One losing skid is going to stretch to one games as Head Coach Brent Brennan and the San Jose State Spartans battle Coach Jeff Tedford and the Fresno State Bulldogs. ESPN2 is scheduled to televise the action and the opening kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Fresno State Bulldogs at San Jose State Spartans
In this Saturday Mountain West game, Fresno State is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 2.5 points. The Bulldogs are also receiving -140 moneyline odds while the Spartans are +120. It appears that there should be multiple decent in-game betting scenarios in the matchup, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 65 points.
This game’s line opened at 3. The over/under hasn’t moved after being set initially at 65.
The disappointing Bulldogs have lost 15.6 units so far and are 3-7-1 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 8-3.
The Spartans are down 4.1 units this season. The team is 6-4-1 ATS and has an O/U record of 6-5.
The Bulldogs are 4-7 straight up (SU), including 2-5 SU against conference opponents. The Spartans are 4-7 SU overall and 1-6 SU in conference play.
Both teams enter this matchup having lost three in a row. The Bulldogs are looking to get back in stride after a 35-28 defeat to Nevada last weekTheir defense allowed the Wolf Pack to run for 254 yards on 34 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Toa Taua had a productive day for the Wolf Pack in that one with 135 rushing yards and a score on 20 attempts. Offensively, Jorge Reyna completed 27 passes on 37 attempts for 261 yards, three scores and one interception. Rivers (seven receptions, 88 yards, one TD) and Jared Rice (five catches, 71 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
San Jose State narrowly lost a 38-35 game to UNLV. The defense let the Rebels run for 252 yards on 38 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. Charles Williams shredded the defense, recording 186 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 27 attempts for UNLV. For San Jose State, Josh Love completed 37-of-56 passes for 465 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. DeJon Packer (78 rushing yards on 16 attempts, one TD) spearheaded the running game as Tre Walker (12 receptions, 133 yards, one TD) and Bailey Gaither (six catches, 70 yards) led the receiving corps in the loss.
Fresno State’s run the ball on 50.5 percent of its offensive possessions this year while San Jose State has a rush percentage of 37.1 percent. The Bulldogs have produced 156.6 rush yards/game (including 153.7 per game versus Mountain West opponents) and have 26 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Spartans are averaging 87.4 rushing yards per game (71.3 in conference) and have 17 total rush TDs.
Judging by the numbers so far, it appears the Bulldogs might hold an edge in all aspects of the ground game. Their running backs has produced 4.9 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 4.4 to opponents. The Spartans have tallied 3.5 yards per carry and given up 4.8 YPC to opponents.
The Bulldogs offense has averaged 232.4 yards through the air overall (219.9 per game against conference opposition) and has 16 passing TDs so far. The Spartans have recorded a ridiculous 342.4 pass yards per game (370 in the MWC) and have 24 total pass scores.
Defensively, Fresno State has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 165 yards and throw for 256.4 yards per game. The San Jose State defense has allowed 216 yards per game to opposing passers and 236.1 yards per game on the ground. The Spartans are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.81 to opposing QBs, while the Bulldogs have allowed a 6.35 ANY/A.
Offensively, Reyna has put up 2,367 passing yards this season. He’s completed 207-of-317 attempts with 14 scores through the air and seven interceptions. Reyna’s got a 6.57 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 3.29 over the past two games.
In the other huddle, Josh Love has completed 240-of-402 passes for 3,258 yards, 20 TDs and eight INTs. Love’s ANY/A sits at 7.86 for the season and 7.40 across his past two games.
These two teams faced off a year ago with the final outcome being a 31-13 win for Fresno State.
Fresno State Bulldogs at San Jose State Spartans Betting Pick
SU Winner: Fresno State, ATS Winner: Fresno State, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- Each team defense has produced 15 sacks this year.
- The San Jose State offense has lost five fumbles this season while Fresno State has lost seven.
- The Bulldogs offense has produced six pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Spartans have put up 15 such plays.
- The Fresno State defense has allowed 11 pass plays of 40+ yards, while San Jose State has given up eight such plays.
- The Fresno State offense has created 14 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while San Jose State has created six such runs.
- The Bulldogs defense has allowed 17 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Spartans have given up 15 such runs.
- The Over/Under for San Jose State’s last outing was 65.5. The over cashed in the 38-35 loss to UNLV.
- In its last three games, San Jose State is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- In its last three matches, Fresno State is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Fresno State has lost five of its last six games SU, with a three-point victory over Hawaii on November 2nd accounting for the only win over that stretch.
- San Jose State has lost six of its last seven games SU, with a five-point victory over Army West Point on October 26th accounting for the only win over that span.
- The O/U for Fresno State’s last game was set at 51.5. The over cashed in the team’s 35-28 defeat to Nevada.
- Fresno State has rushed for 3.2 yards per attempt over its last three games and 2.4 over its last two.
- San Jose State has averaged 4.0 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.7 over its last two.
