GameDay Breakdown

Published online on Friday, Nov. 06, 2009

FRESNO STATE ON OFFENSE
The Ryans have to get it done and the others have to support them. Quarterback Ryan Colburn must be efficient and mistake-free and Ryan Mathews will have to be durable and dynamic.

This much is true for the rest of the season. Mathews leads the nation in rushing yards with 1,316 (164.5 yards per game) and has 11 touchdowns. Colburn is 24th in the nation in passing efficiency, with a 144.7 rating and, coincidentally, 1,447 yards passing. He has completed 59.5% of his passes for 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

FRESNO STATE ON DEFENSE

The Bulldogs had to be disciplined to stop the option last week against Utah State. This week, they'll have to watch for the play-action pass. Defensive end Chris Carter is third in the WAC in tackles-for-loss (9.5). Linebacker Ben Jacobs is fifth in the league in total tackles with 60. Cornerback Desia Dunn is ninth in the WAC in passes defended with six break-ups. The defense really needs to improve the team's turnover ratio: 7 gained, 16 lost.

EXTRA POINTS

Week after week the Bulldogs make plays on special teams. And if they're not making plays on special teams, the other team is making errors. The Bulldogs blocked a kick or punt in three straight games before last week, and though they didn't block anything against Utah State, the Aggies' kicker missed two field goals under a good Bulldogs rush.

IDAHO ON OFFENSE

The Vandals' offense has been clicking. They're fourth in the WAC -- 22nd in the nation -- in scoring offense, putting up 31.9 points per game. They feature three running backs, including 241-pounder DeMaundray Woolridge, who has scored 14 touchdowns this season. While he will likely be tough to bring down, he's no Jovorskie Lane -- the 268-pound Texas A&M running back the Bulldogs faced in 2007.

The running game opens lanes for a passing offense that is spreading teams out more and more and is the real key to the Vandals' attack. Idaho's pass offense is second only to Hawaii in the WAC this season, and ranks 17th in the nation with 283 yards per game. The Bulldogs will want to get after QB Nathan Enderle to fluster him a bit.

IDAHO ON DEFENSE

Shiloh Keo is the biggest name on defense, leading the WAC with 88 total tackles. The safety missed last year because of injury but is back and better. He has three interceptions this season.

Strong-side linebacker JoJo Dickson is the Vandals' second-leading tackler with 54 and one sack. Nose tackle Jonah Sataraka and defensive end Aaron Lavarias each have three sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

Trey Farquhar is 12 of 14 on field goals this season with a long of 54. He's 35 of 36 on PATs. The Vandals are unimpressive on kick and punt returns.

KEY MATCHUPS

Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews vs. Idaho safety Shiloh Keo

Keo leads the league in tackles with 88 (9.8 per game), which means the senior safety is making a lot of plays against running backs. He and Mathews will likely see a lot of each other tonight. Will Keo become Mathews' next stiff-arm victim?

Edge: Mathews

Fresno State offensive line vs. Idaho defensive line

Coach Pat Hill praised the Idaho defensive tackles for being stout, but still, the Vandals gave up 222 yards rushing to Louisiana Tech last week, and that was with Tech's biggest playmakers Phillip Livas and Daniel Porter injured for the majority of the second half. The Vandals also gave up 484 rushing yards to Nevada and its pistol offense, which is option-based. Will the Vandals be able to hold up against the pounding of the Bulldogs? Probably not. But we'll see.

Edge: Bulldogs