Mountain West previews: Fresno State at BYU; San Diego State plays for title
Fresno St. at BYU, 1 p.m., ESPN3/BYUtv
Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter is sticking with Zack Greenlee at QB. The sophomore passed for 285 yards and a career-high six TDs in a 42-14 victory over Hawaii last week, an effort that was more than enough for Greenlee to keep the starting assignment he won after a competition with Kilton Anderson the previous week. BYU QB Tanner Mangum (Eagle High) is 202-of-323 for 2,442 yards and 16 TDs with five interceptions. Fresno State’s four quarterbacks are a combined 165-of-322 for 1,768 yards and 20 TDs with 13 picks.
“Mangum has come in and done a terrific job in relief,” DeRuyter said. “You can’t tell the guy was a backup before. He’s an older guy, not like a kid out of high school. But still, give him credit: he went into the season thinking that he was going to be a backup and they forced him into action early and he has done a terrific job.”
The teams last met in 1998 when both were members of the WAC (Fresno State won 31-21 at Bulldog Stadium). The Bulldogs lead the series 5-4; it’s 2-2 in Provo.
Nevada at Utah St., 1:30 p.m., ESPN3
Back-to-back losses at New Mexico and Air Force by a total of eight points have ended Utah State’s chance to play for the MW title. The Aggies can still qualify for a school-record fifth straight bowl game by beating Nevada.
“We want to be in a bowl game, there’s no question about it,” coach Matt Wells said. “I think it continues to reinforce what we’re trying to build — a very consistent, winning program that gets to November and plays games that mean something.’’
Nevada is bowl eligible, but that doesn’t mean the Wolf Pack are guaranteed a bowl game because of the league’s crowded postseason picture. Nevada could all but lock up a berth with a win over Utah State or San Diego State in the next two weeks.
Utah State, which hasn’t lost three straight games since 2010, has won 13 straight at home.
Colorado St. at New Mexico, 3:30 p.m., ROOT
The option offense coach Bob Davie has used to turn around New Mexico over the past four seasons has evolved into something different than the Air Force attack he set out to emulate. The formations are different and the reads the quarterback is making don’t always lead to the same conclusion.
Still, Colorado State coach Mike Bobo and his defenders feel good about their chances of keeping the Lobos’ ground game under wraps, in part because of the success they had last month against Air Force. Colorado State limited Air Force to 269 rushing yards — well below its average of 333.2 — in a 38-23 win Oct. 17 at Hughes Stadium.
New Mexico QB Lamar Jordan, who left the Boise State game after banging his head on the turf, practiced this week and should be OK for Colorado State, coach Bob Davie said. He said Jordan and Austin Apodaca likely will again share playing time. ... Colorado State, which becomes bowl eligible with a victory, has won back-to-back games for the first time since having a nine-game winning streak snapped by Air Force in last year’s regular-season finale. … The Rams have averaged 62 points in their past two games against New Mexico.
San Diego St. at UNLV, 8:30 p.m., CBSSN
San Diego State’s current streak of four straight wins by 23 points or more is the longest in the nation. The Aztecs can lock up the West Division — and a spot in the MW championship game — with a victory. They are 6-0 and have never started league play 7-0. ... San Diego State has won four straight games by 23 points or more, the longest streak in FBS. ... Rebels QB Blake Decker has had trouble staying healthy. He isn’t expected to play after suffering ankle and hip injuries in last Saturday’s 49-35 loss at Colorado State. But his replacement, Kurt Palandech, showed some promise by running for a TD and throwing for another.
San Jose St. at Hawaii, 9 p.m.
Not only have the Rainbow Warriors lost eight in a row, they have endured numerous injuries. On Tuesday, they had seven offensive linemen from the active roster available to practice. Only 18-of-33 players on the defensive three-deep chart were healthy enough to practice. The Spartans have lost seven in a row in November over the past two seasons, and are 2-10 in the month during Ron Caragher’s tenure.
Copy by Statesman staff, wire services and Mountain West exchange.
This story was originally published November 21, 2015 at 12:22 AM with the headline "Mountain West previews: Fresno State at BYU; San Diego State plays for title."