Colorado State (3-4) at Utah State (2-5)
Date & Time: Saturday, October 31, 12:30 p.m. PT
Network: USA Network
Spread: Utah State -6.5, O/U 63.5
Preview: It's Halloween in Logan, and it's an exciting matchup with one of the most productive offenses in Colorado State taking on a Utah State defense that has made a habit of shutting down high-powered attacks.
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The Rams come off a 56-49 win over San Diego State, their first Pac-12 victory of the season. Colorado State had 549 yards of total offense, which is the third time this season Jim Mora's squad has passed the 500-yard mark. It's an incredible turnaround for a program that only accomplished the feat once over the previous three seasons.
Colorado State is 12th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 38.6 points per game. The Rams have also allowed just three sacks all season.
Running back Durell Robinson went off against the Aztecs, accounting for three touchdowns. Wide receiver Tommy Maher also had a breakout performance, hauling in six receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Hauss Hejny also returned to the game with three passing touchdowns and one interception.
Replicating that success against Utah State won't be easy.
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Despite losing 20-17 against Texas State last weekend, the Aggies had an incredible defensive performance. The Bobcats were one week removed from scoring 66 points against Colorado State. Utah State held that same offense to only 248 yards.
Under Bronco Mendenhall, Utah State has held opponents under 260 total yards in three games this season. Their pass rush is finding its rhythm, recording seven sacks in the last two games.
Utah State's offense hasn't provided much support. Utah State averages 14.9 points per game, the worst mark in the country, and quarterback Grady Brosterhous has thrown seven touchdowns to his six interceptions. Still, wide receiver Anthony Garcia provided a spark last weekend, catching eight passes for 87 yards, while also throwing for a touchdown.
The defense has been the Achilles ' heel for the Rams. Colorado State surrenders 44 points per game, and the Aggies could have an opportunity to find some offensive consistency finally.
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The Rams have the firepower to turn it into a shootout, but Utah State's defense can be frustrating. The real question is whether the Aggies can score enough points to capitalize on another strong defensive performance.
Prediction: Colorado State 31, Utah State 27
Washington State (1-7) at San Diego State (3-5)
Date & Time: Saturday, October 31, 4:00 p.m. PT
Network: CBSSN
Spread: San Diego State -2.5, O/U 48.5
Preview: Washington State has been able to keep games close this season. Unfortunately, keeping things close and winning games are two different things for the Cougars.
Kirby Moore's squad is riding a five-game losing streak, but the Cougars have been within one touchdown in the fourth quarter in four of their seven losses this season. That includes last weekend's matchup against Boise State, when Washington State entered the fourth quarter tied at 10 before surrendering 21 unanswered points.
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The Cougars have been competitive, but consistency has been an issue. Quarterback Owen Eshelman has added some spark to the Cougars' offense since taking over. He had 425 total yards against Oregon State in his debut, but he struggled to replicate that success against Boise State. He completed 21 of 40 passes for 191 yards while managing just 33 rushing yards on 23 attempts.
San Diego State is coming off a wild 56-49 loss to Colorado State, but the Aztecs may have found something in redshirt freshman quarterback Stone Saunders.
In his first collegiate start, Saunders threw for 369 yards and two touchdowns, the most passing yards by an Aztec quarterback since 2011. His performance helped San Diego State total 565 yards, its most in a game since 2020.
Nobody benefited more than Jaylon Hawkins, who had already been one of the nation's most dangerous kickoff returners with three touchdowns. Hawkins caught six passes for 164 yards and a touchdown against the Rams. He has now found the end zone in five consecutive games.
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The Aztecs' defensive struggles remain a concern. San Diego State is allowing 36.1 points and 461.5 yards per game. This gives the Cougars a chance to get a win.
Snapdragon Stadium has been a tough place for opponents to play. San Diego State is 9-1 at home over the past two seasons, including a 3-1 record this year.
Both teams have struggled this season, but the emergence of Saunders gives the Aztecs plenty of optimism. If they can build on last week's offensive explosion, it could be another frustrating game for Washington State.
Prediction: San Diego State 34, Washington State 24
Texas State (4-3) at No. 20 Boise State (6-1)
Date & Time: Saturday, October 31, 7:00 p.m. PT
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Network: CW
Spread: Boise State -10.5, O/U 63.5
Preview: Texas State has never beaten a ranked opponent, and if the Bobcats want to change that, they'll have to do it on one of college football's most intimidating fields.
GJ Kinne's squad heads into Boise on a two-game winning streak, looking to hand the Broncos their first conference loss. The Bobcats have never played on the smurf turf, and they'll also be searching for their first road victory as a member of the Pac-12.
The Bobcats' offense is explosive, averaging 517.7 yards and 37.1 points per game. Quarterback Brad Jackson has thrown for 1,606 yards and 14 touchdowns, while running back Torrance Burgess Jr. has added 889 rushing yards.
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The Bobcats showed they can win without an offensive explosion last weekend. In a 20-17 win over Utah State, Texas State held the Aggies to just 285 total yards, the second time in three games the Bobcats have kept an opponent under 300. Cornerback Trez Moore earned national recognition from PFF after allowing just four receptions on 10 targets.
The defense's improvement will be tested against Boise State, an offense that has scored at least 30 points in six straight victories.
The Broncos have been nearly unstoppable since their season-opening loss to Oregon, and running back Dylan Riley is a major reason why. Riley leads the nation with 963 rushing yards, averaging 137.6 per game. Against Washington State last weekend, he had 106 yards and two touchdowns in just the fourth quarter alone, which turned a 10-10 tie into a 31-10 Boise State victory.
Quarterback Maddux Madsen has been just as impressive. He has thrown 14 touchdowns without an interception on 189 attempts, making him the only FBS quarterback with double-digit passing touchdowns and zero picks this season.
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The Broncos have been equally effective on defense, allowing opponents to convert just 29.7% of their combined third- and fourth-down opportunities, the fourth-best in the country.
That could be the difference. Texas State has the firepower, but sustaining drives against this defense could become an issue. Another issue for the Bobcats is that the Broncos have won 21 of their last 22 games on the smurf turf. With Riley controlling the ground game and Madsen protecting the football, the Broncos should have enough to keep their winning streak alive.
Prediction: Boise State 38, Texas State 27
Oregon State (5-2) at Fresno State (4-3)
Date & Time: Saturday, October 31, 8:00 p.m. PT
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Network: USA Network
Spread: Oregon State -5.5, O/U 57.5
Preview: Five straight wins. One of the most explosive offenses in college football. And a quarterback-receiver duo putting up video-game numbers.
Life is pretty good in Corvallis right now.
Oregon State's trip to Fresno could be one of the toughest tests yet, as the Beavers look to keep their winning streak alive against a Fresno State team desperate to get back in the win column.
Under first-year head coach JaMarcus Shephard, Oregon State has been nearly unstoppable over its last five games, outscoring opponents 255-94. The Beavers have scored at least 48 points in four of those victories, a remarkable turnaround for a program that reached that mark just four times over the previous six seasons combined.
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Quarterback Braden Atkinson has been at the center of it all. The nation's leading passer has thrown for 2,604 yards and 24 touchdowns. He has also surpassed 300 passing yards in all seven games this season, tying Sean Mannion's school record from 2013.
His favorite target is, of course, true freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree, who is having a season for the ages. Legree leads the nation with 1,040 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, recording at least 100 yards and a score in every game. With two more touchdown catches, he'll break Brandin Cooks' single-season school record.
Don't count out the Bulldogs, however.
Fresno State has lost two straight, but both defeats were by just one possession, including a 38-31 loss to Boise State. Matt Entz's squad has been particularly tough to beat at home, averaging 38 points per game while at home.
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Quarterback Jayden Mandal has been better in Fresno as well. He has completed 68.8% of his passes with seven touchdowns in three home games, compared to just one touchdown in four road contests.
The Bulldogs' defense could make things interesting as well. Fresno State allows just 20.9 points per game and ranks seventh in the country in turnover margin at plus 1.14 per game. Linebacker K'Vion Thunderbird leads the team with 61 tackles and ranks 3rd in the Pac-12 with 8.71 tackles per game.
History does favor Fresno State. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 9-6, including a 6-1 record at home.
Previous Oregon State squads haven't had Atkinson and Legree. Fresno State should be able to keep this game competitive behind the home crowd, but Oregon State is too much to handle.
Prediction: Oregon State 38, Fresno State 28
