Utah State Aggies
Mountain West
Coming off of an 11 win season, the Aggies were hoping to make yet another bowl game despite losing its coach to Wisconsin. Well, Utah State won eight games and qualified for the team's fourth bowl in a row this fall. The Aggies went into the Mountain West Championship game against Fresno State on a five-game winning streak. During that win streak, they have scored fewer than 28 points just once and have given up more than 10 points once.
2013 Record: 8-5, 7-2
Coach: Matt Wells
Coach Bowl Record: 0-0
Big Wins: 9/27 at San Jose State (40-12), 11/23 Colorado State (13-0)
Bad Losses: 10/4 BYU (14-31), 10/12 Boise State (23-34)
Strengths:
Utah State's five game winning streak has coincided with Darell Garretson's ascension to starting quarterback. After Chuckie Keeton was injured in the sixth game of the year, Garretson took over for Craig Harrison the next game and has won five straight while at the helm. Unlike Keeton, Garretson is more of a passer and has thrown for 1,325 yards in seven games. Through Keeton's six games, he had thrown for 1,388. Whoever the quarterback has been, he has been careful with the ball, as they have combined to throw only six interceptions. It hasn't only been the offense that's been good though. The defense has been really good as well. The team is seventh nationally in scoring defense (16.8 ppg), 12th in tackles for loss (7.7 pg), seventh in third down conversion defense (31.2 percent) and 11th in total defense (321.4 ypg). The Aggies also have one of the country's top tacklers in Jake Doughty who is ninth nationally, averaging nearly 11 tackles a contest.
Weaknesses:
Statistically, Utah State doesn't have that many weaknesses. However, one weakness may be that it is somewhat of a penalty-prone team. The Aggies average over six penalties for 56 yards per contest. Both totals are in the lower 30 percent of the country. While the Aggies do like to throw the ball, they go for more of the intermediate routes, as their average completion goes for just over 10 yards a catch. In three of its losses, the Aggies had multiple turnovers, so if they keep it to one turnover or less, it gives them a better chance at a win.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Joey DeMartino, RB, 1,078 yards
Passing: Chuckie Keeton, QB, 1,388 yards
Receiving: Travis Reynolds, WR, 832 yards
Tackles: Jake Doughty, LB, 140
Sacks: Kyler Fackrell, LB, 5.0
Interceptions: Nevin Lawson, CB, 4; Brian Suite, S, 4
2013 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 189.5 (41st in nation, 6th in conference)
Passing Offense: 241.2 (55, 10)
Total Offense: 430.7 (49, 6)
Scoring Offense: 33.9 (37, 4)
Rushing Defense: 111.6 (11, 1)
Pass Defense: 209.8 (23, 1)
Total Defense: 321.4 (11, 1)
Scoring Defense: 16.8 (7, 1)
Turnover Margin: 0.7 (20, 1)
Sacks: 2.42 (38, 3)
Sacks Allowed: 1.92 (60, 7)
Recent Bowl Appearances:
2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Toledo (41-15)
2011 Idaho Potato Bowl Ohio (23-24)
1997 Humanitarian Bowl Cincinnati (19-35)
1993 Las Vegas Bowl Ball State (42-33)
1961 Gotham Bowl Baylor (9-24)
1960 Sun Bowl New Mexico State (13-20)
*all team stats through 11/30
