming (and that includes FCS Southern Utah!).
The defensive ineptitude and effort continue to get worse.
It doesn't matter the quality of the opposing offense anymore. Over first-half team total is good at any reasonable number.
Bet it until the wheels fall off.
Pick: Utah State First Half Team Total Over 17.5
