Fresno State Football

Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews will miss his first game all season this weekend against Louisiana Tech after suffering a concussion against Nevada.

You could hear the air come out of the collective breaths of the Fresno State fans. Star running back Ryan Mathews took a hard hit from a Nevada defensive player, then didn't get up.

You could feel every fan's heart drop and the possibilities of a winning season come into question, all with one play.

For the Bulldogs, life with Ryan Mathews had been easy. The nation's leading rusher was making defensive backs look foolish and was putting up Heisman like numbers through nine games. He was every coaches dream.

Now, Fresno State will have to play their final home game of the season on Saturday afternoon without their best player, without their star and without the guy that fans flock to Bulldog Stadium just to see what he'll do next.

But, maybe this is a blessing in disguise for this football team. After relying so heavily on one guy, they'll now have to rely on each other to defeat Louisiana Tech on Saturday afternoon. They'll have to pull together to show their fans that they can win without Mathews. They can still be the same explosive offense without their explosive running back.

To do that, they'll have to rely on a freshman. But he's not just any freshman. He already has fans talking about him as the heir to the proverbial running back throne at Fresno State.

That player is freshman running back Robbie Rouse, or as the fans and his teammates call him, "Mighty Mouse."

Just because he may be a tad on the small side for a running back, 5'6", his size didn't keep him from putting up big numbers in his senior season at Madison High School in San Diego, rushing for 2,632 yards and an astounding 38 touchdowns.

The Bulldogs are in good hands with Rouse, but the team needs to trust itself. They need to pull together as a team and show the fans they can win big games.

They'll need to do just that against a Louisiana Tech team that gave both LSU and Boise State fits, losing both games by a combined 18 points.

Even though the other "Bulldogs" don't have the greatest record (3-7, 2-4) and have lost five of their last six including four straight, it doesn't mean that they can be taken lightly.

Life without Ryan Mathews will be tough, but put the ball in the hands of Rouse as well as senior running back Lonyae Miller and the combination of the two will more than make up for their star's absence.

Two of the nation's best running attacks meet tomorrow.  They are two teams with winning streaks and a real shot at a conference title. When Fresno State (6-3, 5-1) makes the bus ride to Reno, to take on the Wolfpack (6-3, 5-0) they go in knowing that they have to win this game. 

Pat Hill's teams have typically lost these kind of games.  Late in the year, on the road in the WAC, Fresno State teams have let down.  In order for this year to be any different, to be considered successful, the Bulldogs need to come through in a big game. 

Saturday's game is the last chance for them. Yes, they do travel to Illinois but that game doesn't look as big as it did back in September. Fresno should travel to Champaigne as the favorite. That game can only have meaning if the Bulldogs win on Saturday. 

Beating the Wolfpack in Nevada will not be an easy chore. Nevada has been on a roll of late. After a disappointing 0-3 start, they have won six in a row and have done it in impressive fashion.  They rank first in college football in rushing and have four runners who can carry the load. 

Colin Kaepernick, who got his career started in a big way two years ago against the Bulldogs, is the focal point.  He has shown a much improved passing ability to go with his hyped running game.  He is the Tim Tebow that the national media doesn't know/care about.  For the Bulldogs to win they will have to keep his damage to a minimum. 

Thankfully the Bulldogs are the fifth leading rushing team in the nation. They also have four guys who can carry the load. However the Bulldogs have given almost all the responsibility to the Doak Walker semi-finalist Ryan Mathews.  The 'dogs will have to utilize their great back and win the battle of time of possession. 

Quarterback Ryan Colburn will also have to be on his game and make wise decisions as he did against Idaho.  He was 14-for-14 passing in that game and appeared more poised than at any point in the season. 

By game experience, he's still a young QB and has shown a tendency to rush decisions or throw ill-advised passes that have wound up being game changing or ending interceptions.  If he plays well the Bulldogs have hope.

A win against Nevada would mean they are still in the WAC title chase, and it's been quite some time that you could say that about a Bulldog team this late in the year.  Perennial conference leader Boise State still has two tough games against Idaho and these Nevada Wolfpack remaining. 

There is a somewhat realistic chance that they lose one of these games.  With that scenario the Bulldogs would have a share of the crown for the first time in what seems like ages.

Not only would a win keep title hopes alive, it also might vault them into the national rankings.  And in the crazy world of college football in the BCS era, getting into the rankings to end this season can only help your ranking for next year. 

To get totally ahead of myself, if the Bulldogs end this year ranked and return Ryan Mathews next year we could be talking BCS buster again. 

But that's not really what Saturday's game is about.  The Bulldogs and their coach need to finish the season well to restore legitimacy to the program.  The mantra of "anyone, anywhere, anytime" has gotten stale to the local fans. 

People in the central valley want a winner.  Not just a winner sometimes on a big stage, but a consistent winner on any stage.

A loss for Fresno means that this team is just another typical Pat Hill team.  It will deflate the momentum that the five game winning streak, sparked by Ryan Mathews, has created. 

Beating a good Nevada team and finishing strong sends a message to local fans and the national media that Fresno State football is for real. The Bulldogs are not just a fun story to start the season that fades as the weather get cold, but a team that can be taken seriously. 

If Fresno State wants to be taken seriously, it starts against Nevada.  Quite simply, the Bulldogs must win.

Ryan Mathews has been the perennial 'Bulldog' for this Fresno State team in 2009. He's run around, through and past defenders all season long, to the tune of 1,316 total rushing yards on the season.

The closest to him at this point is Temple's Bernard Pierce. But here's a incredible fact about these two running backs. Pierce currently has 1,211 total rushing yards on 204 carries, 25 more carries than Mathews (179).

So while he racks up more and more fans every week, why have the critics continued to tell him he's not good enough to be considered for one of the highest prizes in college football? What kind of numbers does he have to put up to get noticed?

If you look at ESPN's Experts Poll , Alabama's Mark Ingram and Clemson's C.J. Spiller are listed in front of Mathews.

Ingram is currently seventh in total rushing yards (1,004), 300 yards fewer than Mathews (1,316) in just 26 fewer carries. Spiller isn't even in the top 30 in rushing, currently with 574 total rushing yards on 113 carries. How does that warrant being above the nation's leading rusher?

If you want an even more impressive number on Mathews, his current 164.5 yards per game average is 29.9 yards per game better than the aforementioned Pierce and 34.5 yards per game better than Marshall's Darius Marshall (129.0).

Mathews was asked about all the hype from Fresno State fans, and the "21 For Heisman" T-Shirts being sold, by Steve Cameron of the Merced Sun-Star and Mathews told him he'd rather not listen to any of it.

"Oh, man, I'm not gettin' into all that," Mathews told Cameron. "That's my mom's deal. She's all over those T-shirts. "I don't know how many she got or what she's doing with them, but I'm staying away."

Said by a young player who doesn't buy into all the hype surrounding himself. Concentrating rather on the team's remaining games and opponents.

"The season's not over. We have a big game coming up at Idaho (Saturday) and more tough ones after that. Hopefully, there will be a bowl game. "This isn't exactly time for me to be thinking about any awards, or what happens next year. I've got to worry about the next play."

Though Mathews wants to keep his concentration on what's in front of him and the games that lie ahead for him and the Bulldogs, he will admit that it's hard to ignore everything going on around him.

"Every time I walk across campus, there will be people who recognize me. They'll say things about hoping I stay another year, or please don't leave. That kind of thing. So I'd be crazy to say I'm ignoring everything. How could you?"

If Mathews doesn't want to talk about all the hype surrounding him, then leave to it to the Fresno State fans and those that have noticed what he's been able to do.

To those fans, there's no question that Mathews should be getting at least a little notice in the Heisman race.

Instead, all of the critics will tell you that because he plays for Fresno State and they play in a small conference void of a good team outside Boise State, he doesn't deserve that kind of attention.

If he's able to run for at least 2,200 yards this season, which is entirely possible, his name will be mentioned in same breath with two of the top running backs in college football history. 

Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders (2,628) and USC's Marcus Allen (2,342). Not bad company to keep for a running back in a small conference school that sits in the heart of California's Central Valley.

For those fans who use the same old, tired, "he couldn't put up the same numbers in the SEC, Big 10, Big XII or Pac-10," you can save it. The Heisman Trophy Award is given to the best football player in college football for that particular season. Not the best player in the best conference with the best record.

You can argue that all you want, but I'm not going to buy in that "it's the way it is now." It's not what the award was ever meant for, that was until the BCS showed up. Now these "automatic qualifiers" apparently get to tell the other schools that they're not entitled.

Or has college football become so biased that the some computer system, that hasn't watched a single game, decides who wins what award?

Mathews has put up numbers worthy of being in the same conversation as Alabama's Mark Ingram regardless of the fact they play in two different conferences. A player shouldn't be penalized, or awarded, because of the conference they play in.

For now, Mathews will continue to do what he's done all season. He'll put up the numbers, help his team to victory and instead of taking the credit for himself, he'll always tell you that he has the best offensive line in the country.

No offense to you Alabama fans, but I'll take Ryan Mathews on my team any day of the week.

Ryan Mathews has been the great story of Fresno State's football season.  He's leading the nation in rushing and has consistently broke off huge plays that keep Bulldog fans interested in an otherwise boring offense. 

But how much longer can he carry the load?  New Mexico State showed that teams will be willing to put eight or nine guys in the box to load up against the run.  For most of Saturday's game this strategy was working really well.  Going into the fourth quarter Mathews was held to 71 yards on 23 carries. 

The main reason for this is Ryan Colburn.  While he showed some flashes late, connecting with Chastin West for a long touchdown, he looked anxious and inaccurate for most of the game. 

It looks like he hears footsteps and wants to take off and run instead of giving his receiver time to get open.  At other times he makes horrible decisions like throwing the ball twice to New Mexico State defenders in the red zone (luckily only one was picked off). 

If Fresno State is going to continue their winning streak they will have to be a bit more creative than Pat Hill has allowed.  Resurgent Nevada and upstart Idaho could be major hurdles for the 'dogs if they don't bring something new to the field.

The last two games both Derek Carr and Ebahn Feathers have been given a little bit of playing time at the end of large wins.  Carr has looked poised out there.  He seems to be that special QB that fans are hoping to see.

The combination of Carr and Feathers just may be what Ryan Mathews needs to take some of the pressure off.  Make defenses have to gameplan somewhat for the unknown.  What will a package with Feathers, Mathews, and Robbie Rouse be capable of?  I would love to see them run a pistol against Idaho, especially after seeing Nevada run 70 points against them.

Fresno is going to continue to run about eighty percent of the time.  If that is the case then they need to make the defense guess that a couple of those runs may not be up the middle.  And they need to see if Carr can come through when they are in a pressure passing situation like Colburn has not been able to.

The Bulldogs are a team of great potential.  The future looks bright.  Unfortunately that future will probably not have too much more of Ryan Mathews.  We need to see just how far they will be go under Carr and Feathers.  So why not see the what those two can accomplish while they still have time with one of Fresno's all-time greats? 

Utah State comes to Fresno State next Saturday afternoon.  After that, it's at Idaho and at Nevada.  So if Fresno State is going to make any adjustments this is the week.  Just once, I would like to see Pat Hill do something unpredictable.  Instead of finish a season with disappointing losses and uninterested fans, it would be great to see the Bulldogs in exciting fashion. 

Let's see what the future holds now.  Let's see what Carr and Feathers are capable of.  And let's send Ryan Mathews off with a celebration instead of a sigh. 

After losing three straight and racking up just as many turnovers and penalties as they did touchdowns, the Fresno State Bulldogs seem to have turned things around in their last two games. Question is, can they keep this level of play going?

Quarterback Ryan Colburn looked shaky at best in losses to Wisconsin, Boise State, and Cincinnati, throwing as many touchdowns (seven) as he did interceptions (seven). But, against Hawaii and San Jose State, Colburn didn't turn the ball over once.

So how far has this Bulldog team come? Have they gotten better or are they just now starting to hit their stride? Where they're headed is yet to be determined, but we can give their report card for where they've been.

Offense  

Through the first four games, there were a lot of questions whether or not quarterback Ryan Colburn was the right guy for the job. After ill-timed interceptions against Wisconsin and Boise State, fans started to wonder if they wouldn't see freshman Derek Carr earlier than planned.

But Colburn has come back to have very efficient games against conference foes Hawaii and San Jose State. Connecting on two touchdown passes in each of the two games and showing the kind of leadership Pat Hill and company knew was inside him.

And then there's running back Ryan Mathews. There's not much you can say about this 5'11" junior out of Bakersfield West High School that hasn't already been said. Mathews currently leads the nation in not only total rushing yards (974) but also yards per game average (162.3). On top of that, he has four touchdown runs of 55-yards or more.

Lastly, their offensive line has been doing a great job not only opening up holes for Mathews but they've only given up eight sacks all year.

Grade: B-

Defense

This team on defense is a completely different story from their offense. While the Fresno State offense is putting up 36.5 points per game, their defense is giving up 25.2.

Where they're getting hurt is in their secondary. Quarterbacks like Boise State's Kellen Moore and Cincinnati's Tony Pike have taken advantage to the tune of six combined touchdown passes between the two.

That's the biggest hole in this team thus far and it needs to be fixed soon if they're going to survive Utah State and Idaho who have two of the top passing offenses in the conference.

Grade: C-

MVP : Ryan Mathews

Is there really a question here? Junior running back Ryan Mathews has been nothing short of amazing this season. After his 233 rushing yard performance against San Jose State last weekend, it marked the sixth straight game of 100 or more rushing yards and the second time this season that he's reached 200 or more rushing yards in a single game. 

He leads the nation in total rushing yards (974) and rushing yards per game average (162.3).

Grade: A

Team Overall

I've been more impressed with this team over the last two games than I was through their first four. The one thing they need to alleviate is the number of penalties. Their seven penalties against San Jose State last weekend marked the fourth time this season they've been penalized five or more times in a game.

Offensively, the passing game needs to get better and that needs to start with quarterback Ryan Colburn. Fresno State has the second worst passing offense in the conference (181.5) ahead of New Mexico State (112.3). They're also dead last in pass attempts per game (23.7).

They can't expect running backs Ryan Mathews and Robbie Rouse to carry this team all season long. Yes, they have so far but the more you ride these guys the less effective they'll be towards the end of the season.

Grade: C+

Fresno State (2-3, 1-1) will continue their WAC regular season schedule as they welcome in the Spartans of San Jose State (1-4, 0-1) on Saturday.

The Bulldogs boast the nation's second leading rusher in junior running back Ryan Mathews who trails Stanford's Toby Gerhart by just five yards and 29 fewer carries.

Mathews, averaging 148.2 yards per game, rushed for 149 yards and a touchdown last Saturday in Fresno State's 42-17 victory over Hawaii. Those numbers could get significantly higher against San Jose State, who is the worst in the conference in rushing defense giving up 251.4 yards per game.

Fresno State will win if...

They take the momentum from their blowout win over Hawaii into this game. Jump out quickly and don't let up. Don't let San Jose State think they have a chance to win this game.

The Bulldogs pound San Jose State with Ryan Mathews, Robbie Rouse and Lonyae Miller. San Jose State has the conferences worst rushing defense, exploit that early and often. Give Ryan Mathews the ball and let him put up big numbers.

Ryan Colburn continues his passing efficiency. He didn't throw a single interception last weekend against Hawaii, breaking a streak of four straight games with at least one interception. Allowing Ryan Mathews to make his presence known against the Spartans will set up Colburn to get deep passes to wide receivers Seyi Ajirotutu, Chastin West and Devon Wylie.

The defense keeps the San Jose State offense off the field, allowing their offense to wear out San Jose State and put the game away early.

Fresno State will lose if...

They do not establish their running game. If Colburn decides to throw the ball more than he has all season, the Bulldogs will risk getting themselves out of rhythm.

Penalties keep San Jose State drives alive. The Bulldogs have had their problems with penalties in the past, especially against Boise State. Make those same mistakes against San Jose State, allowing the Spartans to take advantage, it could spell trouble for Fresno State.

The Bulldogs can't protect the football. They fumbled twice against Hawaii last weekend and they need to do a better job protecting the football. Giving San Jose State good field position could allow them more points than they should be getting.

Prediction: Fresno State 51 San Jose State 21

What is usually a back and forth battle turned into a one sided affair on Saturday as the Fresno State Bulldogs were never challenged in a 42-17 romp over the Hawaii Warriors at Aloha Stadium.

In a game this team needed to win, they did the things they needed to do to get a much needed conference victory.

Fresno State only committed one penalty

Something that has killed this team over the last three weeks has been the number of penalties being called against them. But, against Hawaii, the Bulldogs were only called for one penalty to Hawaii's seven.

No interceptions by quarterback Ryan Colburn

Something else that has plagued this team is the ill-timed interceptions by Fresno State quarterback Ryan Colburn. However, against Hawaii, Colburn didn't throw a single interception while throwing two touchdown passes.

Colburn finished the game 12/14 for 120 yards, the two touchdown passes were both 17 yard strikes. One to Devon Wylie and one to Chastin West, both came in the second quarter.

Fresno State used the running game to their advantage

Fresno State got rushing touchdowns from three different running backs. Lonyae Miller, Ryan Mathews and freshman Robbie Rouse each had a rushing touchdown, Rouse would finish the day with two rushing touchdowns on the night.

Mathews and Rouse carried the brunt of load, combining for 222 of Fresno State's 277 rushing yards and three of the team's four rushing touchdowns. Mathews, averaging 148 yards per game, finished the night with 149 yards on 24 carries.

Defense held Hawaii to just three points through three quarters

There was a lot of talk about how Hawaii quarterback Brett Moniz, replacing injured Greg Anderson, was going to perform and Fresno State did a great job holding off the Hawaii offense.

Moniz did have a respectable game in his first start, the former Fresno City College standout finished with 283 yards passing on 24-of-52 passing and two touchdown passes, both coming in the fourth quarter when the game was already out of reach.

Surprised that Derek Carr didn't get more playing time

With the game already out of reach by the end of the third quarter, I'm surprised freshman quarterback Derek Carr didn't get more playing time. Though Carr did get some time on the field (2-of-3 15 yards), I would think the Bulldogs' coaching staff would give him more game experience.

We could see more of Carr next week when Fresno State returns home and welcomes in the Spartans of San Jose State.

Next up for Fresno State

The Bulldogs will return to Bulldog Stadium to face the San Jose State Spartans (1-4) who are just coming off a 29-25 shootout loss at home to Idaho.

Through four games this season, Fresno State seems to have more questions than answers. Is Ryan Colburn really the answer at quarterback? Will Bulldog fans see freshman Derek Carr before the season is out and how long will Pat Hill be the head coach at Fresno State?

These questions and who he picked between LSU and Florida were addressed with Paul Loeffler, the voice of the Fresno State Bulldogs.

Todd Kaufmann: Through the first four games of the 2009 season, how do you sum up this team so far?

Paul Loeffler: That's a tough one. I think the team still has a solid mentality, good leadership, and all the components required for a strong finish. It's so natural to say, "What if..." with the season so far. The Dogs were close to some really big wins and were just a play or two away three weeks in a row. I think their best days are ahead, and I think they're capable of winning every game left on their schedule.

Todd Kaufmann: Ryan Mathews has been nothing short of spectacular for Fresno State, leading the nation in rushing after their game against Cincinnati, but he
has gotten absolutely no national respect. Would you call him the most
underrated running back in college football?

Paul Loeffler: I don't know if he's the most underrated, but he is every bit as dangerous as some of the backs who get a little more publicity. Assuming he stays healthy, he will continue to put up big numbers, and should have a real good shot of leading the nation in rushing and setting a school record in the process. If he goes over 100 yards against Hawaii, which I expect him to do, he'll tie the school record Wendell Mathis set for consecutive 100-yard games with five. It's hard to find a weakness in his game right now, and he's unselfish to boot.

Todd Kaufmann: Another running back that Bulldog fans have gotten a chance to see is freshman Robbie Rouse. Is he another Ryan Mathews or do you think he has the
potential to be even better?

Paul Loeffler: The Mighty Mouse vs. Mathews? It's hard to compare them because they are so different. Mathews leads the nation in big plays (50+ yards), but Rouse is even more adept than Mathews at making something out of nothing. He has that elusive ability that you don't see too often, but can he take the physical pounding that Mathews took with 38 carries against Cincinnati? I guess we don't know that answer yet. I think Rouse will go down as one of the all-time fan favorites in Bulldogland because of that adrenaline you feel when he gets the ball. You never know what he'll do to surprise you next.

Todd Kaufmann: There's been a lot of frustration with quarterback Ryan Colburn through the last three games. Do you think head coach Pat Hill has him on a short
leash and do you think there's a chance we'll see freshman Derek Carr before
the season is over?

Paul Loeffler: I think we will see Derek Carr, but I don't think that when it happens it will necessarily be an indictment of Colburn. Despite some glaring mistakes in key moments, Ryan has played well. He has moved the team down the field, kept drives alive with big plays on third down, and shown the grit and leadership you want in a QB. He's started four games in his career, and three were against teams now in the Top 25. Mistakes happen, and Derek Carr will tell you his brother had some rough moments in his first season as a starter at Fresno State. Derek will get his chance, and who knows, we may even see all three QBs play against Hawaii.

Todd Kaufmann: Speaking of coach Hill, you know as well as I do that fans are frustrated with the lack of an outright WAC title since he took over in 1996. Do you
expect Hill to be the head coach at Fresno State through the rest of his
contract or will there be a time where the university will want to go in a
different direction?

Paul Loeffler: Hill will be the head coach through the rest of his contract, and if this team and the 2010 team perform to their potential, I think he'll be offered an extension.

Todd Kaufmann: Last question...Florida or LSU, who are you picking?

Paul Loeffler: If Tebow is indeed playing, I have to go with the Gators.

Big thanks to Paul Loeffler, voice of the Fresno State Bulldogs. Paul is not only the voice of the Fresno State football team, but also the baseball team who made an improbable run to a National Championship in 2008. He's the author of "Underdogs to Wonderdogs: Fresno State's Road to Omaha and the College World Series Championship."

Click here to visit the website and order your copy of the book.

If you play in the Western Athletic Conference, you're used to the lack of respect that comes with playing in the conference.

You're used to hearing things like "you can't play with the big boys," or "it's easy to run up stats against bad teams." You get used to fans saying that about teams like Fresno State, Boise State and Hawaii, regardless of what their record is and regardless of who they've beaten along the way.

I can remember, back in 1992, Fresno State was chosen to play in the Freedom Bowl in Anaheim, CA. Their opponent was chosen a few days later, it turned out to be none other than USC—the Trojans would be playing in their own backyard.

Comments made by then USC quarterback Rob Johnson became bulletin board material for the Bulldogs. "We wouldn't schedule them if it wasn't a bowl game. We want to put them in their place."

That lack of respect came back to bite Johnson and the Trojans as the Bulldogs, led by former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl champion Trent Dilfer, pulled off an improbable 24-7 victory.

It happened again almost 15 years later, this time it was Boise State that was in the role of the underdog. In the role of the team that some felt didn't deserve to be in a BCS game simply because of the conference they played in.

No one, outside their own fans and some inside the WAC, felt Boise could win this game. Not against Oklahoma and not with star running back Adrian Peterson returning to the Sooners' backfield.

Boise State hung with Oklahoma all game long, through all four quarters, and after the clock ticked down to triple zeros; both teams were still deadlocked.

It was in overtime where the Boise State magic came out. A touchdown pulled Boise to within one point and the play that came just after that was even more improbable than the fact that Boise was still in the game against the Big XII champion.

A statue of liberty play, something almost never seen in a big situation, worked to perfection, giving Boise State a shocking 43-42 victory and making the game an instant classic.

Though there have been big wins accomplished by both Boise State and Fresno State, the conference as a whole still is looked at as one of the worst in college football. They're looked at as undeserving of a BCS bowl game because of their conference schedule, that they're unworthy of facing some of the best that college football has to offer.

If these top conferences believe that they're so much better than teams like Boise State or Fresno State, why not prove it?

According to reports, and though this team is outside of the WAC but still considered a "lesser conference," Utah attempted to schedule a non-conference game with the Florida Gators this season. The deal fell through when Florida would only play in Gainesville or on a neutral field, they refused to play at Utah.

About a week ago, I had written an article backing Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews to at least get him into the Heisman conversation. When I brought his name up in a different conversation, I was told "it's easy to put up stats against bad teams."

That's an interesting thing to say seeing as Fresno State's schedule is currently ranked No. 6 in the Sagarin rankings and the combined record of their opponents is 16-3. Not to mention that three of them are undefeated and two of them are currently ranked in the Top 10.

Putting up good numbers against teams like that is lot more impressive than Florida doing it against Charleston Southern (2-3), Troy (3-2) and FIU (0-4), putting them currently at No. 107 in the rankings.

But, regardless of what stats are thrown out, conferences like the WAC and the Mountain West never get the same respect regardless of who they play during their non-conference schedule. Nor will they ever play for a national championship, regardless of their record at the end of the season.

In college basketball, they created "March Madness" to give 65 teams a chance to earn a national title shot regardless of what conference they play in.

In college football, two teams get that title shot handed to them. And here's the best part, it's only because of the conference they play in.

Still wondering why there's always an argument at the end of the college football season?

Fresno State-Hawaii, in recent years, has been a rivalry where both teams were out for blood. It was a rivalry where neither team cared about the other, with both teams looking to run up the score and prove a point.

This season looks to be far and away different than years past, with both teams going in different directions.

After two straight wins, Hawaii has since dropped two straight to UNLV (34-33) and Louisiana Tech (27-6), also losing senior quarterback Greg Alexander for the season due to a knee injury he suffered last week.

As for Fresno State, after picking up a season-opening win at home against UC Davis, the Bulldogs have dropped three straight to Wisconsin, Boise State, and Cincinnati. All three games were within reach and could have gone the other way.

With both teams facing glaring questions, they will face off at Aloha Stadium this weekend in a WAC rivalry that won't quite have the same luster as in years past.

But make no mistake about it, both are out to pick up a much needed conference win.

Fresno State will win if...

They ride Ryan Mathews all game long. The nation's third-leading rusher is averaging 148 yards per game, including 232 yards against conference rival Boise State. Fresno State will need to use Mathews, as well as speedy freshman running back Robbie Rouse, to pound Hawaii's defense that's giving up 183 rushing yards per game.

The Bulldog defensive line can put and keep pressure on Hawaii's quarterback, who's yet to be decided by the team. The decision is down to junior college transfer Bryant Moniz or sophomore Shane Austin.

Ryan Colburn can be accurate with his passes. The Fresno State quarterback has had trouble in past weeks in under-throwing his receivers. If Fresno State can set up its passing game with a heavy dose of Mathews and Rouse, it should open up the field for Colburn to make some big plays.

The Bulldogs limit their penalties. A 10-yard penalty here and a five-yard penalty there have killed their drives or kept an opposing team's drive going. They need to eliminate the penalties and stay focused on both sides of the ball.

Fresno State will lose if...

Colburn continues to make the same mistakes that have cost the Bulldogs in their last three games. Interceptions, bad passes, and bad judgment with the football. He seems to do fine in the first half, but has thrown too many ill-timed interceptions in key moments of the game.

If the Bulldogs don't establish their running game early and often on the Hawaii defense. If the Bulldogs become pass happy, it's going to lead to too many mistakes and allow Hawaii to dictate the pace of the game.

Special teams continue to break down. The Bulldogs did an awful job on kick returns against Boise State, allowing the Broncos good field position on a few of their drives. They need to fix that problem and make sure they get coverage down field on any kick or punt returns.

Keep pressure on Hawaii's quarterback. Though a decision hasn't been made by Hawaii, they will have a quarterback who won't have any game experience. Take advantage of that and force him to make off balance throws.

My prediction...

Since Hawaii is without starting quarterback Greg Alexander, who had already passed for 1,433 yards and nine touchdowns through four games, it definitely gives Fresno State the edge offensively.

I think the Bulldogs handle this one easily and get a big game out of running back Ryan Mathews.

Fresno State 42, Hawaii 17