What's wrong with the Rams?
That's the question being bandied about Fort Collins these days, with Colorado State on a six-game losing streak heading into Saturday's game at UNLV, which is also 3-6.
"We're in a little bit of a skid here," acknowledged CSU coach Steve Fairchild. "But I am confident we are going to push through this."
After winning their first three games, the Rams' season might have turned when they lost 42-23 at BYU. They dropped their next game at Idaho, 31-29, but seemingly recovered and had a 17-3 lead over No. 16 Utah before surrendering three unanswered touchdowns.
Fairchild said they haven't been the same since.
"We still have a good attitude. We just are not making plays," he said.
Fairchild said senior Grant Stucker will remain CSU's starting quarterback, but Jon Eastman could see more playing time, as he did in last week's 34-16 loss to Air Force. From Sandy, Eastman played at Hillcrest High and Snow College before transferring to CSU.
But defense has been CSU's biggest problem, with four starters out due to injury. The Rams rank dead last in the country (120th) in third-down conversion defense, allowing teams to convert 56.7 percent of the time.
Compelling contest
With Utah, TCU and BYU all double-digit favorites this week against New Mexico, San Diego State and Wyoming, respectively, the most compelling contest could be the CSU-UNLV game.
Why?
Because the loser will be eliminated from bowl consideration, due to the fact that teams must win at least six games to become bowl eligible.
"We're both in a very similar situation and fighting, and this is going to be a battle," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said. "I do believe our backs are against the wall and we're fighting for everything we can get."
Sanford is probably fighting for his job, too, although he said he isn't feeling the pressure.
"I look at what's perceived as pressure as an exciting position to be in," he said "I look at it as a positive. I'm excited about the opportunity we have, not overwhelmed by pressure."
As for CSU, the Rams are hoping to replicate last season, when they won their last two regular-season games to get bowl eligible, then won their bowl game.
All hail TCU
Speaking of Sanford, he's the latest MWC coach to sing the praises of TCU, after the Horned Frogs pounded his squad 41-0 last week.
"TCU is everything they've been advertised to be and more," he said. "I think they are a top-five team in the country. ... They have one of the best defenses I've gone against in my [coaching] career."
The Frogs are No. 6 in the Bowl Championship Series standings and AP poll and No. 4 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
After traveling to San Diego State on Saturday, they return to Fort Worth host Utah next week in what will be the MWC game of the year for the second straight year.
"Around here, [everyone] knows I'm not going to talk very much about [the BCS]," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. "And really our kids have been great. They have an atmosphere of being kind of laid back and if they are thinking about it, they haven't said much to me."
Briefly
San Diego State will likely play the rest of the season without junior receiver Vincent Brown , who suffered a thumb injury against CSU. Brown was averaging 111.1 receiving yards per game, best in the MWC and fifth in the country. ... The Aztecs (4-4) need two wins to become bowl eligible. They haven't been to a bowl game since 1998.
