After Utah State’s five-game winning streak was snapped in a blowout loss to Wyoming, the team now sits at 8-3 on the year with one game to go. The Aggies now face New Mexico on the road, needing a win – coupled with a Boise State loss – to reach the Mountain West title game.
A USU rewind
Three straight wins over Washington State, North Dakota, and Air Force meant the Aggies started the season 3-0 for the first time since 1978. The win over Washington State was also the first road win over a Power 5 conference program in 50 years (Kansas State in 1971).
Since then, losses to Boise State and BYU and five straight wins over UNLV, Colorado State, Hawai’i, New Mexico State, and San Jose State put the Aggies on the doorstep of an appearance in the conference title game. Needing a win over Wyoming to increase their chances of winning the division, Utah State stumbled at home and is now in a three-way tie atop the Mountain Division.
What does New Mexico look like?
The New Mexico Lobos are currently 3-8 overall this season, and 1-6 in Mountain West play (last in the Mountain Division).
New Mexico has had another tough season, winning their first two games before losing five in a row. After a win over Wyoming, the Lobos have dropped three straight games and are trying to end the season on a high note with a win over the Aggies.
What the Aggies need to do to win
Find the offense that won five straight
Scoring just 17 points last time out, the Aggies offense was halted by a Top 25 Wyoming defense.
Passing for only 181 yards and turning the ball over three times, Utah State needs to find the rhythm on offense that had the team ranked 15th in the nation in total offense before last weekend.
Wyoming stopped everything the Aggies had, but don’t expect New Mexico to put up as much of a fight, although they still rank a respectable 47th in total defense.
The defense needs to redeem themselves
Somehow the Aggies played their best defensive game agaisnt San Jose State one week, and then followed it up with its worst game just a week later against Wyoming.
Utah State allowed 602 yards of total offense, including 362 on the ground in the 27-point loss, also giving up four touchdowns.
The defense must be better this week. New Mexico are not world-beaters, but neither were the Cowboys and they torched the Aggies.
Prediction
Utah State has to win this game, period.
The Lobos are not a good team and have nothing to play for at this point – except to ruin the Aggies’ conference title hopes. Utah State needs to take care of business and hope Boise State stumbles against San Diego State so they can play for a Mountain West championship.
I’m giving the Aggies the edge in this one. The team needs to redeem themselves after a horrendous showing last week. Expect them to win comfortably, improving to 2-0 agaisnt teams this season from “The Land of Enchantment.”
Utah State 31, New Mexico 20
Utah State and New Mexico kick off at 11 a.m. MT on Friday morning. The game can be seen on FS1.
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