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Utah's season is undoubtedly a success so far, but one more win wouldn't hurt. After posting an 8-4 record in the regular season, the Utes get a chance at a ninth victory Saturday against Colorado State in the Las Vegas Bowl. The Rams, a 10-2 squad under outgoing Florida coach Jim McElwain, will be starting over with offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin leading the team in Vegas, but that doesn't dispel the team's overall talent. The Rams were 13th nationally in total offense this season, have a talented quarterback in Garrett Grayson and are 16-4 in their last 20 games. Still, the Utes are a battle-tested and physical bunch that will be pressing for another win. Here's a position-by-position look at this week's matchup and which team will have the edge heading into Saturday's bowl game:

Quarterback

Last we left Travis Wilson, he turned in arguably the best performance of this season against Colorado, tossing three touchdowns, completing 67 percent of his passes and throwing for 311 yards in a 38-34 victory. Wilson was as much a part of the problem as the solution all season at the quarterback position, losing his job to Kendal Thompson on several occasions and even Conner Manning late in the Arizona game. But, he's turned in more good performances (Stanford, Colorado) than bad (Arizona) in the last three weeks of the season and has a chance to end the year on a high note against a good Mountain West team.

Colorado State's quarterback Garrett Grayson has quietly been one of the best in the nation at his position. The senior has passed for 3,779 yards this season and has 32 touchdowns to only six interceptions. He has at least three touchdowns passing in eight separate games this season and went six games in a row without throwing an interception before CSU's season finale against Air Force. Interestingly, two of Grayson's three worst performances came against Colorado and Utah State, when he threw for 377 yards and only one touchdown between both games. Grayson is good, but if the Utes' front seven can keep him off balance, Utah will have a great shot to win this one.

Edge: Colorado State

Running Back

In spring practice this season, watching Devontae Booker was like watching a revelation waiting to happen. When the Utes coaching staff finally gave him the lion's share of carries, he didn't disappoint, bulldozing defenders to the tune of 1,350 yards, a 5.1 yards per carry average and nine touchdowns. When his scoring production slowed in the running game against ASU, Oregon and Stanford, he caught two passes for touchdowns instead, adding another dimension to his already stellar game. Booker will be the catalyst of this offense against Colorado State as he was all season. The Rams gave up nearly 190 rushing yards per game along with 22 touchdowns on the ground this season. Booker could be in for another big day.

On the other side, Colorado State's Dee Hart is no slouch. Hart had as much of an impact, if not more, than Grayson for the Rams this season, rushing for an outstanding 1,254 yards, 16 touchdowns and a 6.7 yards per carry average. The senior had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games this season and obliterated San Jose State and New Mexico for a combined nine touchdowns and 334 yards. Utah's rushing defense began to falter down the stretch and will need to tighten up to contain Hart.

Edge: Even

Wide Receiver

No position on the field was hit harder with injuries than wide receiver for the Utes. After Dres Anderson went down for the season, the Utes only had two 100 yard performances from receivers the rest of the way, Kaelin Clay and Booker against Oregon. Kenneth Scott continues to be a reliable possession receiver and a few younger Utah pass catchers may get a chance against CSU, but Clay and tight end Westlee Tonga will be the main factors. Clay caught 10 passes for 88 yards and two scores against Colorado, while Tonga came on late, catching a pair of touchdowns between the Arizona and Colorado games. The Utes won't lean on the passing game to win this game, but one or two of these guys will need to make a few plays to keep the Rams honest.

Colorado State has no such issue at receiver behind the production of Biletnikoff Award finalist and All-American sophomore Rashard "Hollywood" Higgins. Higgins shredded opposing secondaries for a ridiculous 1,640 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. He missed one game with a shoulder injury, but had over 140 yards receiving in nine games, a feat Utah receivers reached only once all year. Higgins is big, quick and physical and will be a tough player to contain for either Eric Rowe or Dominique Hatfield.

Edge: Colorado State

Offensive Line

Utah's offensive front faltered down the home stretch of the season, opening less holes for Booker and allowing more pressure on Wilson. Outside of the Arizona game, Booker had his lowest rushing averages and rushing totals of the season against Oregon, Arizona and Stanford, while Wilson was sacked five times in the last two games. Luckily for the Utes, Colorado State's defensive line isn't very impressive, generating only 19 sacks this season, 10th in the Mountain West. As was mentioned earlier, the Rams are also just a middling run stopping team, setting the stage for a solid day for Utah's line.

Colorado State isn't spectacular in any offensive line stat, ranking seventh in the Mountain West with 25 sacks allowed and eighth in rushing yards per game. However, they are first in total offense and scoring offense, showing the talent of skill position players like Grayson, Higgins and Hart. This will be where the game is won and lost for CSU. If the Rams can't contain Utah's fierce pass rush, the talent of those skill guys won't matter. But if the line, led by tackle Ty Sambrailo, can create time for Grayson and open holes for Hart, the Rams could put up some points while Utah's anemic offense struggles to keep up.

Edge: Utah

Defensive line and linebackers

Colorado State, as was mentioned before, is one of the worst teams in the Mountain West at generating pressure and stopping opposing runners. The Rams have 19 total sacks, 33 less than Utah's 52 on the season, a staggering disparity. Cory James and Joe Kawulok are players to watch in this game and are the Rams' best chances at pressuring Wilson. James leads the team in tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (5.5) while Kawulok has 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks of his own.

This is the biggest mismatch in this game as Colorado State hasn't faced anywhere close to as fierce of a defensive front this season. It's Nate Orchard's last chance to rack up sacks at the collegiate level and he should be properly motivated to frustrate Grayson to add to his total of 20 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks. Expect the Utes to take an approach similar to how Utah State limited Grayson and Hart, bringing down the quarterback for eight sacks and holding the rushing game to 75 yards.

Edge: Utah

Secondary

The success of Utah's secondary Saturday will hinge on how well they contain Higgins. The next closest receiver for CSU has only 277 yards and four touchdowns, making Higgins the first, second and third priority to stop for some combination of Rowe and Hatfield. Higgins will get his yardage, but if the Utes can hold him below 100 yards and to only one touchdown, it will be a victory for Utah. The pressure provided by Orchard and company will also aid the secondary if they can keep Grayson from getting comfortable.

Colorado State's pass defense is its strongest asset on that side of the ball as the Rams are fifth in the Mountain West allowing 227 yards through the air per game. CSU also has the third lowest touchdown passes surrendered in the conference with 13. Strong safety Trent Matthews and defensive back Tyree Simmons, who have a combined six interceptions this season, will be players to watch. Colorado State gets the nod here solely because of the threat and potential Higging provides, something the Utes lack from their receiving corps.

Edge: Colorado State

Prediction: There's no denying the Rams have talent offensively and their 10-2 record is no fluke, but CSU is without McElwain and has yet to face a defense like Utah's. The Utes will keep Grayson uncomfortable, limit Higgins' catches and bottle up Hart as much as possible. The question, however, is if the Utes can then capitalize on shorter fields and put up a few touchdowns. If they get the Colorado game Travis Wilson, there should be no problem, but if it's the Arizona game version, there could be major struggles. Utah's defense will do enough in this game to limit CSU and the Utes will get that ninth victory, 33-24.

Twitter: @BrennanJSmith