San Diego State @ Air Force preview
Falcon Stadium
Last Meeting ( Dec 5, 2015 ) Air Force 24, San Diego State 27
The player who has garnered all three of the Mountain West Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week awards this season is the same player who leads the nation in rushing at 196 yards per game. And that’s why San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny has the undivided attention of host Air Force this week with the 25th-ranked Aztecs set to visit Saturday night.
"(Penny) has speed. He’s 220 pounds. He’s got vision. He’s decisive in the hole,” Air Force defensive coordinator Steve Russ told the Colorado Springs Gazette earlier this week. "... Not taking anything away from anybody, but I think Rashaad Penny is probably the best back in the country. … And that offense knows exactly how to use him." San Diego State certainly did last Saturday night as Penny had 206 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in the Aztecs’ 20-17 win over then-No. 19 Stanford, but coach Rocky Long says his team must refocus quickly with the Mountain West opener at hand Saturday. "I’m worried about Air Force," Long said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. "I don’t have a feel or an opinion on how big of a victory that was for our fans or the media or anyone else. I’ve moved on, and I have more important things to do than worry about (how the win was perceived nationally)."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: San Diego State -3.5
ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE (3-0, 0-0 Mountain West): The win over the Cardinal was the 24th in the last 27 games overall for the Aztecs, who are seeking their third straight Mountain West title. Penny also is tops nationally with 774 total all-purpose yards and is tied for second in the FBS with six TDs while quarterback Christian Chapman has completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 480 yards, four scores and one interception. Cornerback Ron Smith has a team-leading 17 total tackles and two interceptions for a defense which ranks 18th nationally in allowing 91.7 rushing yards per outing.
ABOUT AIR FORCE (1-1, 0-0): The Falcons are playing their second nationally-ranked foe in as many weeks after falling 29-13 at No. 7 Michigan last Saturday. As usual, the Air Force triple-option ranks among the nation’s top rushing attacks at 320.5 yards behind tailback Tim McVey (80.0 yards) and quarterback Arion Worthman (167.0 total yards). Defensively, linebacker Jack Flor (19 total tackles) and safety Marquis Griffin (16) lead a unit which has allowed only one offensive TD so far – a 36-yard run by Michigan with 1:02 remaining last week.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Air Force leads the series 19-15, but San Diego State has won six straight, including a 27-24 victory in their last meeting which came in the 2015 Mountain West Championship Game in San Diego.
2. Penny has six career kick-return touchdowns – including a 99-yard kickoff runback Sept. 9 at Arizona State – which is one shy of the FBS record.
3. Under coach Troy Calhoun, the Falcons are 5-15 against ranked foes with their last win coming a year ago against No. 20 Boise State (27-20) at Falcon Stadium.
PREDICTION: San Diego State 26, Air Force 20