Tag: Wyoming

Source: Wyoming’s Sam Griffin to have predraft workout with Thunder

Source: Wyoming’s Sam Griffin to have predraft workout with Thunder.

The calendar has flipped to June, which means NBA teams are intensifying their predraft process and hosting players for workouts and visits. The 2024 NBA draft will take place from June 26-27.

The Oklahoma City Thunder enter this year’s class with a sole draft pick of the No. 12 selection. OKC was gifted the free lottery pick via the Houston Rockets.

The Thunder will host several meetings with draft prospects in the coming weeks. This includes players outside the lottery range as OKC will likely seek to add undrafted free agents or even buy back into the second round if it likes someone enough.

One possibility is Wyoming’s Sam Griffin. He is set to have a predraft workout with the Thunder on Thursday, sources tell Thunder Wire.

The 22-year-old played five college seasons from 2019-24. He played his first two years at UT Arlington before transferring to Tulsa for two seasons. He spent his last year at Wyoming.

In 32 games last season, Griffin averaged 16.9 points on 43.1% shooting, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists. He shot 39.2% from 3 on 6.1 attempts. At 6-foot-3, 188 pounds, he has decent size for a guard.

There’s a chance Griffin could end up as a second-round selection. If that happens, OKC will need to buy back into the second round if it likes him enough.

Griffin can also be a potential undrafted free agent target. He has a shot to join the Thunder’s summer league squad and possibly be added to the G League’s OKC Blue for next season if he impresses enough.

A full list of 2024 NBA draft prospects that have worked out or visited the Thunder in the predraft process can be viewed here.

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PFF ranks Carl Granderson among the NFL’s 32 best defensive ends

Pro Football Focus ranked Carl Granderson among the NFL’s 32 best defensive ends going into the 2024 season. Expectations are high for the former UDFA:

Carl Granderson isn’t underrated anymore. The New Orleans Saints defensive end broke out in 2023, and he’s attracting notice from the likes of Pro Football Focus. PFF’s Trevor Sikkema ranked Granderson among the NFL’s 32 best edge defenders — an in-house category that lumps together traditional defensive ends like Granderson with pass-rushing outside linebackers from odd-front defenses.

Here’s why Sikkema argues Granderseon is the 28th-best player among his peers:

Granderson put together the best two seasons of his career in 2022 and 2023, with overall grades of 80.5 and 74.0, respectively. His run defense has been his calling card, highlighted by grades above 70.0 in each of the past two years. His 62 quarterback pressures in 2023 were by far the most in any single season in his NFL career.

That’s high praise, and expectations are high for the former undrafted free agent. Granderson has developed better than several teammates the Saints have drafted at the same position group since signing with the team as an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming. Now he’s expected to lead the charge opposite Cameron Jordan and Chase Young, and with both of those players managing injuries in the offseason he’ll have ample opportunities.

Still, it would be better if the Saints didn’t have to lean so hard on one single player off the edge. Getting more production out of young draft picks like Isaiah Foskey (the No. 40 pick in 2023) or Payton Turner (the No. 28 pick back in 2021) would do a lot to relieve the pressure on guys at the top of the depth chart like Granderson, Jordan, or Young. The best pass-rush units around the league work like hockey teams and rotate a powerful second line into games while spelling the starters. Maybe the Saints can take a similar approach, but it’ll be tough to do so without veteran backup Tanoh Kpassagnon.

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National Golf Invitational: A year after near-miss, Wyoming sets up another run at a postseason title

Wyoming narrowly missed winning the inaugural NGI in 2023. But under veteran coach Joe Jensen, the build continues.

Long after Wyoming had finished its first round at the National Golf Invitational, head coach Joe Jensen was still waiting on the returns. His men had played the first 18 holes at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes in Maricopa, Arizona, in 6 under to land in third, three shots off the lead, but Jensen was waiting on the university to finalize the team GPA.

The number should be around 3.7 – so Jensen’s anticipation was coming from a place of pride, not fear – but this is where the slightly self-deprecating team motto is debunked.

“Quite honestly I have a solid group and I’ve always had,” Jensen said. “If there’s a program slogan that defines us – and we all laugh about it – it’s that we’re better people than we are players and we poke fun at ourselves for that.”

Scores: National Golf Invitational

While Jensen’s point is clear, nevertheless here is Wyoming contending for a postseason title – again. The Cowboys played in the inaugural NGI last spring and were part of a five-team horserace in the final round. Wyoming finished second to Texas State by a single shot after having a one-shot lead going into the final hole.

“It was so close and for us to finish second, it was such a great learning experience,” Jensen said. “So fond, fond, fond memories.”

On Friday, each of four teams had the lead at some point during the round: Wyoming, TCU, Butler and Richmond. Ultimately, TCU finished at 9 under for the overnight lead, with Richmond in second at 8 under and Butler in fifth at 4 under.

Washington State’s Preston Bebich and TCU’s Jack Beauchamp lead the individual race at 5 under.

For Wyoming, junior Patrick Azevedo, in the No. 4 spot, birdied half his holes, including five straight from No. 13 to 17. Including Azevedo, Wyoming counted three rounds of 3-under 69 plus a 75 from Davis Seybert in the No. 5 spot, with whom Jensen spent the majority of the day. Leading scorer Jimmy Dales posted an uncharacteristic 77 after a marathon week that included graduation, moving, driving home to Michigan and then flying back to Arizona.

“I’m cautiously pleased with how we played,” said Jensen, who knows from experience how tight this tournament will likely be.

Jensen, who has led Wyoming for 23 seasons, is a guy who loves his job and someone who tries to cultivate a family-like team atmosphere. He jokes that Wyoming leads the nation in parents. But rankings-wise, Wyoming is a team that’s always in the conversation though often a little bit outside at-large selection into NCAA Regionals.

“We’ve been that team that we sit from national ranking 75 to 125,” he said. “So if we’re not going to make it – and we’ve been always real close, real close, real close – for us to be able to come back (to the NGI) is exciting. So you bring the guys back, and it’s just fun to compete.”

Jensen sees the NGI satisfying a tremendous need in college golf, where each year it only gets harder to qualify for the NCAA finals. For his team, playing in a postseason environment could be a difference-maker when it comes to cracking that bubble into an NCAA Regional. That said, Wyoming players are paying little attention to the acronym at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes.

“There’s no way you’re going to tell our kids that this is not the NCAAs or this is not a valued postseason experience,” Jensen said. “That’s what it feels like, and it does so much good for our program.”

Jensen has been in this business long enough to know that there are always tough holes around the corner. He is working hard to coach his players to weather those better and cultivate an environment where his players can play free and with confidence. It has been a commentary within the group.

“To me, this event, I’m using it as a little bit of a springboard into next year because I think we can be competitive next year,” Jensen said. “I’m not afraid to say that.”

That starts, Jensen noted, with being relevant this week. So far, so good.

Wyoming criticizes ‘disrespectful’ wolf hunt, but is that enough?

The hunter is alleged to have captured the wolf, duct-taped its mouth and delivered it to a bar for display before he killed the animal.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department on Monday criticized a hunter’s ‘disrespectful’ actions several weeks after the individual allegedly ran down a wolf with a snowmobile and captured and later killed the animal.

But the agency did so without identifying the hunter or specifying his alleged deeds on Feb. 29 in Sublette County. They include duct-taping the wolf’s muzzle before transporting the animal to be shown off in a bar.

“The actions and behaviors of the individual involved in this case are not reflective of Wyoming’s values for wildlife,” Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik declared in a statement. “The actions that came to light in this case were disrespectful to wildlife.

“These actions were not in keeping with conservation principles or ethical behavior. This incident casts a shadow over our state’s proven track record in successfully and responsibly managing our gray wolf population.”

The statement was in response to a flood of complaints after the man’s alleged actions began to circulate via social media.

But the statement does not change the fact that the hunter was cited only for misdemeanor possession and importation of a live wild mammal, carrying a $250 fine.

Animal cruelty charges were not possible, the agency explained, because of the way regulations are established in parts of the state, such as Sublette County, deemed “predator zones.”

In these zones, hunters can kill wolves and other predatory animals without hunting tags, as long as kills are reported. There are no safeguards against animal harassment or torture.

“The incident occurred in a part of the state where gray wolves are legally classified as predatory animals,” Game and Fish stated. “[They] are not managed by the department and animal cruelty laws, per Wyo. Stat. Ann. 6-3-1008 (a)(vii) do not apply to predatory animals.”

The cruelty aspect generated more publicity than Game and Fish would have liked, but it remains unclear whether Wyoming will alter its regulations.

It’s worth noting that wolves in Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park are off-limits to hunting.

–Generic gray wolf image courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Watch a moose chase skiers downhill at this Wyoming resort

Run for it!

Wyoming’s serene and snowy hills call to snowboarders and skiers all over the United States. During a typical day on the slopes, visitors can expect to encounter fields of white, massive evergreen trees, and plenty of other tourists enjoying the winter weather. What you probably aren’t expecting to see is a giant moose chasing you downhill.

On Sunday, February 4, a giant moose is exactly what skiers at Teton Village, Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Mountain Resort encountered. As the video below shows, people skiing down the slopes that day saw a moose galloping after them. Skier Kenneth William Rynearson called out to his friends and told them to ski faster to avoid the animal.

According to Alex Momot, another guest on the slopes that day who filmed the moose, everyone “out-ran the moose and nobody was harmed.”

See the chase for yourself here.

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Unpacking Future Packers: No. 86, Wyoming LB Easton Gibbs

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Wyoming linebacker Easton Gibbs.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.

Over the past four NFL Drafts, the University of Wyoming has had a pair of linebackers drafted in the third round. It was Logan Wilson going to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020 and Chad Muma going to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022. 

The next Cowboy linebacker who will hear his name during draft weekend is Easton Gibbs. With the Green Bay Packers potentially looking for help at linebacker, Gibbs could be a potential Day 3 target for Brian Gutekunst. The Wyoming linebacker checks in at No. 86 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Gibbs recorded 42 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. The following season, Gibbs recorded 89 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and four pass deflections. In 2022, the California native recorded 121 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks.

This past season, Gibbs recorded 109 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and six pass deflections.

“Gibbs was one of the poster boys for Craig Bohl’s developmental program,” Ryan Thorburn, the Wyoming beat writer for The Casper Star-Tribune, said. “A lightly recruited prospect who bided his time behind some other talented linebackers before emerging as one of the best players in the Mountain West. The loyalty Gibbs and several of his classmates showed to Wyoming in the age of the transfer portal helped keep the roster stable.”

Gibbs’ background as a high school safety is evident when he drops in coverage. He looks comfortable dropping back in space and has the change of direction skills to turn and run with tight ends or running backs downfield. He has a high football IQ and good field awareness. 

“Gibbs’ experience playing safety does help him in coverage,” Thorburn said. “Wilson had a similar high school background and no NFL linebacker has more interceptions since he became a focal point on the Bengals’ defense. Gibbs helped Wyoming keep Arizona Cardinals standout tight end Trey McBride out of the end zone and limited projected NFL draft pick Dallin Holker to three catches in recent rivalry games with Colorado State.”

Gibbs has a motor that runs hot and he’s an energetic force on the gridiron. While not a downhill enforcer, Gibbs does a good job of sifting through the trash to make plays in the box against the run. The Wyoming linebacker runs well in the open field and showcases good chase speed. 

During his time at Wyoming, Gibbs logged over 300 snaps on special teams. With his quickness and tenacity, Gibbs could carve out on a role on special teams immediately as a rookie. 

Fit with the Packers

The Packers may or may not move on from veteran linebacker De’Vondre Campbell this offseason to save some money. Assuming the Packers move on from Campbell, that would leave Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie. It’s a safe bet that Gutekunst will look to add a body or two to that room this offseason.

Gibbs has the movement skills to match up with running backs and tight ends in coverage, along with the range to make plays sideline-to-sideline against the run. On top of what he could bring to the defense, he could be a hired gun on special teams. 

“Gibbs is a highly productive player, but he is also a leader and has a love for the game,” Thorburn said. “As a general manager, you wouldn’t have to worry about his professionalism or work ethic, and he has the skillset to make a difference.”

The Packers are currently projected to have 11 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, with six of them coming on Day 3, including two picks in the sixth and seventh rounds. With his coverage skills and ability to make an impact immediately on special teams, Gibbs would be a quality pick that late in the draft. 

SJSU falls to Wyoming on a buzzer-beater after conceding a 17-point lead

SJSU’s defense continues to prove costly after falling to Wyoming on a buzzer-beater that capped a 17-point comeback.

SJSU falls to Wyoming on a buzzer-beater after conceding a 17-point lead

SJSU’s defense continues to prove costly

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

The buzzer-beater that was equal parts cruel and ironic

There was a cruel irony to Wyoming guard Akuel Kot’s step back buzzer-beater to stun San Jose State, 75-73, to improve to 8-6.

It was one of the Spartans best defensive possessions of the second half. Who are now 0-1 in Mountain West play and 7-7 overall.

SJSU point guard Alvaro Cardenas was step-for-step with Kot, wasn’t deterred by any flashy dribble moves and was a hair away from blocking the shot. Unfortunately, that sliver of space was all Kot needed to send the Spartans back home in heartbreak. 

 

But don’t feel too bad for SJSU. The Spartans once led by 17 points and entered the second half up by 12 points. Moving forward, will SJSU’s shaky defense stand in the way of it making back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time ever? Furthermore, following the Spartans’ disappointing conference opener, one must wonder: Can SJSU compete in the Mountain West without an NIL presence?

According to the SF Chronicle, Wyoming is one of seven Mountain West teams to have a collective that has “reported annual NIL budgets for men’s basketball over $400,000.” Miles, meanwhile, watched recruits immediately “wig out” on Zoom calls when he mentioned he couldn’t offer NIL money. 

And it wasn’t just recruits – it was Spartans’, too.

Former SJSU center and 2022-23 Mountain West blocks leader Ibrahima Diallo “transferred to Central Florida this past June for $160,000 in NIL money,” according to that same SF Chronicle article.

If Diallo stayed, would the Cowboys have outscored SJSU in the paint 36-20 and allow seven-footer Oleg Kojenets to go for 18 points (5-for-12 from the field)? What about if SJSU could use NIL to lure recruits in the transfer portal, would Wyoming have gone 23-for-25 (93%) from the line? 

At times, SJSU seemed incapable of stopping Cowboy guard Sam Griffin, who scored a floor-high 23 points. His explosive blow by drives were just too much. 

Now one game into conference play, there’s an added pressure for SJSU’s inexperienced frontcourt of freshman forward Diogo “DJ” Seixas (three points and zero rebounds), sophomore forward William Humer (seven points and three rebounds) and sophomore Washington State transfer Adrame Diongue (two points and one rebound) to improve. 

Just a few games ago, following an 86-75 loss to Montana, Miles said, “We just got hurt inside but that’s not new news.”

The problem is SJSU must find a way to make it old news. The consequence is just too costly. SJSU has now surrendered multiple late leads. Which now makes a quote Miles gave after SJSU conceded a late-lead to Cal Poly in November feel hauntingly prophetic.

“You hope it’s not a symptom of a larger problem in the program or an unwillingness to build on a lead and play the type of defense necessary to win tough-minded games,” he said. 

Now at 7-7, SJSU must win nine of its remaining 17 conference games to be eligible to notch that prized CBI bid. Mind you, 12 of those 17 games come against teams with a higher NET ranking. 

The problem with Tuesday night’s blown lead is how easy it is to forget all the good. 

Like in the first half when SJSU point guard Ricky Mitchell soared in for a put back, blocked a shot on the other end and snapped a pass to Tibet Gorener (16 points, 3-for-5 from deep) for a three to put SJSU up 31-18. A string of plays that illustrated everything SJSU needs to bounce back; unrelenting energy from the second rotation; rim protection; timely three-point shooting. 

That Gorener three-pointer came in a first half where SJSU shot a sturdy 18-for-35 from the field and 9-for-18 from three to go up 47-35 heading into the second half.

Not to mention Cardenas’ brilliance. That final possession shouldn’t distract from him scoring 21 points on a stellar 8-for-13 mark from the field and 4-for-5 clip from three. Without Gorener and Cardenas’ clutch shooting, Wyoming might not have needed a buzzer-beater to down SJSU. 

Plus, SJSU forward Trey Anderson scored 10 points in his return to the starting lineup after missing a few games due to a knee sprain. 

But offensive production only goes so far with a defense that struggles to close games. 

All the Spartans can do now is hope to rally back against Boise State in its conference home-opener this Friday night at 7:30.

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Preview: Can HC Tim Miles lead SJSU to a winning record in Mountain West play?

Can HC Tim Miles lead SJSU to a winning record against MW opponents with robust NIL presences in order to notch a postseason appearance?

Preview: Can HC Tim Miles lead SJSU to winning record in Mountain West play?

Can SJSU finish .500 against MW opponents with robust NIL presences in order to notch a postseason appearance?

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

“You either adapt or die”

WHO: San Jose State Spartans (7-6) vs. Wyoming (7-6)

WHEN: Tuesday, January 2nd — 7:30 p.m. CST / 5:30 p.m. PST

WHERE: Arena-Auditorium; Laramie, Wyo (8,083)

TV: Mountain West Network (Stream on the Mountain West Network)

ODDS: Wyoming -5

As San Jose State men’s basketball opens conference play tonight against Wyoming, head coach Tim Miles now faces a question that’s loomed large since the preseason: Can SJSU repeat last year’s success without an NIL presence and reigning Mountain West Player of the Year Omari Moore?

“You either adapt or die,” SJSU head coach Tim Miles told The Spear last October.

Mar 4, 2023; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; San Jose State Spartans guard Omari Moore (10) gestures in the second half against the Air Force Falcons at Clune Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

At 7-6, the definition of “repeating last year’s success” has been slightly tempered to making back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time ever. In order to do that SJSU must win nine of its 18 conference games. 12 of those 18 games come against teams with a higher NET ranking. Just so happens that nearly all of those teams have an NIL presence the Spartans only hope to achieve one day. 

According to the SF Chronicle, Colorado State, Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico, Boise State, San Diego State and UNLV each have collectives that have reported annual NIL budgets for men’s basketball over $400,000. Miles, meanwhile, watched recruits immediately “wig out” on Zoom calls when he mentioned he couldn’t offer NIL money. 

Prior to an upset over crosstown rival Santa Clara on Dec. 20, finishing .500 in conference play for the second time since 2000 was daunting. SJSU was fresh off an 86-75 loss to Montana where its defense was reliably unreliable. “We just got hurt inside,” Miles said following the defeat. “But that’s not new news.” 

Miles entered the 2023-24 season well-aware of how the Spartans’ inexperienced front court could be detrimental to the team’s success. How could he not? Freshman forward Diogo “DJ” Seixas and sophomore forward William Humer had no prior Division I experience. The team’s prized 2023 recruit in sophomore Washington State transfer Adrame Diongue averaged 1.3 points and 1.8 boards in six minutes per game in Pullman. 

This stress was only heightened when Miles announced SJSU forward Robert Vaihola, the Mountain West leader in offensive rebounds a year ago, would be out for the year with a foot injury. 

With the departures of Vaihola’s front court counterparts in Sage Tolbert (graduated) and Ibrahima Diallo who “transferred to Central Florida this past June for $160,000 in NIL money,” according to that same SF Chronicle article, SJSU’s new rotation could be a deterrent to winning conference games. 

A “deterrent” but not a complete obstruction. 

At least senior forward Trey Anderson was rapidly evolving into a trustworthy three-point shooter and defender at the start of the season. 

Then he sustained a “significant knee sprain” on Dec. 4 in an overtime loss to North Dakota State – SJSU’s third straight at the time. 

The streak ended at three when SJSU used a late-surge to beat New Orleans (then ranked in the bottom 300 of the NET). But the thrill of the win and junior guard MJ Amey’s season-high 29 points was quickly forgotten when SJSU followed it up with that aforementioned loss to Montana at home on Dec. 17.

If SJSU was outrebounded 44-24 and allowed Montana forward Laolu Oke to go for 16 points and 15 rebounds, how could it handle an eight-game stretch in January that features Wyoming’s Sam Griffin (18.3 points per game), San Diego State’s Jaedon Ladee who leads the Mountain West with 21.3 points and is tied for the league lead in rebounds (9.2). Furthermore, the guy Ladee’s tied with – Utah State’s Great Osobor – will be hosting SJSU in Logan to end the month. 

By that point, if SJSU ends the month at 3-5 or 2-6, there’s little chance it can make up enough ground to clinch that prized .500 record. In consequence, it’ll reinforce the narrative that SJSU’s paltry financial state isn’t conducive to long term success. No coach since 1966 has finished with a winning record. Even scarier for Miles, since 1938, no SJSU head coach has fulfilled the same duty at a different school for at least two years. Mind you, San Jose is viewed as a stepping stone to a better opportunity for coaches.

As SJSU’s defense struggled, the fear that it would return to its disastrous state was front of mind. Forget the fact SJSU won 20 games for the first time since 1981 last year. The Spartans 10 Mountain West wins eclipsed its conference win total (eight) from the previous five seasons. 

But then came that 81-78 upset over Santa Clara – No. 120 NET ranking –to end non-conference play. Yes, it wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to offer hope. 

 

Amey (team-leading 17 points and nine rebounds) continued his emergence as the team’s leading scorer, SJSU outscored SCU 23-13 in points off turnovers, Humer finished with a +14 and point guard Alvaro Cardenas dished a team-high 10 assists.

When the Spartans upset Santa Clara last year, Miles noticed a growing confidence in each player. Suddenly, they started to believe in themselves a little more and held their chest a little bit higher. That was then parlayed into beating UNLV and Colorado State to start conference play. Until then SJSU had never opened Mountain West play with a win. 

Perhaps tonight’s bout with a struggling Wyoming could signal a repeating trend. 

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Wyoming Cowboys vs. UNLV Rebels: How the Cowboys will win

A face-off between two bowl-eligible teams in a premiere Mountain West matchup between Wyoming and UNLV. How do the Cowboys win?

Wyoming Cowboys vs. UNLV Rebels: How the Cowboys will win

A face-off between two bowl-eligible teams in a premiere Mountain West matchup between the Wyoming Cowboys and the UNLV Rebels.

Contact/Follow @KayceeClark and @MWCwire

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WEEK 11: Wyoming Cowboys (6-3, 3-2 MW) vs. UNLV Rebels (7-2, 4-1 MW)

WHEN: Friday, November 10 — 6:45 PM PT

WHERE: Allegiant Stadium (65,000)

TV: FS1

STREAMING: Get a free trial with FuboTV

RADIO: Cowboy Sports Network

SERIES RECORD: Wyoming 14-11

LAST MATCHUP: Wyoming won 45-14 on Nov. 27, 2020 in Las Vegas

WEBSITES: GoWyo.com, the official Wyoming athletics website; UNLVRebels.com, the official UNLV athletics website.

GAME NOTES: Wyoming | UNLV

ODDS: UNLV -5.5

OVER/UNDER: 50.5 points

Of the 25 games between the Wyoming Cowboys (6-3, 3-2 MW) and the UNLV Rebels (7-2, 4-1 MW), 14 were decided by one possession, and nine of those came in the Sin City. The Rebels have a slight advantage in those nine games, winning five of them over the Pokes, most recently in the triple overtime bout in 2016.

Both squads have overcome expectations for the season, as Wyoming was projected to finish sixth in the conference, and UNLV was projected ninth. However, the Rebels are now in their first bowl-eligible season in the past decade.

“Our opponent is playing, I think, maybe the best in the Mountain West right now,” Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl said in his weekly press conference.

Led by a heavy rushing attack, totaling 28 touchdowns, and an explosive wide receiver on the Biletnikoff watchlist, the Rebels are having one of their best seasons in recent memory. It is the first time UNLV has won seven of their first nine games since 1984, when the team’s quarterback was Randall Cunningham.

The Rebels’ Ricky White is closing in on 1,000 yards for the season, currently sitting at 884 with six touchdowns. Additionally, the trio of Vincent Davis Jr., Jai’Den Thomas and Donavyn Lester combined for 1,293 rushing yards.

UNLV also dominated in their game last weekend against New Mexico, 56-14. With three rushing touchdowns in the second quarter and a 28-point lead by halftime, the Rebels secured their seventh victory.

On the other sideline, it has been a tale of two stories for the Cowboys, as the team is 6-0 at home but 0-3 when traveling. While facing one of the top teams of the Mountain West, the Pokes are 2-2 in games this season against teams with a winning record.

A bright side of Wyoming’s play has been transfer running back Harrison Waylee, who has rushed for 686 yards this season in only six games. Quarterback Andrew Peasley has also found himself in the best season of his collegiate career. He has thrown for 1,195 yards and 15 touchdowns, with only four interceptions.

The Pokes’ defense has been another key to their success. From the numbers, it would look like Wyoming is a losing team. They allow more points than they score and give up 375 yards of offense a game, but one reason they have totaled six wins is a top turnover-forcing team in the country. Wyoming has snagged seven interceptions and forced nine fumbles, leading to a +8-turnover margin, tied for 10th best in the country.

 

Last week, Wyoming overcame Colorado State’s effort to win the Bronze Boot, 24-15.

As underdogs, Wyoming will have to overcome the odds, play its hand and ensure it doesn’t fall to the house.

Wyoming will win if…

As with any game, winning the turnover battle is extremely helpful for a victory. However, as Wyoming is tied for 10th in the country for its turnover margin, UNLV is tied for sixth with +9. The Rebels have contributed 19 turnovers this season and haven’t had a game without forcing one.

The Cowboys won the turnover battle in six games, including losses at Air Force and Boise State. Against the Rams last Friday, Wyoming forced three turnovers, including a 61-yard scoop and dash for defensive end Tyce Westland and the linebacker duo of Easton Gibbs and Shae Suiaunoa snatching the ball out of the air.

The only conference loss UNLV has suffered this season came to Fresno State, where the Rebels gave the ball away four times. But UNLV knows how to get the ball back as well as Jaxen Turner is tied for first in the Mountain West with four interceptions.

Between two teams that don’t dominate the margin of turnovers, Wyoming must force more than the Rebels, Peasley must maintain his efficiency and keep the ball away from the UNLV defenders, and the Cowboys must continue their trend of not fumbling the football. The last time a Wyoming fumble occurred was Sept. 30 against New Mexico.

Staying on the defensive side of the ball for Wyoming, the Go-Go offense that UNLV runs allows a re-introduction to the option play for the Cowboy defense. Wyoming got killed against the option offense of Air Force last month as the Falcons ran for 356 yards and three touchdowns.

Wyoming will get another crack at shutting down an offense that will operate out of the option. This season, the Pokes have been able to shut down the run in particular games, with only allowing 93 yards to Texas Tech, 90 to Portland State, 38 to Fresno State, and 51 to Colorado State. However, in addition to the Air Force game, Wyoming has given up 217 yards to Appalachian State, 225 to New Mexico, and 227 to Boise State.

Flipping to the Wyoming offense, the team must score early and often. In several games this season, the Cowboys have gotten solid leads in the first half but fallen short later in the game. While needing to finish out the game, scoring early and often puts pressure on the UNLV offense to match the Pokes. If UNLV is falling behind several scores, the team may abandon the rushing attack altogether, a plus for Wyoming.

 

To get a sizeable lead, the Cowboys must utilize Waylee. Wyoming’s leading rusher is one of the school’s impact players when healthy. He averages 93.4 yards per game on the ground, and when he rushes for 100 yards, which he has done four times this season, the Pokes are 3-1. Cut that down to at least 83 yards, and it becomes 4-1. When Waylee wins, Wyoming will win.

UNLV’s defense has held teams to only 125 yards rushing per game, which raises a problem for Wyoming. Although, UNLV has only played two teams who currently have a winning record, and both games were losses for the Rebels.

The combined record of UNLV’s opponents is 37-47. In contrast, Wyoming’s opponent’s records are 47-32. Specifically looking at this, Wyoming has had a tougher schedule thus far and only lost one game more than the Rebels. According to Sports Reference, Wyoming’s schedule is ranked 70th in the country compared to UNLV’s at 121st.

In what will be another close game in the series, Wyoming will prove to be the superior team and leave Sin City victorious.

Wyoming 34 – UNLV 30

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Colorado State vs Wyoming: How The Rams Can Win, How to Watch, Odds, Predicition

The Rams head north to Wyoming to face the Cowboys in the Border War. Here’s how the Rams can reclaim the Bronze Boot trophy

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Colorado State vs Wyoming: How The Rams Can Win, How to Watch, Odds, Predicition

The Rams head to Wyoming to face the Cowboys

Contact/Follow @J0shFr3d & @MWCwire

Can the Rams get rivalry victory?

WEEK 10: Colorado State Rams (3-5, 1-3 MW) vs. Wyoming Cowboys (5-3, 2-3 MW)

WHEN: Friday, November 3rd — 6:00 p.m. MST / 5:00 p.m. PST

WHERE: Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium; Laramie, WY (29,181)

WEATHER: Partly Cloudy, high of 41 degrees

TV: CBS Sports Network (Stream CBS Sports on Fubo and click the link here for a free trial)

RADIO: K99-FM 99.1 / ESPN 1600 AM (Colorado)

SERIES RECORD: This will be the 115th all time matchup between the two schools. CSU leads 58-50-5 (Wyoming says it’s 59-50-5, CSU doesn’t count the first matchup due to a forfeit).

LAST MEETING: Wyoming won 14-13 in Fort Collins last season.

WEBSITES: CSURams.com, the official Colorado State athletics website | GoWyo.com, the official Wyoming athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Colorado State | Wyoming

ODDS: Wyoming -5.5

OVER/UNDER: 41.5

SP+ PROJECTION: Wyoming by 8

FEI PROJECTION: Wyoming by 9.6

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: Wyoming 72.47% win probability (30.53 to 22.62)

Colorado State heads to Laramie, Wyoming to face the Wyoming Cowboys in the Border War. CSU is coming off a loss to the Air Force Falcons in a blizzard.

Wyoming is led by Craig Bohl in his tenth season in charge. Andrew Peasley is the man under center. Harrison Waylee is the Cowboys leading rusher and Wyatt Wieland is the Cowboys leading receiver. The Wyoming defense is led by LB Easton Gibbs and DB Wyett Ekeler.

Now onto some keys to victory for the Rams.

Three Keys to a colorado state victory

1. Everyone Needs to Step Up

We saw Hidetora Hanada gets his first action of the year. Nuer Gatkuoth was the Rams leading tackler against Air Force. And Justus Ross-Simmons was the Rams leading receiver last week. All three stepped up when called upon. Ross got a deep shot early. Hanada was asked to use his Sumo skills. And Gatkuoth was asked to play out of position.

The Rams will be potentially be missing a few starters and others need to step up the way these three did last week. Two weren’t completely unexpected, but if the Rams are missing starters others need to be ready to take their place. They don’t have to be perfect, but they need to make the Cowboys respect them.

2. Complete 60 minute game

The weather definitely played an impact, but the Rams once again failed to play a complete game. They went into halftime tied 13-13 with the Falcons and couldn’t take advantage in the second half. This has become the story of the year for the Rams and now they have to change it.

The Rams haven’t been on the same page in all three phases of the game in any game this season. If they want the Bronze Boot to come back home, they’ll need to make sure everyone does their job until the clock hits zeroes.

3. Take Your Shots

Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi played in his first snow game ever and it become clear that the weather was having an impact. He started sailing throws in the second half and looking at his hand. Some of those throws were shots that would’ve put the Rams in good position.

This week, Fowler-Nicolosi needs to put that behind him and just play the game in front of him. With Tory Horton a game-time decision, other receivers need to be ready when their number is called. The Rams can take shots because they trust their receivers and those receivers need to repay that trust.

what will happen

It’s Border War time! No one knows what’s really going to happen in these game. Last year was a one score game and this year could be similar. The Cowboys have been up and down this year and Wyoming will be up for this game. It’s going to be a knockdown, drag-out type of game, but the Rams come out on top.

Final Score: Colorado State 24, Wyoming 20

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