Fresno State will look to stretch their winning streak to three games when they play host to the Utah State Aggies on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. PT.
The contest is senior night for the Bulldogs, and you can catch it on CBS Sports Network and over airwaves on the Bulldog Sports Network.
Fresno State comes into the contest on the heels of a 24-3 win over the Wyoming Cowboys last Saturday night. That win has put the Bulldogs in the driver’s seat to make the Mountain West Conference Championship Game if they win out this weekend and next weekend against San Jose State.
Utah State is coming off a heartbreaking, 29-26, loss to UNLV in double overtime last weekend. That loss has left the Aggies on the precipice of bowl eligibility at a record of 5-5 with two contests remaining to get that all important sixth victory. Utah State will take on the Bulldogs this weekend before playing Boise State next week to end the regular season.
Last week it was defense that was the name of the game for the Bulldogs, holding Wyoming to 184 total yards of offense, while allowing just three points during the contest. They will go up against a Utah State team that has their offense moving so far this season.
Four out of their last five games have seen Utah State go for 400 yards or more on offense. Led by their dual threat quarterback of Bryson Barnes, Utah State has been 2-3 in those five games, mainly in large part because of their leaky defense.
Nonetheless, Barnes and the offense cannot be taken lightly. Miles Davis is the leading rusher, but the offense usually goes as Barnes goes. Davis had 42 yards last week against UNLV, while Barnes went for 124 yards.
Braden Pagen is the top target of Barnes at receiver. Pagen has caught 50 passes on the season for 819 yards. He caught eight passes last week for 109 yards. Brady Boyd and Anthony Garcia can also see plenty of targets in this contest.
The Fresno State offense relied a ton on the rushing attack yet again in the win over Wyoming. Going as a team for 216 yards on 47 carries.
Carson Conklin was shaky yet again at quarterback, going 12-for-27 for 95 yards and a touchdown in the win. His completion percentage has now dipped under 50% so far in his three starts.
Conklin and company will get to go up against a defense that has struggled all the way around outside of a game against Nevada and McNeese State. The Aggies are allowing 246 passing yards a game this season, however, they are allowing a staggering 302 yards on the road this season.
The rushing defense is not much better, allowing 175 yards per game this season, while on the road it is a whopping 192 yards.
What does that boil down to? Expect the run yet again this weekend from Fresno State and upon occasion, a neat pass play that might become the deciding factor.
Dual threat quarterbacks have presented problems for the Fresno State defense. Jalon Daniels opened the season with a huge game against the Bulldogs, and just recently it was Jayden Denegal from San Diego State.
Bryson Barnes will present a problem that the Bulldogs haven’t had answers for, yet. It is imperative that the Bulldogs jump out to the early lead. With Conklin still going through growing pains, Fresno State cannot afford to play from behind and have to rely on their passing game.
I would expect Fresno State to slow the game down more with their run, and them to use just enough defense to get by. I like the Bulldogs, 27-20.