Fresno State vs. Colorado State: Preview, Odds, How To Watch
Can Bulldogs pull off an upset?
Contact/Follow @MWCwire
Big game for these two schools.
Who: Fresno State Bulldogs( 16-7 6-4 in the MW ) Vs Colorado State Rams (18-3 8-3 in the MW)
When: Friday, February 11th, 6:30 pm pt
Where: Fort Collins, Colorado
TV: CBS Sports Network
Stream: FuboTV — Get a free trial
Series Record: Colorado State leads 22-17
In what could be the matchup of the night in the Mountain West, the Bulldogs head to the Moby Arena to take on the Colorado State Rams. The last time these two teams faced off the Rams ended the Bulldogs season in the 2021 Mountain West Tournament. In fact, the Rams swept the Bulldogs 3-0 last season and beat them twice in Fort Collins.
Now the Bulldogs will look to change that as they have a chance to get their first Quad 1 victory of the season. The Bulldogs are 0-3 against Quad 1 teams. For Colorado State, this game can help them boost their at-large tournament bid. The Rams are 5-0 against Quad 2 teams this season. This matchup is also really important for the conference standings. As we are a month away from the 2022 Mountain West Basketball Tournament, Colorado State currently holds a game and half lead over Fresno State for the third seed in the conference.
Keys To The Game: Colorado State
The Colorado State Rams have been nearly perfect this season at the Moby Arena with an 11-1 record at home. The Rams have beaten the Bulldogs six times in a row and if they want to make it seven in a row, the Rams are going to need Junior Forward David Roddy to have a big night. The leading scorer and rebounder for the Rams is performing at 19.2ppg and 7.8rpg. Roddy is fourth in Mountain West in scoring and sixth in rebounding. The Rams also have Junior Guard Isaiah Stevens, who is putting up 15.5ppg and 5.0 apg. Colorado State is the number one scoring offense in the conference and the number one three-point shooting team as well.
Offensively, for Colorado State, the three-point shot will be a vital part for a Rams win. The Bulldogs have the number two scoring defense in the conference and only give up 57.6 ppg. Stretching the floor and making the Bulldogs switch and rotate on defense will be a huge key. Defensively, they can make the Bulldogs beat them without Orlando Robinson. Fresno State is not a great scoring team and most of its offense comes from Robinson. Wyoming did enough to make Robinson struggle and have someone else to beat them. The Rams have to do the same and make the Bulldogs beat them by shooting the ball, which they have struggled to do this season.
Keys To The Game: Fresno State
The Bulldogs are coming off of a tough loss to the Wyoming Cowboys 61-59. Fresno State hasn’t lost back to back games all season but that could be at jeopardy tonight when they face a really good Colorado State team. For the Dogs – if they want to get themself in the bubble talk or in the conversation for an at-large bid – it starts tonight. Fresno State really needs a Quad 1 win and don’t have many chances left to get one.
We have seen the Mountain West be really unpredictable this year and tonight would be a great opportunity for the Bulldogs to keep that going. For the Dogs, offensively, it’s the Orlando Robinson show who was just named to the Midseason Team for the 2022 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Player of the Year award. Robinson is averaging 18.7ppg and 8.3rpg, which is fifth in the conference in both categories.
A bright spot for the Bulldogs has been Isaiah Hill who is getting hot at the right time, putting up 15ppg and shooting over 53% in the last six games. If the Bulldogs want to snap that six-game losing streak to the Rams, they have to Control the glass and make some threes. The Dogs did not do both of these things against Wyoming which led to the reason of their loss. Defensively, the Rams do a great job of taking care of the ball and making free throws. The Bulldogs have to stay disciplined, create turnovers, and keep Colorado State off the free throw line.
A battle between the number one scoring offense and the number two scoring defense takes place tonight. Two candidates for the Mountain West Player of the Year will face off – Orlando Robinson vs. David Roddy. The Mountain West has shown some thrilling finishes and this one is poised to be an exciting one.
