San Diego State has gone the better part of a decade between visits to Laramie, Wyoming, and the conditions for Saturday’s game were as different as the temperature in the previous meeting between Wyoming and SDSU.
The teams played in the 2016 Mountain West Championship. The temperature was 18 degrees at kickoff, though the Aztecs prepared for the occasion on their way to winning their last conference championship.
The score is expected to reach 71 in Saturday’s matchup between SDSU (2-3, 1-0 MW) and Wyoming (1-4, 1-0), and both teams are expected to finish well in the Mountain West title chase.
The winner of this competition will be tied for the top spot in the conference, so there you have it.
“They’re a dangerous team,” SDSU coach Sean Lewis emphasized this week. “They’re well-trained, physical, and really strong. … I’m looking forward to getting on the road and getting our first road win of the year against a very good opponent.”
SDSU is a 1 1/2-point favorite going into the game at Wyoming’s War Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is at 12:30 PM PT for the game, which will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Here are five things to watch for:
1. Ivan Svoboda suspended
Wyoming’s offense wasn’t good. The Cowboys are averaging 16.4 points per game (123rd in the country), and that total was boosted by a 31-19 win two weeks ago over Air Force (the Cowboys were out last week).
The lack of playmakers — starting running back Harrison Wiley has been sidelined so far and John Michael Gillenburg has essentially missed three games — has required quarterback Ivan Svoboda (56-for-114, 628 yards, 2 TDs/3 INTs/45 carries, 224 total yards, 4 TDs) to carry most of the load.
“It makes their offense go,” Lewis said. “He pivots and makes everything work for them. He’s a good decision-maker, and he makes this thing (the offense) work the right way.”
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Svoboda is a load to drop. He’s been more effective running than passing this season, so containing him will be a priority.
That’s what North Texas did in a 44-17 win over Wyoming on Sept. 21. Svoboda was limited to 29 total yards on nine carries while completing 11 of 23 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown.
2. Rush to judge
The running game could be where this game is decided, and SDSU has a decisive advantage against a Wyoming team that allows two more yards per carry than it averages (4.8 yards to 2.8 yards).
Neither team was particularly effective rushing, although Marquise Cooper (126 carries, 583 yards, 5 TDs) helped the Aztecs average 130.6 yards per game (98th nationally). Wyoming averaged just 100.6 yards (115) per game without Wiley, who rushed for 946 yards last season.
Both teams rank near the bottom in time of possession — Wyoming (27:35) is 108th and SDSU (25:39) is 126th — among the 134 FBS teams in the country.
In SDSU’s case, some of that can be explained by the team’s offense.
But Lewis wouldn’t be against controlling the clock, and running is the most effective way to do that.
3. Get chips
SDSU edging out Trey White, who shares the national lead with nine sacks this season, has been a terror, especially the past two weeks. He had four tackles for loss and three sacks against both Central Michigan and Hawaii.
Opponents have to be more aware now of where No. 47 lines up. Look for the tight ends or running back to “chop” the sophomore out of Eastlake High School, trying to help their teammates by making short contact with White to disrupt him.
SDSU defensive coordinator Eric Schmidt expects extra focus on the edge, and is ready to make adjustments so White can be just as effective.
“We can move him into different positions, especially third down to make it more difficult for them to shoot the ball at him,” Schmidt said.
Nothing new. Schmidt came across this while coaching elite runners the past two seasons in Washington.
“There are definitely some things we can do to help him out of this,” Schmidt said. “Ultimately, if he gets this much attention, it will make us a better defense. …
“When we come up with four and you stop us with six or seven, it makes it a lot easier on our DBs. Now we’re playing seven-on-three there. It becomes an advantage.”
4. Fourth quarters
SDSU has yet to put together four good quarters of football in one game this season.
The Aztecs struggled in the first half of their first three games, failing to score a first-half goal in any of them. Much of the problem has been self-inflicted. The struggles coincided with the nation’s leadership on penalties.
SDSU scored three first-half touchdowns at Central Michigan two weeks ago, then was shut out in a second half that included a pair of missed field goals.
The Aztecs looked on the cusp of putting things together last week against Hawaii — although penalties were again an issue — as they extended their halftime lead to 17-10 with a field goal on their first drive of the second half.
They were flat after that, except for an 86-yard drive in the fourth quarter that turned out to be the game-winning score.
Playing a Wyoming team that has struggled on both sides of the ball represents its best chance since the season opener against Texas A&M-Commerce to play a complete game.
5. What winning means
A win would boost the Aztecs to .500 when they reach the midway point of the season, setting them on target for the six wins needed to qualify for the tournament.
At 3-3, SDSU can head into the second week of the season with a reasonable possibility of three more wins.
The second half schedule includes games against New Mexico, Utah State and Air Force, all of whom are 1-4. It also includes three 4-1 teams: Washington State, No. 17 Boise State and UNLV.
Lose to the Cowboys, and SDSU would need to take a 4-2 lead in the second half to become bowl eligible.
Originally Posted: October 11, 2024 at 2:05 p.m
