Staff Picks – Utah State vs. New Mexico State
Jason Walker – @thejwalk67
This is not the NMSU that was able to hold on while USU repeatedly made small mistakes that eventually handed the game over to the other Aggies. Nor is Utah State the same team from that fateful clash. Both sets of Aggies have changed but only Utah State has changed for the better.
Fans will look at this game as a revenge tour. Players and coaches will see it as a chance to show the good we saw against Michigan State (passing attack, run defense) were not a flash in the pan while also proving the negatives (run attack, passing defense) were not indicative of their potential.
Utah State 41, New Mexico State 13
Corbin Allen
The tale of the tape this week will be both told on the ground rather than through the air. USU comes in after struggling to run the ball against Michigan State while the ¨other Aggies¨ are coming off of two games in which they allowed more than 303 rushing yards on average. Look for USU to attempt to get the rushing game going early against a less than mediocre rush defense from New Mexico State.
Utah State 38, New Mexico State 17
Daniel Hansen – @thegranddanny
Congratulations New Mexico State! You made it to a bowl game, and won, for the first time in 57 years! Your prize? Basically every important offensive piece you had is gone and now you can’t move the ball worth anything. Seriously, NMSU has scored a combined total of 17 points over its first two games. They’re averaging just a hair over 200 TOTAL yards per game. QB Matt Romero leads the team with 21 rushing attempts, which he has carried for a grand total of NEGATIVE SEVEN YARDS. Their defense is better off, with most of their production from last season returning, but is kept on the field far too long to be able to reach their potential. Honestly, I might even feel bad for New Mexico State. Especially after USU exacts some amount of revenge on Saturday.
Utah State 52, New Mexico State 17
Wes Mangum – @Dream_Breather_
Don Vito Corleone once said that “revenge is a dish best served cold.” Utah State is about to cast that advice aside, though. They’re not going to let much time pass before extracting their vendetta against New Mexico State. Only 253 days after allowing the southern Aggies to capture a bowl victory in their last meeting, the real Aggies are going to make them pay. There won’t be any question, either. Get ready for a strong dose of the Aggie defense, led by Tipa Galeai. Darwin Thompson will rush for two TDs, and Jordan Love will toss three. It won’t be close at all, and New Mexico State won’t even find the endzone.
Utah State 48, New Mexico State 6
Jaden Johnson – @jadenjohnson00
First off, let’s get one thing straight. This New Mexico State team is a whoooole lot different than the one USU faced in Arizona. They are without their leading passer, rusher, receiver, and tackler from last season. Yeah. Also, this Utah State team made some serious improvements. That being said, I expect this game to be nothing like last year’s game, and that’s good news for Aggie fans. Well, USU Aggie fans, that is. I feel quite confident in the Utah State defense after watching their showing against Michigan State, and as Daniel pointed out, the NMSU offense is far from serviceable. So I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna predict a good ‘ol fashioned shut-out.