Wyoming vs. San Diego State: Three Keys to an Aztecs Win
The Aztecs look forward to hosting the Cowboys, The two teams have not faced off since December 3, 2016.
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The Aztecs have not faced Wyoming for three years after playing them twice in a month.
WEEK 7: Wyoming Cowboys (4-1, 1-0)vs. SDSU Aztecs (4-1, 1-1)
WHEN: Saturday, October 12th — 7:30 PM PST / 10:30 PM EST
WHERE: SDCCU Stadium, San Diego, California (70,561)
TV: CBSSN
STREAMING: FuboTV – Get 7-day free trial to watch this game
RADIO: 101.5 KGB / XTRA 1360 / Fox Sports InlandEmpire (IE) 1350
SERIES RECORD: Wyoming leads 19-18 in the series.
LAST MATCHUP: December 3, 2016 | Aztecs won 27-24
ODDS: SDSU -3.5
San Diego, CA– Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl is for real. This year his team has already defeated the Missouri Tigers and Texas State. His Cowboys have been menacing (but not unstoppable) for the Aztecs.
After dominating the FCS at North Dakota State, Bohl became head coach for the Cowboys and he has turned the high altitude team into a high caliber Mountain West football program. Bohl was truly gypped last year by the NCAA after the Cowboys became bowl eligible but were not selected.
Perhaps you’re thinking, “No! Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson would NEVER stand for something like that!” But alas: it was the case. Had the Cowboys been selected they would be three-for-three in bowl appearances in the past three years.
Rocky Long’s Aztecs are making a very clear-cut case that the second half of 2018 was an outlier in what has been a stellar era. Long continues to maintain one of the most formidable defenses in all of college football, but this year some of the team’s historic weak points have become strengths. For starters, the Aztecs secondary is on point this season, and this has disrupted opponents’ air assault attempts.
In addition, the Aztecs have talented wide receivers- also a long-standing weak point in this program, and because of it the spread offense has been an effective mechanism for this historic “run down the middle” program.
Furthermore, with Brady Hoke in the assistant coaching ranks, the Aztecs have the versatility of TWO battle-hardened leaders. While Hoke has been a great resource to Long, his vast and impressive experience is probably commensurate to there being a second head coach in the program.
Three Keys to a San Diego State Victory
1. PUT THE CLAMPS ON SEAN CHAMBERS
Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen went on to become a NFL first round draft pick, and was picked up by the Buffalo Bills. Allen is an extraordinary talent, and it took a scout with a keen eye to detect that talent and bring it to Laramie of all places.
Well, there is another strong quarterback that has made his way to the Cowboys, and his name is Sean Chambers. He’s a redshirt freshman, but he has good size, a strong arm- and like Aztecs quarterback Ryan Agnew he doesn’t hesitate to run for the chains. Chambers is a little wet behind the ears, but mark these words: he is going to be formidable in the games and years to come.
The 6’3″, 218 lb. Chambers currently leads Wyoming in rushing yards, and he has already scored 6 touchdowns.
In order to shut Chambers down, it would help to have one of the top mid-linebackers in the NCAA, a menacing secondary, and a nationally ranked defensive line.
How about that . . .
2. RUN , JUWAN RUN!
Star running back Juwan Washington has spent most of this season watching from the sidelines. Washington has the potential to be one of the top performing running backs in the nation, but he has been a victim of circumstance.
Washington has the capability to run 150-200 yards per game when healthy, and it has been a long time since the Aztecs have been able to rely on that option. Nonetheless, some of the up and coming running backs including Jordan Byrd, Chase Jasmin and Chance Bell have been able to tack on 100 yards or so apiece, in Washington’s absence.
With the big dog back, the Aztecs have a formidable weapon that they must deploy against the Cowboys.
3. AGNITUDE
Most fans would agree that when Ryan Agnew turns it on: he is on.
If Agnew is able to pass crisply, make the chain charge himself, and help the armada of tailbacks do their thing- he will take command and control of this game.
Agnew needs to be cognizant of the clock, and avoid making mistakes. He has been generally very good about handling the ball and because of that the Aztecs do not turn the ball over very often.
Prediction
Craig Bohl has something to prove. Tomorrow he will be out to prove that the Wyoming Cowboys are superior to the SDSU Aztecs.
This will be very difficult for him to achieve, because Kyahva Tezino is going to be gunning for Sean Chambers, and the menacing Aztecs defense will make it very, very hard for the Cowboys to do what they do best: run the ball.
Likewise, if Agnew continues to connect with talented receiver Kobe Smith, the Cowboys will have a hard time containing their opponent.
This is going to be an exciting game, and the Aztecs will have to work tirelessly to defeat the Cowboys, but they will prevail in the end.
Wyoming 20, San Diego State 27
