Wyoming Cowboys @ Utah State Aggies Football Preview

There’s really only one question that matters these days when talking about Utah State football: Can the Aggies hold onto a lead once they get it? The Wyoming Cowboys hope that their opponent this weekend will allow its mental demons to run wild, setting up another situation in which a hard-luck football team will fail to close the sale. Utah State welcomes Wyoming to Logan a week after its latest of last-minute losses. The non-conference contest invites the query: Will USU allow its prior losses to lead to another defeat – a defeat in the realm of the fragile human mind – before the opening kickoff takes place?

Statistically, Utah State has turned the corner into a winning program. The Aggies have a top-25 offense by multiple metrics such as yardage and by scoring, including the fifth-ranked rushing offense in the country at 308 yards per game. The defense is ranked 29th, allowing just 315 total yards per game. Even the realm of special teams is generally getting it done for the Aggies, with punter Tyler Bennett sitting at fifth in the country in net punting. However, in the only arena where it really matters at the end of the day —points and the victories attached to them — Utah State is 1-3, allowing three teams to score in the final two minutes to claim wins. No team in the United States typifies the act of grasping defeat from the jaws of victory quite like the Aggies, who had Auburn, Colorado State, and (last week) Brigham Young on the ropes before losing to all three of those teams in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime. The knowledge of having cracked repeatedly under pressure could weigh down Utah State and hijack the Aggies’ level of performance this weekend. Wyoming hopes it can pounce on the opportunity to grab a road win and catapult itself to better things in 2011.

At 3-1, Wyoming has sights set on a return to a bowl game. Freshman quarterback Brett Smith has the Cowboys’ offense moving the ball better than anticipated. Completing 60 percent of his passes, Smith throws for 241 yards per game. The trio of Alvester Alexander, Brandon Miller, and Ghaali Muhammad, along with some scrambling ability from Smith, gives Wyoming multiple tools in its offensive toolbox. The four players just mentioned combine for 204 rushing yards per game. Utah State will have to be prepared to stop a balanced Wyoming offense.

Wyoming’s biggest problem will be dealing with Utah State’s run game. Robert Turbin, Kerwynn Williams, and Michael Smith will be tough to stop for Wyoming’s defense, one that surrenders an average of 179 rushing yards per game. While a bit raw, Aggie quarterback Chuckie Keeton has shown signs of brilliance, and by completing 62 percent of his passes while throwing no interceptions, the freshman has shown plenty of poise in leading the offense. With both offenses purring, the game will likely come down to which defense can step up and make a few big plays.

It will also come down to Utah State’s level of mental backbone. Are the Aggies ready to show some psychological fortitude in the heat of battle for once? We’ll find out this weekend.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer