San Jose State Football: First Look at the 2018 Schedule
Now that the Mountain West football schedule has been released, what does it mean for the San Jose State Spartans?
How does the schedule look for San Jose State?
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After winning only two games last season and with one of those coming against division 2 Cal Poly, San Jose State has their work cut out for them in the upcoming season. Not only did they lose 11 games last year but all of those losses came by double digits and most by double digit touchdowns. With not very many expectations for the upcoming season will the Spartans sneak up on some teams?
San Jose State opens the season at home playing in a Thursday night game against division 2 UC Davis. They then hit the road on back to back weeks at Washington State and at Oregon. The following week will be their bye which will most likely be much needed after a couple of tough PAC 12 opponents. The bye also comes before a home game against Hawaii, which gives the Spartans some extra time to prepare for one of the only good chances at a win on the schedule. Following that will be two tough games, at home against Colorado State and a Army team which has gone bowling the past two years. The Spartans then play their first conference road game at San Diego State which is followed by a home game against an up and coming UNLV team. San Jose State finishes the season with 3 of 4 on the road at Wyoming, at Utah State, and at Fresno State. A home date against Nevada, which also may prove to be a chance for a win, is sandwiched between the Utah State and Fresno State game.
What stands out from a first glimpse at the 2018 slate?
Getting out to a hot start at home will be important to avoid a disaster of a season.
The first game of the season is at home against D2 UC Davis which should be a win. Then comes the back to back PAC 12 road games at Washington State and at Oregon which most likely are losses. The crucial part of the season comes next, after getting off of their bye the Spartans will have 3 straight home games against Hawaii, Colorado State, and a pretty good Army team. If the Spartans get swept at home in that three game stretch, it could quickly turn into a very long season for San Jose State once again. After the home stretch, the second half of the schedule does not get any easier as the final four out of six games are on the road against teams like San Diego State, Wyoming, and Fresno State.
Hardest stretch:
at Washington State, at Oregon
Easiest stretch:
For the Spartans, I would say no stretch of games will be easy. If I had to choose: vs. Hawaii, vs. Colorado State
Guaranteed wins:
UC Davis
Guaranteed losses:
at Washington State, at Oregon, at San Diego State
Worse than 50/50 games:
Colorado State, Army, UNLV, at Wyoming, at Utah State, at Fresno State
50/50 games:
Nevada
Better than 50/50 games:
Hawaii
Preliminary projected record:
3-9