Boise State @ San Diego State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 15, 2014 ) San Diego State 29, Boise State 38

Off to its best start since 1975 and armed with its highest ranking since 1978, unbeaten San Diego State has its sights set on a New Year's Six bowl. The 18th-ranked Aztecs face perhaps their biggest obstacle in that regard when they host Boise State in Mountain West play on Saturday night.

The Aztecs, led by Heisman Trophy contender Rashaad Penny, have won back-to-back Mountain West championships, but head coach Rocky Long says most people east of the Rocky Mountains "know who Boise State is and they don't know who the rest of us are. ... Those people associate our league with Boise because of history." Never mind, as Long is quick to point out, that the Broncos, also known for their home blue "Smurf Turf", have reached the Mountain West title game just once in the past four years and have lost five league games over the last two years. "I don't think anybody in our league sees (Boise's mystique) anymore, but everybody past the Rocky Mountains sees that," Long said. Added Penny: "We know what this atmosphere is like and we know these coaches and the Boise coaches probably don't get along. And that's something we like. We like playing with that edge and like having that type of rival."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: San Diego State -7

ABOUT BOISE STATE (3-2, 1-0 Mountain West): The Broncos blew a 31-10 fourth quarter lead at No. 9 Washington State on Sept. 9 and eventually lost in triple overtime, 47-44, or they very well could be ranked as well. Running back Alexander Mattison rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries and quarterback Brett Rypien passed for 125 yards and a touchdown in a 24-7 victory at BYU last Friday -- a game in which the Boise State defense held the Cougars to just 238 total yards and 12 first downs. After holding BYU to just 66 yards rushing on 23 attempts, an average of 2.9 yards per carry, the Broncos will now try and slow down Penny, who is second in the nation rushing yards with 993.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE (6-0, 2-0): The 5-foot-11, 220-pound Penny leads the FBS in all-purpose yards (220.8) and lit up Twitter last week with a 36-yard run in a 41-10 win at UNLV during which he steamrolled cornerback Tim Hough and sent him flying backward several yards. Quarterback Christian Chapman offers balance to the offense, completing 80-of-127 passes (63 percent) for 968 yards, seven touchdowns with just one interception. Long's famed 3-3-5 blitz-from-all-angles defense, led by linebacker Ronley Lakalaka (33 tackles, two sacks), is allowing just 310.7 yards per game, has forced 12 turnovers and also produced 17 sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Boise State has registered 158 wins since the start of the 2003 season, the most of any FBS team. Ohio State is second (157).

2. San Diego State has won 35 straight games when rushing for at least 200 yards.

3. Penny has a streak of six consecutive 100-yard rushing games.


PREDICTION: San Diego State 17, Boise State 10