As if the Louisiana Tech football team didn't have enough going against it Friday night in Fresno, Calif., consider that No. 23 Fresno State has never lost a regular season game in the month of December.
Coach Pat Hill's club has also defeated Virginia, UCLA, Georgia Tech and USC in recent years in December bowl games.
Fresno State has already secured an invitation to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the Bulldogs' seventh consecutive postseason appearance, but their first at a site located east of the Mississippi River. Fresno State (8-3, 6-1) can still share the WAC title with Boise State and Nevada by beating Tech.
Tech wide receiver Freddie King said his Bulldogs won't be intimidated by Fresno after knocking off the then-17th-ranked Bulldogs 28-21 last year and by seeing them get nicked by Nevada last weekend.
"I'm expecting them to come out very aggressive like they have every year," King said. "It's like a rivalry game for us so you can throw the records out. It should be a really hard-hitting game, but we're gonna hit hard too."
Tech (6-4, 5-2) has been eliminated from WAC title contention, but hopes to improve its bowl position by defeating the Bulldogs. Already bowl eligible, Tech will find out if it attracts a bowl bid on Sunday after the BCS bowls make their picks.
But defeating a Fresno State team which ranks first in the WAC in nine statistical categories - including scoring offense (39.3 ppg), scoring defense (20.1 ppg), total defense (334.7) and sacks (33) - will be no easy feat. And Tech is coming off a 30-13 home loss to Boise State.
"Everybody is eager to play after the disappointing loss on senior night," King said. "Everybody is real focused."
Two of Fresno's three losses have come to teams currently ranked in the Top 10 of The Associated Press poll. Fresno has been successful on both sides of the ball. The Bulldogs have the best backfield duo in the WAC with Bryson Sumlin and Wendell Mathis combining to rush for more than 1,603 yards and a 5.3-yard per carry average.
In addition to the 33 sacks, Fresno State cornerback Richard Marshall has nine career interceptions, and has returned three of them for a school-record three touchdowns.
Consider these Fresno facts:
-- It is allowing just 14.7 points per game in WAC contests this season.
-- It has won five of six games against Tech. The only loss came last year in Ruston.
-- Fresno is 43-7 at home under Pat Hill.
-- Fresno is 11-1 in WAC games since Oct. 30, 2003.
-- Fresno averages giving up 3.9 yards per punt return over two seasons, but has gained 21.3 per return this season.
-- Fresno has outscored opponents 439-221 this season for a 19.8 margin of victory. Tech is a 22-point underdog.
--Tech is 6-0 this year when outrushing its opponent and 0-4 when being outrushed.
Coach Pat Hill's club has also defeated Virginia, UCLA, Georgia Tech and USC in recent years in December bowl games.
Fresno State has already secured an invitation to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the Bulldogs' seventh consecutive postseason appearance, but their first at a site located east of the Mississippi River. Fresno State (8-3, 6-1) can still share the WAC title with Boise State and Nevada by beating Tech.
Tech wide receiver Freddie King said his Bulldogs won't be intimidated by Fresno after knocking off the then-17th-ranked Bulldogs 28-21 last year and by seeing them get nicked by Nevada last weekend.
"I'm expecting them to come out very aggressive like they have every year," King said. "It's like a rivalry game for us so you can throw the records out. It should be a really hard-hitting game, but we're gonna hit hard too."
Tech (6-4, 5-2) has been eliminated from WAC title contention, but hopes to improve its bowl position by defeating the Bulldogs. Already bowl eligible, Tech will find out if it attracts a bowl bid on Sunday after the BCS bowls make their picks.
But defeating a Fresno State team which ranks first in the WAC in nine statistical categories - including scoring offense (39.3 ppg), scoring defense (20.1 ppg), total defense (334.7) and sacks (33) - will be no easy feat. And Tech is coming off a 30-13 home loss to Boise State.
"Everybody is eager to play after the disappointing loss on senior night," King said. "Everybody is real focused."
Two of Fresno's three losses have come to teams currently ranked in the Top 10 of The Associated Press poll. Fresno has been successful on both sides of the ball. The Bulldogs have the best backfield duo in the WAC with Bryson Sumlin and Wendell Mathis combining to rush for more than 1,603 yards and a 5.3-yard per carry average.
In addition to the 33 sacks, Fresno State cornerback Richard Marshall has nine career interceptions, and has returned three of them for a school-record three touchdowns.
Consider these Fresno facts:
-- It is allowing just 14.7 points per game in WAC contests this season.
-- It has won five of six games against Tech. The only loss came last year in Ruston.
-- Fresno is 43-7 at home under Pat Hill.
-- Fresno is 11-1 in WAC games since Oct. 30, 2003.
-- Fresno averages giving up 3.9 yards per punt return over two seasons, but has gained 21.3 per return this season.
-- Fresno has outscored opponents 439-221 this season for a 19.8 margin of victory. Tech is a 22-point underdog.
--Tech is 6-0 this year when outrushing its opponent and 0-4 when being outrushed.
