WYOMING COWBOYS
OFFENSE
1. ASSERT A RUSHING ATTACK: Wyoming doesn?t have a single player that averages more than 50 rushing yards per game, but have shown some success on the ground sporadically this season.
Alvester Alexander and Brandon Stewart have to assert themselves early against a team that ranks 111th in the nation in rushing defense.
2. THERE?S THE RUB: The Pokes will likely see a man-press coverage from Fresno State?s secondary similar to those schemes that gave them fits early this season.
UW will need to be ready with some of the rub routes they used in their scheme to beat UNLV at home in the fourth week of the season.
3. STICK WITH WHAT GOT YOU HERE: True freshman quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels showed productivity through the air and on the ground this year.
He?s never been wary of the big stage and shouldn?t be today, when the Pokes will likely call him to carry them as he did in the bowl-clinching victory over Colorado State.
DEFENSE
1. NO BIGGIE: The Cowboys have said all week that they expect Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews to get his yardage.
But if they can keep the nation?s rushing leader from breaking free for big gains and instead limit him to about four yards per carry, they could keep the game manageable.
2. KEEP IT DOWN: UW?s defense suffered from an offense that failed to produce any point in three of the Cowboys? six losses, but the Pokes also gave up 41 points or more three different times.
If they can limit the Bulldogs to field goals instead of touchdowns and keep the score close heading into the fourth quarter, UW has shown what it can do over the final 15 minutes of a game.
3. TAKE A TURN: There?s no secret that Wyoming?s quick turnaround has come thanks in a very large part because of its turnaround in turnover margin.
The Cowboys continue to rank in the nation?s top 20 in the nation in turnover margin, but their numbers petered out during the season and they?ll need a takeaway or two today.
SPECIAL TEAMS
1. NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE: UW punt returner David Leonard returned just 15 punts during the regular season, keeping him out of the limelight for the most part.
But he also quietly averaged 13.5 yards per punt return -- returning one punt 53 yards -- and will need to set the Pokes up with solid field position.
2. ICE, ICE BABY (PART 1): After hitting nine of 10 field goal attempts during the regular season, walk-on kicker Ian Watts has earned the locker room nickname of ?Ice.?
If the Cowboys can keep it close today, they have to feel comfortable putting the game in the hands of Watts, who had game-winning field goals in half of UW?s victories.
3. PIN THEM DEEP: Sophomore punter Austin McCoy only received Mountain West Conference honorable mention honors, but he could have easily been a higher choice.
McCoy blasted 77 punts during the regular season, pinning 28 of them inside the 20-yard line and averaging 43.5 yards per boot.
FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS
OFFENSE
1. ON THE RUN: Fresno State junior running back Ryan Mathews didn?t receive the notoriety of Mark Ingram or Toby Gerhart, but he outrushed them both.
Mathews is the nation?s leading rusher at 151.3 yards per game and is hoping to have a field day against Wyoming and its mediocre run defense.
2. PUNCH IT IN: The Bulldogs rarely had problems moving the football this season, but weren?t always able to cap off those drives, scoring just 80.9 percent of the time.
Against a team looking to keep it close and then pounce late, the Bulldogs need to find the end zone to take a lead early.
3. RYAN?S HOPE: Almost all of the talk surrounding Fresno State?s offense leading up to the New Mexico Bowl has surrounded Mathews and the rushing attack.
Junior quarterback Ryan Colburn has been no slouch, ranking third in the Western Athletic Conference in completion percentage and throwing 1.5 touchdowns per game this year.
DEFENSE
1. FORCE THE ISSUE: Fresno State is a rare team that has found success despite a negative turnover margin (-0.75 turnovers per game) during the regular season.
If the Bulldogs can break through those issues and force the Cowboys to turn the ball over, UW would likely be in a world of hurt.
2. SACK LUNCH: Another area where Fresno State was lacking this season but would benefit from finding success today is in the pass rush.
The Bulldogs ranked last in the WAC in sacks with just nine all season but the Cowboys had games where it felt like they gave up nine, making for an intriguing juxtaposition.
3. BIG BEN: In order for keys number one and two to come through, Fresno State will almost certainly need a big game from junior Ben Jacobs.
Despite the mediocre numbers defensively, Jacobs ranked first in the WAC with three fumble recoveries and fifth with three forced fumbles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
1. HIT RETURN: Since Pat Hill took over as coach at Fresno State in 1997, the Bulldogs have returned 39 kicks or punts for a touchdown.
They haven?t had as much success on kicks this year, but Chastin West broke free for a touchdown on a punt against New Mexico State.
2. ICE, ICE BABY (PART 2): Fresno State kicker Kevin Goessling has earned himself a bit of an icy moniker as well after hitting 15 straight field goals since missing his first of the season.
After hitting his second career game-winner against Louisiana Tech earlier this year, Hill proclaimed that ?You can?t ice the goose.?
3. BLOCK AND ROLL: Fresno State?s four blocks of punts or field goals this season is actually its lowest number since Hill?s first year.
But the Bulldogs have 83 such blocks over the last 13 seasons and need to try to get a hand on a Wyoming kick, something that happened just twice all year.
OFFENSE
1. ASSERT A RUSHING ATTACK: Wyoming doesn?t have a single player that averages more than 50 rushing yards per game, but have shown some success on the ground sporadically this season.
Alvester Alexander and Brandon Stewart have to assert themselves early against a team that ranks 111th in the nation in rushing defense.
2. THERE?S THE RUB: The Pokes will likely see a man-press coverage from Fresno State?s secondary similar to those schemes that gave them fits early this season.
UW will need to be ready with some of the rub routes they used in their scheme to beat UNLV at home in the fourth week of the season.
3. STICK WITH WHAT GOT YOU HERE: True freshman quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels showed productivity through the air and on the ground this year.
He?s never been wary of the big stage and shouldn?t be today, when the Pokes will likely call him to carry them as he did in the bowl-clinching victory over Colorado State.
DEFENSE
1. NO BIGGIE: The Cowboys have said all week that they expect Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews to get his yardage.
But if they can keep the nation?s rushing leader from breaking free for big gains and instead limit him to about four yards per carry, they could keep the game manageable.
2. KEEP IT DOWN: UW?s defense suffered from an offense that failed to produce any point in three of the Cowboys? six losses, but the Pokes also gave up 41 points or more three different times.
If they can limit the Bulldogs to field goals instead of touchdowns and keep the score close heading into the fourth quarter, UW has shown what it can do over the final 15 minutes of a game.
3. TAKE A TURN: There?s no secret that Wyoming?s quick turnaround has come thanks in a very large part because of its turnaround in turnover margin.
The Cowboys continue to rank in the nation?s top 20 in the nation in turnover margin, but their numbers petered out during the season and they?ll need a takeaway or two today.
SPECIAL TEAMS
1. NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE: UW punt returner David Leonard returned just 15 punts during the regular season, keeping him out of the limelight for the most part.
But he also quietly averaged 13.5 yards per punt return -- returning one punt 53 yards -- and will need to set the Pokes up with solid field position.
2. ICE, ICE BABY (PART 1): After hitting nine of 10 field goal attempts during the regular season, walk-on kicker Ian Watts has earned the locker room nickname of ?Ice.?
If the Cowboys can keep it close today, they have to feel comfortable putting the game in the hands of Watts, who had game-winning field goals in half of UW?s victories.
3. PIN THEM DEEP: Sophomore punter Austin McCoy only received Mountain West Conference honorable mention honors, but he could have easily been a higher choice.
McCoy blasted 77 punts during the regular season, pinning 28 of them inside the 20-yard line and averaging 43.5 yards per boot.
FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS
OFFENSE
1. ON THE RUN: Fresno State junior running back Ryan Mathews didn?t receive the notoriety of Mark Ingram or Toby Gerhart, but he outrushed them both.
Mathews is the nation?s leading rusher at 151.3 yards per game and is hoping to have a field day against Wyoming and its mediocre run defense.
2. PUNCH IT IN: The Bulldogs rarely had problems moving the football this season, but weren?t always able to cap off those drives, scoring just 80.9 percent of the time.
Against a team looking to keep it close and then pounce late, the Bulldogs need to find the end zone to take a lead early.
3. RYAN?S HOPE: Almost all of the talk surrounding Fresno State?s offense leading up to the New Mexico Bowl has surrounded Mathews and the rushing attack.
Junior quarterback Ryan Colburn has been no slouch, ranking third in the Western Athletic Conference in completion percentage and throwing 1.5 touchdowns per game this year.
DEFENSE
1. FORCE THE ISSUE: Fresno State is a rare team that has found success despite a negative turnover margin (-0.75 turnovers per game) during the regular season.
If the Bulldogs can break through those issues and force the Cowboys to turn the ball over, UW would likely be in a world of hurt.
2. SACK LUNCH: Another area where Fresno State was lacking this season but would benefit from finding success today is in the pass rush.
The Bulldogs ranked last in the WAC in sacks with just nine all season but the Cowboys had games where it felt like they gave up nine, making for an intriguing juxtaposition.
3. BIG BEN: In order for keys number one and two to come through, Fresno State will almost certainly need a big game from junior Ben Jacobs.
Despite the mediocre numbers defensively, Jacobs ranked first in the WAC with three fumble recoveries and fifth with three forced fumbles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
1. HIT RETURN: Since Pat Hill took over as coach at Fresno State in 1997, the Bulldogs have returned 39 kicks or punts for a touchdown.
They haven?t had as much success on kicks this year, but Chastin West broke free for a touchdown on a punt against New Mexico State.
2. ICE, ICE BABY (PART 2): Fresno State kicker Kevin Goessling has earned himself a bit of an icy moniker as well after hitting 15 straight field goals since missing his first of the season.
After hitting his second career game-winner against Louisiana Tech earlier this year, Hill proclaimed that ?You can?t ice the goose.?
3. BLOCK AND ROLL: Fresno State?s four blocks of punts or field goals this season is actually its lowest number since Hill?s first year.
But the Bulldogs have 83 such blocks over the last 13 seasons and need to try to get a hand on a Wyoming kick, something that happened just twice all year.
