2015
San Diego State
College Football
Betting Preview
Schedule and Odds
The opportunity for San Diego State to reach the MWC title Game will be there this year after a disappointing 5-3 Conference record last season. The Aztecs have the second-best odds (+700 at sportsbook.ag) to win the MWC and have an over/under of 7.5 wins after going 7-6 in 2014. The biggest question for them will be at quarterback.
It’s looking like former Kentucky QB and graduate transfer Maxwell Smith will get the nod out of the gates to start for the Aztecs. He didn’t do a lot in his time at Kentucky, but he at least brings some experience to the table. Smith attempted at least 150 passes from 2011 to 2013, and his main competition is redshirt freshman Christian Chapman. Considering SDSU’s QBs finished with 10 TDs and 15 INTs a year ago, there’s nowhere to go but up for the new quarterback.
That said, this team will once again pound Donnel Pumphrey (1,867 yards, 20 TDs) on the ground after he set the SDSU single-season rushing record in 2014. There’s also plenty of depth at the position so he won’t be getting 400 carries any time soon. There are some questions along the line, but they do return three starters and that should be enough for Pumphrey to once again have a big season. The bigger question is in the passing Game with a new QB and a lot of new receivers. Lloyd Mills (22 receptions) and Mikah Holder are expected to start out wide, with freshmen like Desean Holmes in the waiting.
The Aztecs are going to look very similar to last year’s group that was great running the ball and also had one of the best defenses in the conference. They lose some important names, but still have seven starters returning on defense, including five experienced DBs in a 3-3-5 defense.
Their pass defense should be tops again due to that reason with corners J.J. Whittaker and Damontae Kazee, but will have some holes up front. Calvin Munson broke out last season at linebacker and is now the most experienced one at that position, while Alex Barrett leads the line.
San Diego State’s Schedule sets up for them to have another shot at the MWC Championship Game this year, but can’t falter against weaker teams, as was the case last year. Road Games at California and Penn State are both winnable, but they lost to UNC and Oregon State in non-Conference play last year, so wins shouldn’t be a given. Back-to-back Games against Utah State and Colorado State could decide their placement in the Conference as their other toughest road Games are against Hawaii, San Jose State and UNLV.
The Aztecs should only improve on last year, but much of that will fall to how the new quarterback looks. If they can get some consistent play and at least move the ball through the air, that will take some pressure off Pumphrey and the ground Game.
2015 San Diego State Football Schedule
Sept. 5 vs. San Diego
Sept. 12 at California
Sept. 19 vs. South Alabama
Sept. 26 at Penn State
Oct. 3 vs. Fresno State
Oct. 10 at Hawaii
Oct. 17 at San Jose State
Oct. 23 vs. Utah State
Oct. 31 at Colorado State
Nov. 14 vs. Wyoming
Nov. 21 at UNLV
Nov. 28 vs. Nevada