The College Football season may be a long way off but Matt Fargo is already deep in study and will once again provide his take on each and every NCAA team. We start from the bottom and move up so keep checking in for more previews!

No. 104 San Diego St. Aztecs
2007 Record ~ 4-8 SU ~ 6-5 ATS
Starters Returning ~ Offense (3) Defense (8)

Head coach Chuck Long is in his third season as the San Diego St. sideline general and this is the year progress needs to be made. The Aztecs improved their win total by one game last season over 2006 but seven wins in two seasons is nothing to brag about. This is the year it needs to happen and unfortunately, there is not much to work with. The offense carried the load last year but it was not enough and now it needs to be rebuilt. The defense was a sieve but everyone is back. What can we expect?

The offense will have to start from scratch basically. Last season, San Diego St. returned eight starters and averaged 25.1 ppg. The prior season, it only returned five starters and averaged just 14.2 ppg. This year, only three starters are back so a repeat of two years ago could very well occur. The quarterback, tailback, fullback and four offensive linemen need to be replaced and getting a brand new unit to come together so quickly is next to impossible. This offense has a lot of questions.

The defense could not stop anyone last season as the unit finished 115th in total defense, 118th in rushing defense and 103rd in scoring defense. The Aztecs allowed 45 or more points five times so what can they do to turn things around? It can only get better as eight starters are back so the experience alone is worth some sort of improvement. Along with the eight starters is the addition of Ohio St. transfer Ryan Williams who will immediately help the defensive front. There were some very good signs coming out of spring practice.

The schedule could be the savior for the Aztecs as three of the first four games are against Cal Poly, San Jose St. and Idaho meaning it will give the offense a chance to make some early progress. A trip to Notre Dame is mixed in there as well. The MWC schedule is rugged as it usually is but it isn’t impossible. The Aztecs get both Colorado St. and UNLV at home but also travel to top teams TCU and BYU. With so many changes on offense and a horrid defense coming back, play against this team early on.
 

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