The Colorado State Rams (7-5, 5-3 Mountain West) take on the Marshall Thundering Herd (7-5, 4-4 C-USA) in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2:30 p.m. at Dreamstyle Stadium.
For Colorado State, this marks the team’s second trip of the year to Albuquerque, as they defeated New Mexico 27-24 on October 20. The Rams come in to the New Mexico Bowl touting an impressive offense that ranks in the top 10 nationally. The Rams are led by senior quarterback Nick Stevens and wide receiver Michael Gallup. Gallup is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to the top receiver in the nation. He leads the Mountain West in both receiving yards and receptions, in addition to being in the top four nationally in both categories.
Stevens has had an impressive senior campaign for the Rams, throwing for 3,749 yards and 27 touchdowns against just 10 interceptions. In addition, he has eclipsed the 300 yards passing mark seven different times this season. In his last outing at Dreamstyle Stadium, he threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns. The Rams average 501 yards of total offense per game.
On the other side of the ball, The Herd come into this game with one of the most stout defenses in the country, ranking in the top 25 nationally. Only three of the 12 offenses to face Marshall this season have managed to eclipse the 400-yard mark, and none of been able to reach 500 yards of offense.
Marshall defensive coordinator Chuck Heater was very complimentary of Gallup and the Rams offense during a press conference on Friday.
“They got a bunch (of playmakers),” Heater said. “It’s one of those type of things if you spend too much time on (Gallup) the other guys will beat you.”
However, The Herd still plan to focus much of their attention on Gallup, as it’s no accident he ended up as a Biletnikoff finalist.
“There’s a reason he’s one of the top receivers in the nation,” Marshall head coach Doc Holliday said. “He’s got strong hands; he gets in and out of routes; he’s physical; he’s a gamer.”
Offensively, The Herd are lead by junior quarterback Chase Litton, who has thrown for 2,853 yards and 23 touchdowns so far this season.
The Rams are coming off of two consecutive bowl game defeats and will look to secure their first postseason victory under head coach Mike Bobo, who was given a three-year contract extension earlier this week.
Bobo knows that it’s important for his squad not to overlook Marshall, regardless of how the two teams might match up on paper.
“I think we have a tendency, in today’s world, to kind of do that and think the games are played on paper,” Bobo said. “They are not played on paper (though). They are played in the preparation and how you get ready. Then you still have to go out and earn that victory that day.”
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The 12th edition of the New Mexico Bowl kicks off at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Cameron Goeldner is a freelance sports reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers men’s soccer, but also contributes content for baseball, basketball, football and track and field. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @goeldfinger.
