San Diego State vs Colorado State Preview: Three Keys for an Aztec Victory
The Aztecs host the Rams in an effort to turn their season around.
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Might be best to go home
WEEK 13: Colorado State Rams (1-2, 1-2 MW) at San Diego State Aztecs (3-3, 3-2 MW)
WHEN: Saturday, December 5 – 4 PM PT / 5 PM MT
WHERE Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA (27,000)
TV: CBS Sports Network
STREAM: FuboTV – Get a seven-day free trial
ODDS via BetMGM: San Diego State -8
SERIES RECORD: San Diego State leads the all-time series 21-14. Last meeting, San Diego State won in Ft. Collins 24-10
WEBSITES: GoAztecs.com, the official San Diego State athletics website | CSURams.com, the official Colorado State Rams athletics website.
Three Keys for an Aztec Victory
1. Offenses Goes Back to Basics
A week ago the Aztecs found themselves preparing against Colorado over the team’s Thanksgiving dinner. Now they play host to Colorado State, who hasn’t played in over three weeks due to COVID cancellations. Though the Rams are rested, the Aztecs might have found their bottom after getting embarrassed on the hard-to-find Pac-12 Network. With unknowns at QB, and Brady Hoke withholding whose starting at QB, you have to believe he wants to go back to what made this program successful during the last decade: ground and pound. In their three losses, San Diego State has only rushed the ball 101, 109, and 79. Even if they are without Greg Bell, Chance Bell, Kaegun Williams, and Jordan Byrd will have to get this offense back on track.
2. Start the right QB for the Rams
Last Saturday’s game showed the abysmal QB depth at San Diego State. Against the Buffs Carson Baker was a deer in headlights, and the spark he started the season with has started to fade. Jordon Brookshire has happy feet and doesn’t seem to be a much stronger option either. Even factoring in the 2 days of preparation, anyone behind Lucas Johnson seems to be not ready for competition. Chances are that Johnson’s season is done, and the Aztecs better off starting the right QB for the Rams. Given the season is coming to an end, maybe the deer in headlights realizes what’s in front of him and gets out of his own way.
3. Don’t let the big plays hurt
Over the last 2 losses, the Aztec cornerbacks were burned by the deep ball. And with a Colorado State team looking to get into the win column before the end of the season, this could be how the Rams win. The deep ball has been a liability for the San Diego State defense. It’s been this season’s weak spot, even with a ball-hawkish secondary. If Colorado State has ample time to throw, that will make everyone worry in Southern California.
Prediction
Going up to Carson, Carson Baker is listening to his Eminem Spotify playlist to get hyped. Once he sees the oil refineries greet him across the southbound 5 traffic he knows he’s home. Baker gets over his hump and throws for a TD and runs for a TD. Brady Hoke gives him an attaboy but benches him in the second half. When the second half comes, Brookshire is able to hand the ball off to Chance Bell for a 100-yard game to close it out.
San Diego State 27, Colorado State 10
