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Preview: New Mexico State (2-2) at San Diego State (1-3)
Posted September 30, 2009
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FACTS & STATS: Site: Qualcomm Stadium (54,000) -- San Diego, California. Television:None. Home Record: NMSU 1-2, SDSU 1-0. Away Record: NMSU 1-0, SDSU 0-3. Neutral Record: NMSU 0-0, SDSU 0-0. Conference Record: NMSU 0-1, SDSU 0-1. Series Record: San Diego State leads, 6-1-1.

GAME NOTES: The San Diego State Aztecs are set to play two straight and five of their next six games at Qualcomm Stadium, beginning this weekend with the New Mexico State Aggies.

The Aztecs opened the season with three of four games on the road, losing each one on foreign soil, including a 26-14 setback to Air Force last weekend. It was the second loss in a row for SDSU, which picked up its lone win over Southern Utah, a FCS program.

As for NMSU, it took to the road for the first time last weekend and emerged with a 20-17 victory over rival New Mexico. The Aggies snapped a six-game slide to New Mexico with the win and in the process improved to 2-2 on the young season.

With regard to the all-time series, SDSU leads NMSU by a 6-1-1 count and has won all six meetings played on its home field. The teams however, are meeting for the first time since 1975.

Quarterback Jeff Fleming came off the bench and led the Aggies on 17-play drive in which he capped off with a game-wining touchdown with 39 seconds left in last weekend's 20-17 win over UNM. Fleming came in for starter Trevor Walls, who threw for just 77 yards and a pick, and completed 4-of-5 pass attempts for 19 yards in the win. It was a nice rebound for Fleming, who has seen more of the snaps this season, but has failed to move the offense, throwing just one touchdown and four picks. The Aggies are managing just 285.2 total ypg as a team, with just 122.8 of those ypg coming through the air, so rotating quarterbacks could be something that continues for the season. NMSU though, has had success running the ball and the ground attack helped the team maintain possession for nearly 38 minutes of last weekend's game. Seth Smith led the way with 113 yards on 31 carries and he now has 379 rushing yards on the season.

NMSU cracked down last weekend and held UNM to just 17 total points and 356 yards of offense. The defense, which is giving up 331.2 total ypg on the season, allowed only three points after the intermission and held UNM to just 13 first downs in the game. The unit however, only managed one takeaway and that has been an area the defense has struggled in so far. On the season, the Aggies have forced four turnovers and that is far too little to be effective for an entire year. Ross Conner currently leads the team with 32 stops and he had four tackles and the team's lone interception in last weekend's victory.

The Aztecs have struggled to avoid mistakes and they were burnt by six turnovers in a loss to Air Force last weekend. SDSU, which has committed 13 turnovers on the campaign, had both a fumble and interception returned for scores last weekend. Quarterback Ryan Lindley accounted for five turnovers, including four interceptions, and he finished the game with 283 yards and two scores through the air. On the season, Lindley has thrown for 1,009 yards and seven scores, but he has been picked eight times and really needs to start doing a better job protecting the ball. Vincent Brown has clearly been his go- to-guy and he ranks among the top wide receivers around with 34 receptions for 547 yards and five scores. He had a big game against Air Force, pulling in 10 balls for 123 yards and two scores in a losing effort. SDSU doesn't have much of a ground game, averaging a mere 70.5 rushing ypg, so the team will continue to depend on Lindley and Brown to move the ball.

SDSU's defense had to deal with six turnovers from its offense and that often put this unit in bad spots. Still, the defense did a good job in keeping Air Force's offense without a touchdown, as the Falcons instead had to settle for six field goal attempts. The Aztecs, who are holding opponents to 327.8 total ypg, limited Air Force to 294 yards. The unit though, was burnt for 243 yards on the ground by the option attack and failed to record a takeaway or sack in the loss. Jerry Milling had 12 stops to pace SDU and he leads the team with 29 tackles on the season.

The Aztecs have a more potent attack and they should be able to throw all over the Aggies for the victory this weekend.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: San Diego State 35, New Mexico State 23


 
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New Mexico State