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Wyoming vs. Fresno State: Keys For A Fresno State Win
How the Bulldogs offense will score against Wyoming
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Get ready for SDSU vs. Fresno State
Saturdays are for the Dogs, at least that’s what they say in Fresno these days. Coming off a cold, rather boring victory against Nevada last week, head coach Jeff Tedford and his team return to Bulldog Stadium on Saturday night to take on Wyoming. The Dogs have had a great season so far, with their only blemish seven-point road loss to Minnesota.
Besides that, Fresno State has picked up where they left off from last season. This team received just one vote in the Coaches Poll, but continue to trend in the right direction. On the other hand, Wyoming has struggled a bit after high hopes coming into this season. The Cowboys are 2-4 with their wins coming against New Mexico State and Wofford. Here’s how the Dogs can beat the Cowboys this weekend.
Throw the Ball
Perhaps the thing that bodes well for Wyoming is their run defense. The Cowboys unit is allowing only 115 yards per game so far in 2018, and we all know the Bulldogs thrive on running the football.
With that being said, the gameplan might lean more towards the arm of Marcus McMaryion. Fresno State needs to attack in the air, and with talented wide receivers all across the board, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. The Dogs come in averaging 267 passing yards per game, and the offense is 33rd in the nation averaging 40.2 points per game. Throw the ball early, get a lead, and run the clock out. Plain and simple.
Feed off the Crowd
This may seem a bit obvious, but it’s a big factor. The Dogs have raved about the home fans supporting them, and that game at UCLA really showed that the fans are still loud. Playing at Bulldog Stadium usually means a huge crowd, and with the way the Dogs have played the past 12 months, there is no reason for the fans not to come out and support this team.
If Fresno State can use that to their advantage, Wyoming will be wishing it was a running game clock. Oh, and did you know they are 7-1 at Bulldog Stadium under Jeff Tedford?
Defense
Raise your hand if you thought the Bulldogs would be one of the best defensive units in the entire NCAA? Don’t be ashamed, because this unit has taken everybody by surprise. Fresno State currently sits ninth in the ENTIRE NATION in scoring defense, allowing a mere 15.6 points per game.
To make an even stronger case, the Dogs are first in the NCAA in red zone defense and has 16 straight games of allowing 30 points or less, which is tied for the second-longest streak in the NCAA. Tank Kelly has three picks this year, Jeff Allison has two, and Mike Bell has drawn lots of interest from NFL scouts. This unit has 16 takeaways this season, which is third in the nation. This defense is talented and will look to build off a strong performance in Reno, where they forced as many turnovers as they allowed points.
Prediction
Home field advantage, one of the top defenses in the nation, and a dangerous offense really make this an easy victory for Fresno State, or at least on paper.
The Bulldogs should take a big lead early on, then use their defense and running game to put this one out of reach. Another three-turnover night is in the future for the Dogs, and KeeSean Johnson should go well over 100 yards receiving in this one.
Fresno State Bulldogs 41, Wyoming Cowboys 10
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