The scores tell you everything. Colorado State has given up 41, 59, 56, 66 and 49 points in its last 5 games, and the 49 came in a win. Utah State has scored 0, 21, 18, 17 and 17 over its last 5, and no opponent in that stretch has topped 37 against them. One side plays a shootout every week. The other plays a rock fight every week. This game takes place right where those two styles meet.
There's a common opponent too, and it's not kind to the Rams. Texas State put 66 on Colorado State. A week ago the same Bobcats needed a 37-yard field goal from J. Bonilla with 1:56 to play to get past Utah State, after the Aggies had tied it at 17 with a touchdown pass to K. Watson and a 2-point conversion to Javen Jacobs. That doesn't decide anything in Logan. It does show the Aggies' defense can hang with an offense that ran the Rams off the field.
Colorado State's win wasn't clean, either. The Rams led 56-42 and got an interception at the San Diego State 3. Then Hejny lost a fumble, the Aztecs went 99 yards to make it 56-49 with about 2 minutes left, and only a recovered onside kick ended it. Tre'Shawn Moore's 38-yard pick-6 and two Durell Robinson touchdown runs helped build that lead. The fact that the defense still couldn't protect it is the real story of the Rams' season.
Both teams are 1-2 in conference play, and Saturday, October 31 is an important game for each. The forecast for Maverik Stadium is cloudy and 45 degrees with a 42% chance of precipitation, which suits the team that wants to shorten the game more than the one that wants to sling it. If Utah State can keep Hejny from turning broken plays into big gains and get a few drives out of Brosterhous and Garcia, the Aggies are fine playing a 20-17 game. If the Rams get loose early, Utah State doesn't have the offense to catch up.