FACTS & STATS: Site: Falcon Stadium (52,123) -- Colorado Springs, Colorado. Television: The Mtn. Home Record: CSU 3-2, Air Force 2-2. Away Record: CSU 1-2, Air Force 5-0. Neutral Record: CSU 0-1, Air Force 0-0. Conference Record: CSU 2-3, Air Force 4-1. Series Record: Air Force leads, 26-19-1.

GAME NOTES: With bowl eligibility still possible, the Colorado State Rams take their act on the road this weekend to Colorado Springs where they will face fellow Mountain West Conference foe Air Force. CSU currently stands fifth in the MWC standings with a record of only 2-3, but at 4-5 overall and with three games still to play, the squad has the potential to earn the right to be considered for the postseason. However, the Rams have made it more difficult on themselves by losing three of their last four outings, including a 45-42 setback against nationally-ranked BYU last Saturday at home. As for the Falcons, a group that is already one of four in the conference that is bowl eligible, they had their lowest-scoring game of the season this past weekend, but it was still a strong enough effort to earn them the 16-7 win versus Army as part of the Commander-in-Chief's series at West Point. The victory was the fourth in a row for Air Force, which lost to Navy and Utah in back-to-back games by a combined 13 points. Last season, Air Force picked up a resounding 45-21 win over the Rams, which means the academy now leads the all-time series by a count of 26-19-1.

Billy Farris faced off against one of the strongest teams in the nation last Saturday and turned in one of his best performances as he threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns on 18-of-35, yet it still left the Rams with a disappointing loss in Fort Collins. Dion Morton kept Farris busy with six catches for 129 yards and a pair of scores, while Gartrell Johnson rolled up 102 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries as well. Considered one of the league's top running backs coming into the 2008 campaign, Johnson has not disappointed with his 848 yards and seven touchdowns, placing himself third in the MWC with 94.2 ypg on the ground. Unfortunately, Johnson is getting very little support from the rest of the running backs on his side because the team as a whole is currently averaging just 124 ypg, which places them eighth in the conference and 88th in the nation this week. Farris has the passing attack averaging 249.6 ypg, which is second behind only BYU and considering the offensive line has been permitting close to two and a half sacks per game, Farris and head coach Steve Fairchild have to be rather pleased with the results thus far.

Last season the Rams got a good look at BYU's Max Hall as he threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns against them, so they knew what they were up against this time around. However, as much as they could have planned and schemed, there's no way CSU could have imagined Hall would toss five touchdowns. The Rams had particular trouble keeping tabs on Dennis Pitta and Austin Collie who combined for 21 receptions, 331 yards and all five aerial scores. Mychal Sisson, who scored the first points of the contest on a 20-yard fumble return for a score, finished with a pair of recoveries in the losing effort. Turnovers have favored the Rams so far this season, the team placing third in the conference and 29th in the nation with a turnover margin of plus-0.67 per outing. However, the defense has to be concerned with the fact that it is last in the MWC and 114th in the country with a mere 0.89 sacks per contest and is tied for 115th in the FBS with only four tackles for loss per game as well. Put it all together and the Rams are seventh in the league and 105th in the nation with 32.7 ppg allowed through nine games.

Playing the hero once again for the Falcons was kicker Ryan Harrison on Saturday as he converted all three of his field goals, which happened to be the scoring margin for the team in its win over the Black Knights. Harrison had kicks of 20, 29 and 48 yards as Air Force scored the only six points of the second half on the last two Harrison efforts. Tim Jefferson, who scored the only touchdown for the group on the ground, completed a mere 3-of-8 passes for 32 yards and an interception. Jefferson may not be the quintessential signal-caller, but considering how the Falcons use the position he really doesn't have to be. More importantly, the triple option attack has to be free of sacks and the Falcons are the best in the business in keeping their quarterback from going down behind the line of scrimmage. Of all the teams at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, Air Force is tops among them all with just two sacks allowed over the course of nine games. Forget that the academy is 117th in the country and passing (75.4 ypg) and focus more on the running game (274.4 ypg) which is first in the MWC and fourth in the nation this week.

Take away the opening drive for the Black Knights, the one that ended in a touchdown, and the defense for the Falcons was nearly perfect on the afternoon. Army was permitted just 143 yards rushing and another 107 yards through the air, while Andre Morris and Reggie Rembert both tallied interceptions. Rembert, who had just two tackles, was also credited with a pass breakup and a fumble recovery as well for a Falcons squad that now ranks second in the conference and 10th in the nation in turnover margin with a plus-1.11 per game. The team has an amazing 15 recovered fumbles, with four different players having at least a pair. Several players have at least two forced fumbles for their efforts, yet Jake Paulson has just one, even though he leads the program with his 13.5 TFLs and is tops with 8.5 sacks. As a unit the Falcons are second in the conference and 21st in the nation with 2.67 sacks per game, mostly because Paulson is tied for 10th in the country with his .94 sacks per outing at the moment.

Eating up time on the clock will be one way for the Falcons to keep the ball out of the hands of Johnson and Farris on the Rams side. As long as Jefferson can keep the ball moving and refrains from making mistakes the academy should be set for another win over the Rams.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Air Force 27, Colorado State 10

Saturday, November 8th, 6:00 p.m. (et).