Colorado State Rams

2005 Season Summary

The Colorado State Rams had served as one of the flagship programs of the Mountain West Conference as Sonny Lubick's program was a perennial contender and bowl qualifier. Entering 2004, the Rams had not had a losing season since Lubick's first team in 1993.

Alarming setback

The 2004 season, however, undid much of the good will that Lubick had built up over the years as the Rams sank to 4-7 straight up and 4-6 against the spread with three losses in their final four games. Dating back to 2003, in fact, The Rams had dropped 10 of their last 15 against the oddsmakers. The season was an alarming setback not only because of the losing record but also because Colorado State seemed helpless on defense, particularly against the run as opponents seemed to just steamroll right past them. Colorado State's inability to play physical football prompted questions as to whether it was time for Lubick to retire as the season was such an alarming setback.

Back to basics

Lubick emphasized a return to "Sonny Ball" for 2005 in which the Rams would place an emphasis both on their offensive ground attack as well as stopping the run, which was refreshing in this era of knee jerk west coast offense imitators. Still, the question was whether going back to basics with "Sonny Ball" could still work with the players that were on the roster and against a MWC that was continuing to improve with the addition of Conference USA power TCU, who would be joining the league in 2005.

Rock bottom was reached early

Colorado State opened at intra-state rival Colorado in a reunion of a series that has sparked riots between fans. The Rams were 6-point dogs in a matchup that always brought out their best effort and they got the cash in a heartbreaking 28-31 loss.

The after effects of that loss to CU were felt in the very next game at Minnesota against a Golden Gopher team that loved to run the ball and would, thus, make for a great barometer on Lubick's program. It was no contest as Minnesota pummeled the Rams 56-24 as 14-point chalks. Rock bottom was reached early by Colorado State.

Quiet value

The blowout loss at Minnesota turned off the mainstream gambling public and few bettors wanted much to do with CSU in their next game as whopping 17.5-point home chalks against Nevada, which they won 42-21.

Next, against MWC and intra-state rival Air Force, the Rams were modest 3.5-point chalks in a 41-23 blowout win for their second straight win and cover as a quiet value.

Defending league champ Utah visited next and the Rams got a 21-17 win/push. As 3-point chalks at BYU, however, Colorado State fell 14-24 to again cause them to lose appeal amongst mainstream gamblers.

Value peaked

At home against Wyoming in their next game, Colorado State was a 3.5-point chalk in a 39-31 bounce back win over the Cowboys. The Rams next traveled to New Mexico and scored a 35-25 upset win as a 5.5-point dog as their value peaked with their second straight cover as the Rams had failed against the pointspread only once in their last six games.

Over-valued down the stretch

Colorado State traveled to TCU where the Rams were 7-point dogs in a most discouraging 6-33 loss for just their second straight up loss in seven games. Next was a home game against inconsistent San Diego State in which the Rams were stunned 10-30 as 8-point chalks.

A bowl bid was on the line in the Rams' regular season finale at UNLV in which they escaped with a 31-27 win as ridiculous 16-point chalks. In their bowl game against Navy, Colorado State was run over 30-51 as 3-point dogs as the Rams proved to be over-valued down the stretch with four consecutive losses against the pointspread.