A game with familiar connections, the Colorado State vs. Nevada betting preview showcases the similarities and stark differences in this Friday night Mountain West showdown. Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell heads to Reno to take on his former team in their first matchup since Norvell left Nevada unexpectedly to take the CSU job.
Colorado State vs. Nevada Betting Preview
Which betting odds, DFS picks, and fantasy football players should you be mindful of? The official Colorado State vs. Nevada prediction gives you all the answers.
- Spread: Nevada (-3.5)
- Moneyline: Nevada (-170); Colorado State (+145)
- Over/Under: 44 points
- Game time: 10:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Mackay Stadium, Reno, NV
- Predicted weather at kick: 63 degrees, clear, 4-5 mph winds
In a game this familiar, you can expect both sides to be fired up. But it should be said when Norvell first left Nevada for CSU, most expected this line to be the other way around, favoring the Rams.
Instead, we’re left with a litany of questions about the Colorado State roster on both sides of the ball. Before we get into that, let’s roll with our fantasy and DFS plays ahead of our prediction.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Here are the players and their values according to FanDuel ahead of their Friday night clash.
- QB Nate Cox, Nevada: $7,100
- QB Shane Illingworth, Nevada: $7,100
- QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, CSU: $6,200
- QB Clay Millen, CSU: $6,200
- RB Toa Taua, Nevada: $8,600
- RB Devonte Lee, Nevada: $6,700
- RB A’Jon Vivens, CSU: $5,900
- RB David Bailey, CSU: $5,500
- WR Tory Horton, CSU: $9,800
- WR Jamaal Bell, Nevada: $7,000
- WR B.J. Casteel, Nevada: $6,000
- WR Dalevon Campbell, Nevada: $5,700
- WR Justus Ross-Simmons, CSU: $5,500
- WR Tyrese Mack, Nevada: $5,500
- WR Ty McCullouch, CSU: $5,400
- WR Melquan Stovall, CSU: $5,300
It’s tough to look at any of the quarterbacks in this matchup with anything than a less-than-favorable approach. Even if Clay Millen is healthy and suits up for the Rams, this is as clear as the night should be: Stay away from the quarterbacks in this game for fantasy purposes. Instead, go for the sure things.
And those sure things are the running back approach from Nevada and the target-heavy Tory Horton at Colorado State. Toa Taua and Devonte Lee have carried the Wolf Pack this season, literally.
Of the team’s 14 total touchdowns, Taua and Lee have combined to score 10 of them, including nine on the ground and another through the air. That kind of production is unrivaled right now, as Nevada just simply doesn’t have many weapons on offense besides those two.
Stack Taua with Lee to guarantee your chances, or just simply grab Taua at the top of your lineup and hope he continues his hot hand.
As far as potential DFS plays from Colorado State, it’s Horton who Hears a Who! in this matchup. Horton has been the lone bright spot on this offense in 2022, especially after Dante Wright entered the transfer portal. Horton has five of the Rams’ six total touchdowns, as this hapless offense would be even worse without him.
The Rams have gained 184 yards on the ground this season with no touchdowns and a paltry 1.4 yards per carry. It’s not that they’re running a true Air Raid offense, and they have no ground game because of it. Instead, they’ve not found success in Norvell’s Air Raid system this season so far and have turned to the ground game with no success.
For all of your fantasy purposes this weekend, this game is a must-miss in terms of starters. Go with Taua if you want a reason to watch this one.
Prediction for Colorado State vs. Nevada
It’ll be a tough ask for casual football fans even to flip this game on TV on Friday night. And it’s an even tougher ask to promote it as a must-watch television moment. Frankly put, this game is between two abhorrent offenses with little to no firepower left at this point of the season.
So, why are we watching? I can’t just say, ‘because it’s college football,’ right? Well, it’s simple — you watch because of the defensive prowess in this game. As hapless as the offenses may be, flip it on to see Dom Peterson flying around the defensive line for Nevada. Find Jack Howell continuing to impact the game from his safety spot for Colorado State.
See some of the better linebacking play in this game, as Dequan Jackson and Cam’Ron Carter are among the best duos in the Mountain West. And see the Nevada Wolf Pack cram it down the throat of their former coach’s defense, literally and figuratively.
Taking the air out of the ball with a heavy dose of Taua and Lee should be in order, as Colorado State has allowed 10 rushing touchdowns this season while giving up the 94th-most yards on a per-game average to ball carriers.
Grab the under, secure the Pack, and hope for the Revenge Game to come true.
And if you want to win a free $200 on this game on Friday, we have some good news. As a new user of DraftKings Sportsbook, you can bet $5 and win $200 by betting on any college football game.
Prediction: Nevada 27, Colorado State 13