Colorado vs Colorado State: 3 storylines to follow in Week 1

Colorado State and Colorado face off in the Mile High Showdown in Denver. Here are three things to watch for during this clash between rivals.

The Colorado State Rams kicked off the 2017 season in style with a dominating win over Oregon State. The game was a huge non-conference win for the Rams, as well as the first win in the new on-campus stadium. Colorado State has momentum heading into this matchup. The Rocky Mountain Showdown for the Colorado Buffaloes, will be their first game of the season.

Colorado will be looking to recapture or even surpass the magic of their 2016 season. A season in which the Buffs shocked everyone and won the Pac-12 South and went on to the Valero Alamo Bowl. They’ll be doing this with a new quarterback in Steven Montez.

Montez saw action throughout last year whenever Sefo Liufau was injured. Montez isn’t green, but it will be interesting to see how he handles the full gig at quarterback. The Rams were throttled last season by Colorado, by a score of 44-7. The Rams will be looking to rectify such a defeat, and their second straight win over a Pac-12 foe.

Here are three things to watch in the 2017 Rocky Mountain Showdown.

3. How the Rams defense looks against Colorado offense

Early on in the game against Oregon State, Colorado State wasn’t looking as if they had made expected improvement on defense. That all changed after the half and shut the Beavers down to just one touchdown in the entire second half.

Colorado State struggled mightily against Colorado’s offense last year — and that might be an understatement. Regardless, Oregon State’s offense is not on the same level as Colorado’s; at least not based on last season. In order for the Rams’ defense to truly show that it has improved, it will have to show that it has what it takes to contain a much more potent offense. If the Rams can do that, then we will know that true improvement has come through on defense.