Miles Blumhardt Utah St. at CSU Clemson at Florida St. Michigan at notre Dame San Jose St.

at San Diego St. oregon St. at UCLA how They Did

Dan Watson

Kelly Lyell

Jeff Bersch

Stephen Meyers

Matt Stephens

Kevin Lytle

Utah St. 24-10 Florida St. 30-13 notre dame 27-21 San JoSe St. 24-17 UCla 31-28
last week: 2-3 This season: 8-7

CSU 22-20 ClemSon 27-24 miChigan 17-14 San JoSe St. 35-24 UCla 30-14
last week: 2-3 This season: 8-7

Utah St. 28-14 Florida St. 35-27 notre dame 28-20 San JoSe St. 31-17 UCla 20-17
last week: 3-2 This season: 10-5

Utah St. 24-17 Florida St. 30-21 miChigan 24-23 San JoSe St. 27-20 UCla 31-21
last week: 2-3 This season: 10-5

Utah St. 35-17 Florida St. 35-20 notre dame 27-24 San diego St. 33-27 UCla 35-20
last week: 2-3 This season: 7-8

Utah St. 35-14 Florida St. 22-17 notre dame 20-17 San JoSe St. 31-13 UCla 42-20
last week: 2-3 This season: 9-6

Utah St. 24-14 Florida St. 38-31 miChigan 27-24 San diego St. 21-17 UCla 34-17
last week: 3-2 This season: 10-5

GameDay
UTah STaTe
at

Preview by Position
By kelly lyell

cOlOraDO STaTe

QUarTerBack

When: 5 p.M. TODAY TV: KTVD RADIo: KLZ (AM 560), KCOL (AM 600)

cSU (1-2, 0-0 MW)

ScheDUle
Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Today Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Nov. 17 Nov. 24 vs. Colorado (Denver) NORTH DAKOTA STATE at San Jose State UTAH STATE at Air Force FRESNO STATE at San Diego State HAWAII at Wyoming UNLV at Boise State NEW MEXICO W, 22-17 L, 22-7 L, 40-20 5 p.m. noon 5 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 5 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 5 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 5 p.m.

UTah STaTe (2-1, 0-0 Wac)

ScheDUle
Aug. 30 Sept. 7 Sept. 15 Today Sept. 29 Oct. 5 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 17 Nov. 24 SOUTHERN UTAH UTAH at Wisconsin at Colorado State UNLV at BYU at San Jose State NEW MEXICO STATE at Texas-San Antonio TEXAS STATE at Louisiana Tech IDAHO W,34-3 W,27-20, OT L,16-14 5 p.m. 6 p.m. 8:15 p.m. 2 p.m. 1 p.m. noon 1 p.m. 5 p.m. 1 p.m.

advantage: Utah State. Sophomore Chuckie Keeton is a true dual-threat quarterback, who is averaging 233.7 passing yards and 54.7 rushing yards a game. CSU sophomore Garrett Grayson doesnt run or throw as well as his Aggies counterpart.

rUnninG BackS

advantage: Utah State. CSU loses leading rusher Donnell Alexander to an ankle sprain this week while getting last years leading rusher, Chris Nwoke, back from the same injury. Utah States Kerwynn Williams is a steady force, who is averaging 67 yards a game.

receiverS

advantage: Utah State. Although CSUs receivers have been improving, they havent been as productive as Utah States crew. Chuck Jacobs has the most catches (12), and Matt Austin has the most yards (163) and touchdown catches (two) for the Aggies.

TeaM STaTiSTicS
2012 season First downs Avg. time of possession Avg. yards per game Avg. rushing per game Avg. passing per game Sacked/yards lost Completions/attempts Completion percentage Intercepted Punting avg. Penalties/yards Fumbles/lost CSU 51 25:15 309.0 95.3 213.7 12-56 51/87 58.6 2 43.6 20/210 5/3 opponent 67 34:45 393.0 124.7 268.3 X8-48 69/108 63.9 0 41.6 16/135 7/4

TeaM STaTiSTicS
2012 season First downs Avg. time of possession Avg. yards per game Avg. rushing per game Avg. passing per game Sacked/yards lost Completions/attempts Completion percentage Intercepted Punting avg. Penalties/yards Fumbles/lost USU 57 28:33 419.0 185.3 233.7 5/30 63/93 67.7 1 40.9 29/280 8/3 opponent 43 31:27 256.0 102.7 153.3 6/49 38/86 44.2 1 45.2 20/162 4/2

OffenSive line

advantage: Utah State. The Aggies front five are opening holes that have allowed Utah State to run for 185.3 yards a game, and theyve only given up five sacks. CSU is rushing for just 95.3 yards a game and has allowed 12 sacks.

SecOnDary

advantage: Utah State. A CSU unit that will be without cornerback Momo Thomas (shoulder injury) is allowing opponents to complete 68.3 percent of their passes for 268.3 yards a game, Utah State opponents are completing just 44.2 percent of their passes for 153.3 yards a game.

lineBackerS

Player TO WaTch

name: Aaron Davis Position: Weak-side linebacker Bio: Rams leading tackler will play big role trying to contain Utah State QB Chuckie Keeton

37

Player TO WaTch

name: Chuckie Keeton Position: Quarterback Bio: Dual-threat sophomore passes for 233.7 yards and runs for 54.7 yards a game

16

advantage: Utah State. Although CSU has a good linebacking crew, the Rams havent had the kind of success the Aggies have. Utah State is limiting opponent to just 256 yards of offense and 13 points a game to rank among the nations top 15 teams in both categories.

DefenSive line

advantage: Utah State. Senior end Al Lapuaho is the leader of a stout Utah State unit that is limiting opponents to just 102.7 rushing yards a game. CSU is giving up 124.7 yards a game on the ground.

inDiviDUal leaDerS
PaSSing Grayson RUShing Alexander ReCeiving Cartwright com. 51 att. 87 no. 26 no. 11 yards 641 yards 148 yards 118 TDs 5 avg. 5.7 avg. 10.7 int. 2 TDs 0 TD 1

inDiviDUal leaDerS
PaSSing Keeton RUShing K. Williams ReCeiving Jacobs com. 62 att. 91 no. 48 no. 12 yards 701 yards 201 yards 123 TDs 6 avg. 4.2 avg. 10.2 int. 1 TDs 1 TD 1

SPecial TeaMS

advantage: CSU. The Rams really are better here, with punter pete Kontodiakos averaging 46.8 yards a kick, Jared Roberts making 3 of 4 field goals and a better return game. USUs two kickers are a combined 0 for 2 on field goals.

cOachinG

OffenSive STarTerS
player Garrett Grayson Chris Nwoke Marquise Law Dominique Vinson Crockett Gillmore Kivon Cartwright Ty Sambrailo Brandon Haynes Weston Richburg Jordan Gragert Jared Biard ht. 6-2 6-0 6-4 6-0 6-6 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-4 6-4 6-7 wt. 215 216 215 175 253 237 305 300 297 300 315 yr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. pos. QB RB WR WR TE TE LT LG C RG RT

OffenSive STarTerS
no. 16 25 4 8 81 91 74 54 58 66 67 player Chuckie Keeton Kerwynn Williams Matt Austin Travis Reynolds Kellen Bartlett D.J. Tialavea Kevin Whimpey Jamie Markosian Tyler Larsen Eric Schultz Oscar Molina-Sanchez ht. 6-1 5-8 6-2 5-11 6-2 6-4 6-5 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-5 wt. 200 189 202 180 248 260 296 302 312 303 299 yr. So. Sr. sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. pos. QB RB WR WR TE TE LT LG C RG RT

no. 18 6 9 24 10 86 51 75 70 64 78

advantage: Utah State. Gary Andersen, a former Utah defensive coordinator, took the Aggies to their first bowl game in 14 years last season, his third at the school. CSUs Jim McElwain is 1-2 in his first year as a head coach.

inTanGiBleS

advantage: Utah State. Although CSU is trying hard to avoid dropping a third consecutive game after snapping an eight-game skid in the seasonopener, the Aggies are a better team this year than the one that lost a double-overtime game to the Rams last year in Logan, Utah.

final analySiS

DefenSive STarTerS
player Lanston Tanyi Alex Tucci Zach Tiedgen Shaquil Barrett Cory James James Skelton Aaron Davis Shaq Bell Marcus Shaw Trent Matthews Austin Gray ht. 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-0 5-11 5-8 6-3 6-3 wt. 250 300 265 250 235 230 215 195 180 210 208 yr. Sr So. Sr. Jr. Fr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. pos. LDE DT DT RDE SLB MLB WLB LCB RCB SS FS

DefenSive STarTerS
no. 90 70 40 55 51 16 12 15 1 21 36 player Al Lapuaho Travis Seefeldt Connor Williams Bojay Filimoeatu Jake Doughty Tavaris McMillian Terrell Thompson Jumanne Robertson Nevin Lawson Brian Suite McKade Brady ht. 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-1 5-11 5-10 6-3 5-11 wt. 284 299 271 258 230 230 220 182 183 205 197 yr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. So. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. pos. DE NG DE OLB ILB ILB OLB CB CB SS FS

no. 91 65 47 56 31 43 37 3 15 16 12

CSU is struggling to establish an identity on both sides of the ball under a new coach, while Utah State is thriving now that its got a solid defense to pair with its high-powered spread offense. The Rams simply dont have the firepower to match the Aggies this year.

28 14
Utah State CSU

My Pick