Texas State vs. Wyoming: Preview & Prediction

Location: Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos, TX

Kickoff: Saturday, September 7th 6 p.m. CST

TV/Radio: ESPN+. San Marcos: AM 1300, 930 AM, 89.9 FM. Laramie: 1290 AM

Series Record: Wyoming leads series 2-1

Last Meeting: Cowboys won the last meeting 45-10 in 2017

Betting Line: WYO -7, Over/Under, 47.5

For the fourth time Texas State and the University of Wyoming will face off on the gridiron. A curious rivalry of sorts as Texas State hasn’t faced a non-conference opponent as frequently as the Cowboys.

Howdy Partner

Wyoming Head Coach Craig Bohl had his Cowboys pull off the upset on the SEC’s Missouri Tigers 37-31 last Saturday, Wyoming’s first P5 win in the Bohl-era.

Running back Xazavian Valladay ran for 118 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Sean Chambers led the team with 120 yards on the ground and a touchdown. If Wyoming is to succeed they need to run the ball and eat up some clock.

But if they really want to find success Chambers will have to step up in the passing game. Against Mizzou he only went 6/16 for 92 yards.

Defensively the Cowboys are tough. They got torched in the air by Missouri QB Kelly Bryant as he threw for 423 yards. The Cowboys did force two fumbles and an interception, which proved to be the key to victory.

Strong safety Alijah Halliburton has a career day with his personal best 17 tackles including one for a loss and a fumble recovery to boot.

Middle linebacker Logan Wilson will also be a problem for the Bobcats. Their own heat seeking tackler had 13 tackles in last week’s win and don’t expect his production to decrease.

Home Sweet Home?

Last Saturday’s smackdown at the hands of A&M was painful. Not necessarily painful like the last few seasons under Withers and the Franchione but more like, well say you just became a super hero. You got your body armor or you discovered you could fly. Great potential. But you probably flew into a building or burned down your house first time you used your powers. It’s a dumb analogy but that’s exactly how it fits this team.

A new system, great coaches and a team full of potential. Texas State learned they had powers but went up against Lex Luther in the form of the A&M Aggies for their first go-round.

Sophomore Tyler Vitt got the call to start at QB for Texas State, making him the fourth different signal caller in a row to start the season opener. After a couple of costly interceptions Vitt was benched for Gresch Jensen, who himself threw two INTs.

In practice Coach Spavital had both quarterbacks run the first team offense and it’ll be a game time decision on who starts.

Vitt is talented but I like Jensen’s throwing style and composure. As I told a Texas State fan on Twitter he reminds me of Cardinals legend Neil Lomax. Whoever starts the o-line needs to hold together and give some time to the qb.

Defensively Texas State has to find a way to stop the run. Against A&M the defense played hard but there were a few bad angles or bites on routes and a couple of arm tackles.

As I told our friends at the Mountain West Wire, they absolutely need to stop the run to have a chance at winning. A&M had two running backs post 100+ yard days on the Bobcats. Last year Texas State’s defense allowed only 5.3 yards a play which was their lowest since 2013. A few times last year they were able to make the offense one-dimensional which kept the Bobcats in the game. To stop Wyoming the Bobcats must stuff the run and force the Cowboys to beat them through the air.

Fun Facts

• Texas State is 5-20 versus FBS opponents at home in the last five seasons.
• Wyoming wide receiver Raghib Ismail, Jr. is the son of former Notre Dame great and NFL/CFL star Raghib “Rocket” Ismail.
• Bobcat linebacker Bryan London II needs 103 more total tackles to move past Bobcat legend Greg Pitts to become Texas State’s all-time leading tackler.
• Wyoming is 48-121 vs current P5 teams. Texas State is 0-23.

Prediction

Texas State must run the ball efficiently, not commit any turnovers and has to stop the run. If they do this give me the 31-25 win in Jake Spavital’s home debut.