Tag: Utah State Aggies

Week 7 DPI Rankings: Lobos Rising After Six-Game Streak

It was back to non-conference play last week for the Mountain West. Not everybody was in action—and some who were now wish they hadn’t been.

[jwplayer 18QegcJn-sNi3MVSU]

Week 7 DPI Rankings: Lobos Rising After Six-Game Streak

The top two stand pat, but plenty of movement below

Contact/Follow @andrewdieckhoff & @MWCwire

New Mexico, Boise State climbing in the latest DPI rankings for Week 7

It was back to non-conference play last week for the league’s affiliate members on the heels of the opening salvo to the long Mountain West season. Not everybody was in action—and some now wish they hadn’t been.

But it wasn’t all misery.

Some teams are making big strides, including one squad trying to make a move into the uppermost echelon of the MWC.

Below are the DPI rankings heading into the heart of Week 7. If you’re new to the rankings or just want a refresher, head here for a rundown of how the DPI is calculated. The ratings below reflect games played through Tuesday, December 17. As always, non-Division I games are not counted in the DPI.

[lawrence-related id=23624]

#1 — SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS

Last Week: #1

The Aztecs moved to the #1 spot in the Mountain West last week and with no games since their close shave against San Jose State, they haven’t moved much up or down. Brian Dutcher’s team is still undefeated and boasts one of the best defenses in the country. Malachi Flynn’s star turn has propelled SDSU into the national polls, along with the play of Matt Mitchell, Yanni Wetzell, and Jordan Schakel. If KJ Feagin can provide a little more offense, this team could really turn in a special season.

#2 — UTAH STATE AGGIES

Last Week: #2

It’s been a bit of a rough patch for the Aggies over the past few games. They still have one of the two best rosters in the league, but they aren’t quite living up to preseason expectations so far. After losing to Saint Mary’s and looking underwhelming in their first two Mountain West games, Utah State fell to BYU on Saturday in Salt Lake City. It was only their second loss, but it’s a missed opportunity for a good out-of-conference win to put on their NCAA Tournament resume.

#3 — NEW MEXICO LOBOS

Last Week: #4

The Lobos have won six straight after toppling New Mexico State and Grand Canyon since the last DPI rankings were posted here. Though they aren’t playing at the level of SDSU just yet, this patchwork roster of homegrown talent and incoming transfers has performed admirably in the early going. JaQuan Lyle has been everything that Paul Weir could have wanted and more. Oh, and Carlton Bragg is averaging a double-double. So far, so good.

#4 — NEVADA WOLF PACK

Last Week: #3

The Wolf Pack looked like they were starting to turn a corner over the past few weeks, winning five straight games on either side of Thanksgiving. But last week, Nevada was the second casualty of BYU’s surge, along with Utah State and UNLV. The offense had been clicking on all cylinders, but immediately downshifted from a 100-point performance against Air Force to a 42-point outing against the Cougars. That kind of volatility that makes it tough to trust Steve Alford’s club.

#5 — BOISE STATE BRONCOS

Last Week: #6

Leon Rice is getting things back on track in Boise, but outside of their win over BYU—before Yoeli Childs came back, of course—the Broncos haven’t really beaten anybody. It was another rocky showing for Boise State last week, with a midweek loss to Tulsa preceding a blowout win over Alabama State. Derrick Alston is averaging 21 points and Justinian Jessup is finding his form. But the starting five is not the problem here; Rice’s team suffers from a lack of depth.

#6 — COLORADO STATE RAMS

Last Week: #5

The Rams jumped out to a promising start, but they’ve lost three of their past four games, including both of their opening Mountain West bouts. Mixed in there was a 72-68 win over South Dakota State, and while the Jackrabbits are not a bad squad by any means, that they played CSU so closely gives a good indication of where the Rams are right now. Niko Medved’s team gave in-state rivals Colorado a run for their money, but ultimately fell 56-48 over the weekend.

#7 — AIR FORCE FALCONS

Last Week: #8

The defense still leaves a lot to be desired, but recently, the Falcons have been getting better results than they did during a rough November. The new month has been kinder to the cadets, with Air Force winning four of its past five (Note: Tuesday’s 99-42  win over Johnson & Wales is not counted in the DPI). AJ Walker has taken an important step forward as an offensive option. The sophomore was averaging 20 points per game over the past three games coming into Tuesday.

#8 — FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS

Last Week: #10

Justin Huston finally got his team to a second Division I win on Saturday against Cal Poly. But the bigger story here is the seven losses that they have already incurred. Nate Grimes is doing exactly what was expected of him so far, averaging a double-double with 13.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per night. Guards Jarred Hyder and New Williams both have some good performances under their belts, but they haven’t been able to click at the same time. That needs to change.

#9 — UNLV RUNNIN’ REBELS

Last Week: #9

The Rebels didn’t play last week, so the bad taste of the 33-point loss to BYU back has been lingering for a week and a half. There have been a lot of close calls, with UNLV playing in four separate overtime games so far. They are shooting under 42% from the field and turning the ball over 15 times a night. Games against Pacific and Robert Morris this week offer TJ Otzelberger the chance to start making some headway in his first year at the helm.

#10 — WYOMING COWBOYS

Last Week: #7

Allen Edwards got his Cowboys out to a 3-3 start, but they have dropped five straight games, including their most recent defeat at the hands of Northern Colorado. The Bears didn’t just sneak past Wyoming, either—the Big Sky hopefuls handed the home team a 21-point drubbing at Arena-Auditorium. The defense has been fair to middling, but the offense has been dreadful thus far. The Cowboys are shooting under 50% on two-pointers and just over 30% on threes.

#11 — SAN JOSÉ STATE SPARTANS

Last Week: #11

There’s a bit of a running joke around here about which Spartan is most likely to transfer next year, since the sputtering Spartans have seen five double-digit scorers depart in the past three offseasons—including Brandon Clarke, who parlayed his post-SJSU star turn at Gonzaga into a budding NBA career. All jokes aside, Seneca Knight has separated himself as the Spartans’ top option, scoring 12.5 points per game. Hopefully the sophomore can remain an important building block for Jean Prioleau.

That’s it for this week. Check back next week to see who’s rising and falling in the Mountain West and be sure to visit the Dieckhoff Power Index daily for updated rankings on all 353 teams in Division I basketball.

Andrew is a current USBWA member, covering college basketball for multiple outlets, including Mountain West Wire of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Busting Brackets of the FanSided Network. He also runs the Dieckhoff Power Index, a college basketball analytics system, and provides bracketology predictions throughout the season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1361]

Frisco Bowl: Three Kent State players to look out for against Utah State

Kent State has a handful of good players that will factor heavily in the 2019 Frisco Bowl

[jwplayer 18QegcJn-sNi3MVSU]

Contact/Follow @SamMcConkie & @MWCwire

Kent State has a few notable players

It would be easy to dismiss a team like Kent State. The Golden Flashes only managed to go 6-6 in a relatively down season for the MAC. They also don’t have any particularly strong NCAA stats to boast of this season. This team only ranks in the top 10 in one  NCAA statistical category – 4th down conversion percentage – and they rank in the bottom 10 in total defense and run defense. None of these facts would strike much fear in opposing teams.

With that being said, the Golden Flashes have some good talent on their team that could prove pesky for the Aggies on December 20th. Here are three Kent State players to keep an eye on during the bowl game. They’ll play extremely prominent roles in the contest and will provide Kent State’s best chance of scoring their first ever bowl win.

[lawrence-related id=23593]

1. QB Dustin Crum (Jr)

Kent State isn’t exactly known for great quarterbacks, but Dustin Crum has quietly had a solid season for this team. He has thrown for 2,336 yards and 18 touchdowns with only two interceptions along the way.

At any level, those are admirable stats that show the signal caller rarely makes mistakes. Coupled with his strong arm, he’s rushed for five touchdowns and a little over 46 yards per game this season. Through the year, he actually is the leading rusher on the team. His relatively good offensive balance brings stability to an offense that has had some struggles this season, not unlike the Aggies. If he can stay upright, he could pose some moderate to big issues for USU’s poor secondary.

2. CB Jamal Parker (Sr)

This solid cornerback is a bright spot on a defense that has struggled mightily to stop opposing offenses. He’s helped anchor a decent secondary and has a team-high three interceptions on the year, a worrisome stat for an Aggie team that has turned the ball over a lot this season. Parker has also racked up a healthy 58 total tackles during the regular season. On top of his defensive duties, he’s put in good work on kickoff returns, including a 96-yard kick return for a touchdown against Eastern Michigan in the season finale win. It never hurts to have versatility.

3. WR Isaiah McKoy (So)

Adding some explosiveness to a just alright offense, speedy receiver Isaiah McKoy leads the team with 767 receiving yards and seven touchdown grabs. He’s produced some monster plays for the Golden Flashes when they’ve needed it and he appears to only be getting better. Season over season, his YPC total has increased from 10.1 to 15. Coupled with Crum’s arm, Utah State’s pass defense will need to be on point or risk getting burned. McKoy’s stats look a lot like USU’s Siaosi Mariner, so his role in the offense cannot be understated or underestimated.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1360]

[protected-iframe id=”c0286d6e1aad69344270e42782a7311d-137729785-123448869″ info=”https://anchor.fm/mwwire/embed” width=”400px” height=”102px” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”]

First look at USU vs Kent State in Frisco Bowl

Ags look to secure 8-win season against MAC foe Kent State in Frisco Bowl

Contact/Follow @SamMcConkie & @MWCwire

The what bowl?

The Aggies learned their bowl destination during Selection Sunday: USU will travel to Frisco, Texas to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes on December 20th.

This is a relatively new bowl game. It was originally the Miami Beach bowl until ESPN bought the rights to it in 2017. With that taken into account, the bowl has only been around for six seasons. This year’s sponsor is Tropical Smoothie Cafe. The name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but it’s about the kind of game Utah State deserves after a disappointing 7-5 season.

Kent Who?

Located in Kent, OH, the Golden Flashes have had an unimpressive 6-6 season. However, they do have an alright 5-3 mark in conference play, good for 2nd in the MAC east division. They’ve lost badly to all the teams they were supposed to lose to (at Wisconsin, at Auburn, at Arizona State) and they’ve beaten a couple of okay MAC teams (Buffalo, at Eastern Michigan). They had a shot to beat Toledo,  but couldn’t finish a 2-pt conversion. Though they didn’t win the game, they did beat Toledo out for a bowl berth. All in all, the Golden Flashes are decidedly middle of the pack in the top-heavy MAC.

Is there history between these teams and will the game be any good?

There is minimal history between Utah State and Kent State. These schools have met twice, with both contests in the 1970s. The Aggies lost in 1973 in Logan, but got revenge the following year on the road in a close one. The burning question is this, though: is this game going to be any good? Well, if stats are to be believed, it could turn out to be a surprisingly decent match-up.

Kent State has a wholly decent QB in Dustin Crumm. The signal-caller has passed for 2,333 yards with a strong 18-2 touchdown-interception ratio, a far prettier number than what Jordan Love has amassed for the Aggies this year. On the other hand, Crumm has also been sacked 39 times. That unfortunate stat is good for the bottom ten in the NCAA. Against a USU defense that has struggled to get pressure, it will be interesting to see which opposing unit produces better: the Golden Flashes’ offensive line or the Aggie defensive line.

Stopping the run has been a major issue for Kent State. They’ve given up 2,992 yards on the ground this season, which averages to over 5 yards per opponent rush. Matched up against USU’s middling 84th ranked rushing attack, the Aggies may actually have a few struggles if Jaylen Warren isn’t healthy enough to back up Gerold Bright. Time will tell when these teams clash on December 20th.

I’m expecting a relatively even gridiron tilt. With that being said, I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if one team runs away with the score. Both of these teams have shown the propensity to get blown out in big games. Kent State hasn’t been bowling since 2012, so they’ll certainly have something to play for. USU needs to show up ready for a fight.

See you in Frisco. It beats freezing in Boise (sorry, Nevada).

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=645997210]

Utah State at St. Mary’s odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Utah State Aggies at St. Mary’s Gaels sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and tips.

The Utah State Aggies (7-0) head to Moraga, Calif. to tangle with the St. Mary’s Gaels (5-1) at McKeon Pavilion at 11:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Utah State-St. Mary’s odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Utah State at St. Mary’s: Three things you need to know

1. Utah State G Sam Merrill has been filling up the stat sheet this season, racking up 16.6 points per game while shooting a robust 51.1% from behind the 3-point line this season.

2. St. Mary’s has posted a 172-22 record at McKeon Pavilion across the past 11 seasons, but they already have a loss there this season. The Gaels fell to unranked Winthrop by a 61-59 count back on Nov. 11 as 19.5-point favorites.

3. These teams met on a neutral-site court on Nov. 19, 2018, and it was Utah State embarrassing St. Mary’s by an 80-63 score. Merrill posted 23 points with eight assists and four rebounds.

BetMGM BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL

BET $1, WIN $250 in free bets if ANY NFL team scores a touchdown Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. Bet now and win!
Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.

Utah State at St. Mary’s: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:55 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Utah State 73, St. Mary’s 68

Moneyline (ML)

UTAH STATE (+145) is a strong value on the road against unranked St. Mary’s (-176). The Aggies are off to a 7-0 start, while the Gaels had a near-miss at Wisconsin and the Winthrop setback. They’re a good team, but USU is just playing better.

Against the Spread (ATS)

UTAH STATE (+3.5, -110) won against LSU and North Texas to win a tournament in the Bahamas, and it’s a respectable 4-2 against the spread across the past six games. The LSU win was by two points, while the Aggies’ other six games have all been decided by eight or more points.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 134.5 (-115) is the way to go in this solid matchup. While SMC plays a deliberate style, Utah State will be off and running. I expect both teams to be at or around 70 points, with the total going Over in the final couple of minutes with frequent fouls and free throws helping the total inch over.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1623]

Boise State Clobbers Utah State, Ending Aggies’ Title Hopes

Aggies get embarrassed in home finale, lose division to Boise State

[jwplayer BzHIBxDF-sNi3MVSU]

Contact/Follow @SamMcConkie & @MWCwire

Dismal performance from entire Aggie team

Utah State didn’t bother showing up in their own stadium with the Mountain Division on the line. Boise State showed up and showed why they’re the class of the conference, though, by winning 56-21.

Boise State received the ball to start and promptly drove down the field in under two minutes, going up 7-0. On USU’s first possession, they promptly failed to gain offensive rhythm (again) and punted away to the Broncos. It would be the first of many failed drive attempts for this Utah State offense.

After the Aggie defense forced a punt from the Broncos on their next offensive series, Utah State put together a very nice drive using Jordan Love‘s arm. The Aggies capped off their first touchdown drive with a sick one-handed catch by TE Caleb Repp. It would be only one a few highlights for the Aggies.

Late in the first quarter, with the game tied 7-7, USU got the ball back with some critical momentum. Jordan Love then promptly threw the momentum away with a pass to the flat that was nabbed by Boise defender Jalen Walker for a costly pick six. Boise State never looked back after this (and USU needs to burn that play from its playbook).

Boise State went on to score on five straight offensive drives. Utah State’s defense could not tackle and could not get any stops on third down, a continuation of an alarming trend they have seen this season. There were numerous times on the night where the Broncos’ running backs would easily slip past USU’s defensive line and linebackers. Oftentimes, these gains would be for 7+ yards, ensuring Boise State would have manageable offensive situations all night long for their third-string QB Jaylon Henderson.

At halftime, USU was down 35-7. By the end of the third quarter, it was 56-14. Jordan Love had an average night, throwing for 229 yards on 21-of-36 passes with a touchdown and one interception. Gerold Bright performed well below expectations, rushing for 51 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Adding insult to injury, DJ Williams got two unsportsmanlike penalties in the game, getting disqualified from the game and weakening an already battered secondary.

On the opposing side, Boise RB George Holani had himself a terrific game, rushing for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Backup QB Jaylon Henderson played like a season starter with 187 yards and three touchdown passes with no picks. The Broncos have superior team depth all around and it showed in this game. Utah State couldn’t contain or stop either of these players and the game was never close after the first quarter.

By the end of the night, USU had managed to score 21 points, but most of those came in garbage time with the game well out of reach. QB Henry Colombi ran in the final score of the night for USU and brought the game to a merciful close shortly after that.

Boise State won 56-21 and the remaining people in the stadium were mostly Bronco fans. It was a painful, but not terribly unsurprising end to the home slate of games for USU.

Few silver linings

The game was miserable, but the season has been about where I thought it would be. Assuming Utah State beats a terrible New Mexico team in the regular-season finale, USU will finish with back to back winning seasons. That’s a step in the right direction considering the Aggies had three losing seasons in a row from 2015-2017.

A win over New Mexico would also guarantee USU a bowl game. This will result in extra practices for the younger players on USU’s roster. Coupled with some rest, these bowl practices could prove to be rejuvenating for the team. Aggies will likely be matched up against a winnable opponent from the MAC or C-USA, a salve the Aggies could use after getting roughed up in November.

If nothing else, with all of their weaknesses exposed in this most recent loss, it will help shed additional light on the recruiting areas Gary Andersen needs to address. Focusing on this for next season along with getting as many reps as possible for the young players could pay off down the road. This team has talent, but they need to learn to put it all together.

Just a couple more wins will help ease the pain of some big missed opportunities this year. If Aggies can win out, we’ll all feel better for next year having taken our lumps in stride. And in this author’s case, because I foolishly bet against a fellow MWC beat writer on the outcome of this game, that means I’ll be taking a cream pie in the face.

You’ve earned the right to laugh, Raja (but watch out for basketball season)!

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=645997189]

Boise State at Utah State odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Boise State Broncos at Utah State Aggies sports betting odds and lines, with college football picks, tips and bets.

The Boise State Broncos (9-1, 6-0, MWC Mountain) and Utah State Aggies (6-4, 5-1 MWC Mountain) square off in Logan, Utah at 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday in a key divisional showdown with postseason implications. We analyze the Boise State-Utah State odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Boise State at Utah State: Three things you need to know

1. The Broncos are 0-1 straight up and against the spread in the state of Utah this season, losing 28-25 at BYU Oct. 19 as seven-point favorites.

2. Boise State QB Hank Bachmeier (shoulder) is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury. QBs Chase Cord and Jaylon Henderson have started and held down the fort in the true freshman’s place since he went down vs. Hawaii, and again against San Jose State.

3. Boise State has dominated this series against the number, going 8-1 ATS in the past nine trips to Logan, and 12-3-2 ATS in the past 17 meetings overall. The road team is also 7-3-2 ATS in the past 12 battles.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Boise State at Utah State: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 9:45 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Boise State 34, Utah State 23

Moneyline (ML)

Boise State (-334) is just too expensive on the road, as there is too much risk and not enough reward. The Broncos will win this game and keep their New Year’s Day bowl hopes alive, though.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Boise State to win would return a profit of $3.00.

Against the Spread (ATS)

BOISE STATE (-8.5, -115) is worth a small-unit play, as it has playmakers all over the offense, including the dynamic WR Khalil Shakir (44-615-4, also two rushing TDs), as well as leading WR John Hightower (37-754-6) and RB George Holani (131-692-5, also two receiving TDs). USU just doesn’t have the same kind of athletes as the Broncos, and it will show, particularly in the second half.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER (52.5, -110) is worth a small-unit play, too, but don’t get crazy. The Over is 9-3-1 in the past 13 meetings, including 4-0 in Logano. However, the Under has dominated for both of these sides lately, including 8-1 in the past nine vs. winning teams for Boise, and 7-1 in the past eight MWC games for USU.

Still, we could see some nice offense, especially with no snow in the forecast; however, it is expected to snow the rest of the week. Sounds like a good excuse to warm up with some spirits at the White Owl in Logan, a great place for drinks in Utah State’s little college town.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1623]

Utah State QB Henry Colombi Will Most Likely Start Against Boise State

Aggies pit their new starting QB against Boise State in pivotal divisional clash

[jwplayer bjF8KTgI-sNi3MVSU]

Contact/Follow @SamMcConkie & @MWCwire

With Jordan Love most likely out, it’s Henry Colombi‘s show

Utah State had given its season new life with a close win over a tough Wyoming squad. Now, the balance seems to be in doubt again with the unknown status of Jordan Love.

Late in the game, USU went on a drive deep into Wyoming territory. Jordan Love kept the ball himself and ran inside the Wyoming five-yard line. Love took a vicious hit and USU ended up settling for a field goal on the next play. It seemed about right for the type of the day the Aggies had in the red zone.

After the Aggies went on offense again, sophomore QB Henry Colombi stepped in. He mounted a decent drive, but Eberle missed a field goal try. In the fourth quarter, Colombi would get the Aggies in scoring position again, with Eberle making his last field goal attempt on the day.

The offense didn’t look drastically different and the receivers still seemed to respond well to Colombi. He did just enough to finish the game and get the win and he committed no turnovers. Pedestrian stats against a strong defense are to be expected of a new QB when coming into a game late, after all.

What Colombi can reasonably do for USU

The newly minted starter is going to have a sizable challenge on his hands when the Aggies take the field against the Boise State Broncos on Saturday night. Colombi’s playing time has been substantially limited this year as compared to last, so his inexperience with this team will show at points. Nonetheless, he can manage the game and not turn the ball over against the Broncos.

The good news for Aggie fans is that Colombi isn’t being thrown into this game with cold feet. As mentioned before, due to the number of teams the Aggies were blowing out last year, Colombi got to play a lot of minutes in his backup role. It wasn’t uncommon at all for him to play entire halves of games against lesser competition. These scenarios allowed him to continue learning the offense and become mentally prepared for when his number would be called.

Against the five teams he played in 2018, Colombi racked up 239 passing yards on 33 passes in 40 attempts. On top of that, he rushed for 108 yards and on just 13 attempts. His lone rushing touchdown came on a long scamper against UNLV near the end of that game. An already beaten Rebels squad didn’t have an answer for him.

It’s hard to say how effective of a passer Colombi is since he mostly managed games, but his running ability is definitely a major plus for this offense. USU’s running game has been hit or miss this season, so adding an extra set of wheels to the mix will make the play-calling for Mike Sanford easier. Utah State is going to need every advantage they can get on the ground against a Broncos defense that is giving up only 117 yards per game, good for 23rd best in the nation.

A nice break for the new starter

Henry Colombi is also catching another break: he most likely won’t need to worry about Curtis Weaver living in USU’s backfield. Weaver limped off the field last week against New Mexico up in Boise and was later seen in a boot. Though the Bronco’s easily won that game, the loss of Weaver cannot be understated.

At his peak, Weaver has absolutely terrorized opposing quarterbacks in this league. His sack rate is third best in the country! Teams game-plan specifically to stop him, and that doesn’t work a decent chunk of the time. Whoever replaces him at DE, there will almost certainly be a noticeable drop-off in production.

Boise’s pass rush against USU’s offensive line is going to be key in this game. On the season, USU’s offensive line has acquitted itself nicely, only allowing 15 sacks on the year. We won’t know how good of a passer Colombi can be if he can’t stay upright against the Broncos, so USU’s line must continue playing well. The absence of Weaver may just give USU’s QB a level playing field in what would otherwise be an extremely difficult positional match-up.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1360]

[protected-iframe id=”09e6ca4e11e5838c3834d87c7b471ffb-137729785-123448869″ info=”https://anchor.fm/mwwire/embed” width=”400px” height=”102px” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”]

Utah State outlast Wyoming in ugly Bridger’s Battle game

Ags retain the rifle and keep MWC title hopes alive in bruising win over feisty Pokes

Contact/Follow @SamMcConkie & @MWCwire

USU’s conference title hopes remain alive

The phrase “cardiac kids” comes to mind with this Utah State team.

Much like the Aggies of 2011, this group of players has been hanging tough in numerous one-score games. Unlike the 2011 team, this Aggie team has had significantly better luck in close contests. USU has gone a solid 3-1 this year when the game is on the line in the closing minutes. No thanks to untimely penalties, Wyoming shot themselves in the foot just one time too many to reclaim the rifle.

[jwplayer 3aEtzgZJ-sNi3MVSU]

The game started out extremely poorly for both teams. USU failed to gain any offensive rhythm and turned the ball over in the first minute of the game on a batted and intercepted pass from Jordan Love. This felt like a “here we go again” type moment for USU as Love’s struggles with ball security reared their head yet again.

Unfortunately for Wyoming, newly minted starting QB Tyler Vander Waal showed some serious jitters. After easily getting his offense inside USU’s 15-yard line, a blitz off the edge sent Vander Waal scrambling backwards. Vander Waal then promptly lost the ball after tripping on the turf and USU recovered it around the 35-yard line.

This game would overall be a battle of defenses as neither team scored anything in the first quarter. Wyoming’s star LB Logan Wilson then made his presence felt beginning the second quarter as he picked off another batted Jordan Love pass and took it 10 yards for an easy score. Already at two turnovers on the afternoon, it felt like this game could get out of hand quickly for USU.

A few minutes later after USU’s defense forced a punt, Jordan Love shook off his funk and tossed a dart to Siaosi Mariner for an 80-yard touchdown pass. It would signal the start of a strong second quarter as Love threw a TD to Gerold Bright on a busted coverage in Wyoming’s questionable secondary. Now the Aggies had rhythm and Wyoming would have to keep up.

For Wyo’s RB Xazavian Valladay, this would prove to be no issue. The rusher bullied his way down the field on a strong drive, aided by a couple of sloppy penalties on USU’s defense. It then set up Vander Waal for a leap into the endzone, tying the game up.

Before the half ended, USU kicked a couple of field goals to go up 20-14. One of the kicks was set up after Shaq Bond intercepted a tipped pass from Vander Waal. USU had a chance to go up more before half, but USU got caught with an ineligible player penalty that wiped away an endzone bomb from Love to Thompkins.

In the second half, the defensive war was in full effect.

USU forced the Cowboys to punt after sacking Vander Waal to end an extended drive. USU then went on an extended drive themselves and made it all the way inside Wyoming’s five-yard line. Jordan Love took a nasty hit on a scramble and then USU was unable to finish the drive with a touchdown. On a frustratingly predictable play call, they turned the ball over on downs.

These defenses continued hitting each others’ offenses in the mouth. USU was able to squeeze out one more field goal apiece from Dominik Eberle per remaining quarter to take a 26-14 lead with 11:11 to go in the fourth. But Wyoming wasn’t going away by a long-shot.

The Cowboys ate up over four minutes of the clock and scored on a touchdown drive to bring the game to 26-21. USU QB Henry Colombi, filling in for the possibly injured Love, was then unable to respond with a score of his own in two drive attempts and USU had to punt. Not only was the game getting too close for comfort, it looked like an ending we’d all seen before.

Not known for their passing prowess, Wyoming would need to rely on Tyler Vander Waal’s arm to win the game. Walk-on LB Eric Munoz for the Aggies had other plans though.

Vander Waal got his offense moving and the Cowboys inside the Aggie 40-yard line. Sure heartbreak felt like an inevitability as the Aggies struggled all afternoon with the QB’s ability to scramble. Some late pressure came from USU’s defense and got the QB rushed. He threw across his body right into the arms of the waiting Munoz.

Ecstasy and relief in one fell swoop for the Aggies. They avoided the upset and preserved their conference title hopes, even with the status of Jordan Love unknown. Wyoming suffered their second consecutive heartbreaking loss and was left to wonder what might have been. But oh what a game!

The Last Stand

Utah State, despite some big ups and downs this season, is right where they want to be. With two games remaining in the regular season, they have a chance to at least tie for first in the loaded Mountain Division. Another loss from Air Force and then an Aggie win over the Broncos would launch USU into the MWC title game.

Boise State comes to Logan with QB uncertainty of their own, as well as some other question marks. Despite their strong 9-1 record and national ranking, the Broncos have looked inconsistent and downright ugly at times on offense. They struggled to put away Wyoming on the blue turf and had to go to overtime to finish the job. They also had to survive a shootout on the road against upstart San Jose State, a team with a less than stellar defense.

While team depth is still better for the Broncos, the potential loss of Curtis Weaver from their defensive line could make the upcoming game a suddenly fair fight. It could be Boise’s backup QB vs USU’s backup QB.

USU’s offensive line has gelled better in recent weeks and if RB Jaylen Warren continues to heal up, the Ags may finally have the offensive balance they need to take on the Broncos. With or without Love at the helm, the receivers have stepped up big in recent weeks to help secure the close wins.

This is the moment we’ve been waiting for since 2013, Aggie fans: show up this weekend and support our boys! They’ve battled through significant hardship and they still have a shot to accomplish all their team goals on November 23rd (coupled with an Air Force loss somewhere).

A win validates the program culture, possibly for good. A loss would be painful, but we would still have gone bowling in eight of the last nine seasons. All things considered, that is no small feat for a program that is only a decade removed from its dark ages.

I believe. Do you?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1377]

[protected-iframe id=”c0286d6e1aad69344270e42782a7311d-137729785-123448869″ info=”https://anchor.fm/mwwire/embed” width=”400px” height=”102px” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”]