Staff Picks – Utah State at Wake Forest
Scott Froehlich
The Aggies are heading into the 2019 football season with a new look on almost all fronts. Former coach Gary Andersen returns to Logan to sit at the helm of a team facing a bit of adversity with their latest lineup. Gone from 2018 are four starters on the offensive line and a handful of players from their defense.
Despite the departures, however, the team retained a wealth of talent; especially with the return of quarterback Jordan Love. Love, coming off a 3,567-yard and 32 TD season, looks to build upon his success and lead his offense throughout the 2019 campaign. Additionally, it appears that USU’s senior-heavy defense will be up for the task as well.
As for Wake Forest, success last year came in the form of mixed results; although the end of the season resulted in a third-straight bowl victory. Statistically, the team’s performance was lackluster and allowed more points than it produced. This does not mean the team will roll over for the Aggies, as 1,000-yard rusher Cade Carney and a strong defense can still get the job done.
This game will be a close one, much closer than the 46-10 loss USU suffered at the hands of Wake Forest last season. Look for the Aggies to come into the game with a chip on their shoulder, especially after being snubbed from most national ranking polls
Prediction: Utah State 24 Wake Forest 21
Aaron Chertkow
With the first game of the season upon us, we finally get to see what all the hype has been about. Even though Utah State is returning only two starters on offense, there is still plenty of talent to be excited about. Quarterback Jordan Love of course, is back, with Gerold Bright and Savon Scarver ready to step up and take on bigger roles. While this season may not be quite the offensive explosion it was last year, the Aggies have enough incoming and returning talent to scare any opposing defense.
As for Wake Forest, they are returning the majority of their key players of an offense that averaged just over 30 points per game last season. Defensively, however, is where USU can take advantage. Simply put, the Demon Deacons were terrible on that side of the ball last year, and really only have Essang Bassey as their lone shining star.
The question for this game will be how well Utah State’s new offensive line can adjust. The Demon Deacons will definitely try to exploit that side of the ball, and the Aggies must do all they can to help Love and give him the coverage he needs to be effective. This will be a closer game, as both sides look to flex their muscles and make a statement.
Prediction: Utah State 27 Wake Forest 20
Joseph Crook
Football is here. Let those three words wash over you. It is a great feeling, isn’t it? The only phrase better than that is: “Aggie football is here.”
The Aggies are matched up against a prolific offense from last year in the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, who averaged 32.8 points per game. This would be a very foreboding statistic were it not for the fact that they also allowed their opponents to score an average of 33.3 points per game. The Aggies in comparison -and this is where the numbers really get fun- scored an average of 47.5 points and allowed only 22.2 points per game.
If this game took place last year, the prediction would be simple: the Aggies would blow out the Demon Deacons, and we could all revel in the broken dreams of an opposing fan base (something the poor souls of Provo experienced last night). The fact is, it is not last year and the offensive line is new and untested. The Aggies lost some major talent to the NFL, but that does not stop me from believing in the golden arm of our future Heisman winner Jordan Love, the all-purpose and all-powerful Gerold Bright and the man with the greatest return instincts since Devon Hester, Savon Scarver. I expect a highflying game in Favor of the Aggies.
Prediction: Utah State 42 Wake Forest 28
Jason Walker
After the seemingly endless long night of the offseason, college football returns to Logan -or for it- technically, since this game is on the road. All the talk of watch lists, hype, meticulous breaking down of rosters and spring and fall performances goes out the window. It is time to play real football.
The battle between the inexperienced USU offensive line and Wake Forest defensive line will be generally won by the Aggies. Not because I expect any outright dominance on Utah State’s part (their run game will probably never get going in full), I just think Mike Sanford Jr.’s gameplan will involve Jordan Love getting rid of the ball quick, negating most sack opportunities.
Love will throw the ball around 40 times and, just like any other time he has done that, the Aggies will move the ball up and down the field. Finishing off drives with a less-impactful run game than last year and questions yet to be fully answered at wide receiver is another story. Dominik Eberle will be on the field a lot for field goals inside 40 yards.
Defensively, the primary worry is allowing Jamie Newman to sling the ball around. Wake Forest will present a challenge through its power run game with Cade Carney and a dual threat QB in Newman, but stopping the run will be Utah State’s specialty early this year and throughout. The Demon Deacons will have to beat the Aggies through the air. Unfortunately, Newman had two wins to his credit last where he led the Deacons with his arm (NC State and Memphis).
This game has the potential to be a classic quarterback dual, that will come down to the final possessions, and I think the better QB will win the day.
Prediction: Utah State 37 Wake Forest 35
Dalton Renshaw
Let’s get right into this, I think Utah State is going to win. However, Wake Forest will not make it easy. If any of you watched the Holy War last night, you saw two teams really struggling to find any sort of rhythm and eventually one team becoming a bit too much for the other to handle. I expect a similar outcome in this matchup.
Utah used its defensive to force a young quarterback into making bad decisions and eventually overwhelmed the Cougars en route to taking over the game. But it did not start out that way. Multiple drives in the first half resulted in BYU getting into Utah’s redzone, but never being able to capitalize and score a touchdown. Wake Forest will find some footing in the first half, but never capitalize by holding onto a lead. Jordan Love and Utah State’s fast-paced offense will be too much for Wake Forest’s mediocre defense to control and the Aggies will eventually pull away, probably somewhere in the third quarter. With as poor and unbalanced as Wake Forest was defensively last season, I could see Utah State putting up close to 450 yards and a few touchdowns in North Carolina.
The Demon Deacons appear to be slightly better on offense than on defense, so a couple touchdowns early probably are not out of the question. My question is, can Utah State’s dominant front seven contain newly-promoted quarterback Jamie Newman? Newman is a big, physical quarterback and an excellent runner. Pair him with 1,000-yard rusher Cade Carney and Utah State might have its hands full throughout the night.
Prediction: Utah State 31 Wake Forest 17
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