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FACTS & STATS: Site: Hughes Stadium (32,500) -- Fort Collins, Colorado. Television: The Mountain. Home Record: Wyoming 4-2, CSU 1-4. Away Record: Wyoming 3-2, CSU 2-3. Neutral Record: Wyoming 0-0, CSU 0-1. Conference Record: Wyoming 4-2, CSU 1-5. Series Record: Colorado State leads, 54-42-5.

GAME NOTES: With just one home win to show for their efforts this season, the Colorado State Rams try to close out the 2011 regular season on a positive note this weekend as they host the Wyoming Cowboys in a Mountain West Conference showdown.

The Rams showed plenty of promise in the first month of the season with three wins in four opportunities, but then the team hit the skids and is now dealing with a seven-game losing streak which is tied for the sixth-longest slide in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Last weekend the team was dealt a 45-21 setback by the Air Force Falcons, dropping CSU to just 1-5 in conference play.

As for the Cowboys, they were thumped by seventh-ranked Boise State last weekend in Idaho, 36-14, but still the team has to be pleased with the fact that it is again bowl eligible with a record of 7-4. Currently, the Pokes are third in the MWC standings at 4-2, trailing only TCU and Boise State.

The Rams own a 54-42-5 advantage in the all-time series between the teams, although Wyoming blew the doors off CSU at home last season in a 44-0 rout.

Brett Smith had a tough outing against Boise State last week, converting 17- of-25 passes for just 78 yards and a touchdown, while also tossing an interception, but perhaps it was just the right amount of exposure for the youngster. The running game managed to put up another 113 yards on the ground, averaging just under four yards per attempt against a BSU defense that was unwilling to give an inch. Smith has completed 61.2 percent of his pass attempts this season for 16 touchdowns and just six interceptions, so clearly he was the right choice to take over the position. The signal-caller has spread the wealth down the field as seven players have double-digit receptions and all but one of them has ended up in the end zone after reeling in a Smith pass. Smith is also fearless when it comes to running with the ball, currently second on the team with 555 yards and leading the group with 10 rushing TDs.

Luke Anderson jumped a route on the outside and leaped for an interception early in the first quarter against Boise State, returning it 29 yards for the touchdown which put the Broncos in a hole and raised the expectations of the Cowboys last weekend. Unfortunately, that sort of effort was sustained, because on the final play of the first half the Broncos scored a miraculous touchdown with Matt Miller laying on the ground at the goal line and having the ball fall into his lap. Tashaun Gipson tried to keep Wyoming in the mix with his 12 tackles and fumble recovery, but it just wasn't meant to be. Unfortunately, this is a team that hasn't done too well when it comes to disrupting plays in the opponent's backfield, averaging just 4.3 tackles for loss per game which is sixth in the conference and 112th in the nation. Sacks are also somewhat of a rarity, the team delivering 1.7 per game which is fourth in the MWC heading into the final regular-season game.

Colorado State led by a touchdown heading into the second quarter against the Falcons on Saturday, but from there the Rams all but surrendered and were outscored by a 45-14 margin the rest of the way. Unfortunately, the outcome spoiled a huge effort by running back Chris Nwoke who posted a career-high 269 yards and scored twice on 29 attempts. The rest of the team gained a net of just 52 yards behind him. Quarterback Garrett Grayson was put in harm's way as he converted 8-of-13 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown, but was picked off once and sacked four times by the Academy. Grayson, who has come on for an injured Pete Thomas, is just trying to survive behind an offensive line that has been one of the worst in the nation the last couple of seasons and is again permitting 2.9 sacks per game which is seventh in the MWC and tied for 104th in the country. Even with Nwoke showing signs of life last weekend, this offense is responsible for just 21.6 ppg and that has them 102nd in the country heading into the finale.

The Colorado State defense was ripe for the picking by the Falcons, as the run-heavy visitors not only raced for 344 yards and three TDs on the ground they also passed for an uncharacteristic 221 yards and another three touchdowns. James Skelton tried hard to keep the CSU defense respectable by posting a team-best 13 tackles, but that did little to stop the onslaught from all sides by Air Force. The run defense for the Rams has been beaten and bruised this season, permitting a hefty 234.5 ypg which is seventh in the conference and 116th in the nation, but at the same time the pass defense has been one of the best in the country (14th) with only 178.6 ypg allowed, although that might have something to do with the fact that opponents have found it much easier to plow their way through the weak defensive line of the Rams.

Still unsure of where they might be heading in the postseason, the Cowboys can't let up now and have to finish strong. That all comes down to Smith and how well he moves the ball with his arm and his legs.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Wyoming 28, Colorado State 17