SAN JOSE STATE VS. WYOMING
Records: San Jose State (4-4, 2-2 Mountain West); Wyoming (4-3, 0-3 MW)
Kickoff: 1 p.m., CEFCU Stadium, San Jose
TV: FS2
Radio: KTRB (860 AM)
Series history: Wyoming leads the series, 7-4. The Cowboys won the most recent meeting, 24-9, on Nov. 3, 2108. All four of San Jose State’s victories were by a touchdown or less, including three fourth-quarter comebacks.
Storylines: The Spartans, who have yet to win back-to-back games, can get one step closer to qualifying for a bowl game with the start of a home-heavy end to the season that sees them play three of their final four games at SJSU. … Wyoming has yet to end up on the right side of the scoreboard since ending its nonconference slate unbeaten, and hasn’t found the end zone since Oct. 9 and managed to score a total of three points over its past two games. … San Jose State saves its best for home games, with a season-high 45 points in the season opener and a double-overtime thriller against No. 21 San Diego State two weeks ago. … If SJSU quarterback Nick Starkel is once again unavailable due to an injury suffered Sept. 25, then backup Nick Nash will make his fifth career start.
Matchup to watch: Wyoming wide receivers Isaiah Neyor (6-3, 210) and Ayden Eberhardt (6-2, 195) against San Jose State cornerbacks Nehemiah Shelton (6-2, 168), Bobby Brown II (6-0, 180) and Kenyon Reed (6-0, 180). The Spartans sport enough length on the perimeter to disrupt the aerial game, but size might be an issue in man-to-man coverage. Shelton leads the SJSU with 10 pass breakups and is responsible for the team’s lone interception this season.
Injuries: None reported, though SJSU quarterback Nick Starkel’s availability is in question. Same with right tackle Jamie Navarro, who left last week’s win at UNLV with an undisclosed upper-body injury.
Stats that matter: Wyoming’s defense allows 21.1 points per game, which is just a little less than the 22.8 ppg that San Jose State surrenders. … Cowboys linebacker Chad Muma (6-3, 242) leads the conference with 9.7 tackles per game. He’s also recorded a sack plus two interceptions. … Spartans linebacker Kyle Harmon is second in the Mountain West with 9.6 tackles per game. … San Jose State tight end Derrick Deese Jr. is responsible for all three 100-yard receiving performances of the season, each one of them coming this month – a career-high 130 yards against New Mexico State on Oct. 2, 113 yards against San Diego State on Oct. 15, plus 106 yards at UNLV last Thursday. … Meanwhile, Wyoming’s defense ranks No. 1 in the conference in passing yards allowed per game – 152.0.
Source: www.mercurynews.com