On Saturday, December 16 the Gildan New Mexico Bowl
pits the Colorado State Rams from the Mountain West Conference against
the Marshall Thundering Herd out of Conference USA. The analysis
below is based on the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model. The model uses data provided at www.cfbstats.com.
Prediction
Given the overall productivity of the two programs, the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model gives a slight edge to the Colorado State Rams. Below is a look at each of these two football programs during the 2017 regular season.
Colorado State Rams
The Rams finished the regular season at 7-5 and played against
an "average" strength
of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning
that Colorado State's SOS was plus or minus one standard deviation of the
"league's" average SOS. This season the Ram's best victory was over
#62 ranked Utah State by a score of (27-14) and Colorado State's
worst loss was to #93 ranked Air Force by a
score of
(28-45). Colorado State has the #52 ranked
team in total production with the #27
ranked offense and the #80 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
Marshall Thundering Herd
The Thundering Herd finished the regular season at 7-5 while also playing against
an "average" strength
of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning
that Marshall's SOS was plus or minus one standard deviation of the
"league's" average SOS. For this season the Thundering Herd's best victory was over
#65 ranked Middle Tennessee State by a score of (38-10). Marshall's worst loss was to #89
ranked Florida International by a score of
(30-41). Marshall has the #56 ranked
team in total production with the #95
ranked offense and the #20 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
2017 Bowl Games
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Cure Bowl
Las Vegas Bowl