Colorado State Football: Bowl-less Rams battle Air Force for pride

Neither the Rams nor the Falcons will be bowling this year. Will Colorado State football or Air Force end their 2018 campaign on a high note with a Thanksgiving win?

The last time that both Colorado State and Air Force missed a bowl game in the same season was back in 2006. They are guaranteed to both be left out of the postseason this year, as the Rams come into their regular-season finale with a 3-8 record and the Falcons are only slightly better at 4-7 on the year. They are playing for little more than pride as they look to put a forgettable 2018 campaign in the books.

After losing their past four games by an average score of 42-21, the Rams were out of the postseason picture by the beginning of November. Allowing on average more than two touchdowns more than they score in a given contest, Mike Bobo‘s squad has struggled to stay in games with their opponents all season long.

The same has largely been true about Air Force as well. The difference is that, even in the midst of losing three of their past four games and four of the last six, the Falcons have never lost a game this year by more than 10 points. Far more competitive each week, the Falcons have been close in many contests but unable to put away a positive result.

Though neither will be in the postseason this year, there is still one more chance to end otherwise disappointing campaigns for both of the two Mountain West schools facing off on Thanksgiving afternoon in Colorado Springs. Here’s how you can watch the Thanksgiving game between Colorado State and Air Force:

Date: Thursday, Nov. 22
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Venue: Falcon Stadium
TV: CBS Sports Network
Live Stream: CBS Sports Live | FuboTV

Keys to Victory

As one of the most penalized teams in the country, Colorado State needs to cut back on the number of flags they earn themselves on Thanksgiving. The Rams also need a better performance from their special teams units, as they have lost the field position battle most of this season both when they kick the ball away and when they return kickoffs and punts.

Air Force, on the other hand, needs to get consistent pressure on Colorado State quarterback Collin Hill. The Falcons, outside the top 100 in turnovers gained, also need to generate some takeaways and finish with a positive turnover margin to have any chance to not just win but also cover a two-touchdown spread.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of oddsshark.com

Point Spread: Air Force -14
Over/Under: 61

Prediction

Air Force has been much more competitive this season, notwithstanding the Rams loss in Week 12 to Utah State. The Falcons are going to give away some points to Hill and his offensive teammates, but the ground attack will wear down Colorado State’s defense. Look for Air Force to give up a late touchdown that pulls the Rams within a touchdown, but a failed onside kick will allow the Falcons to run out the clock.

Final Score: Air Force 34, Colorado State 30