Frisco Bowl Preview: Aztecs vs Ohio

Major Rock is gonna ride out this bomb of a season if it harelips everybody in Lemon Grove.

What: Postseason football game
Who: San Diego State Aztecs vs. Ohio Bobcats
When: 5:00 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas
TV: ESPN
Line: Ohio -2.5

The Stakes
Pride and self-respect. Making their ninth straight bowl appearance, the Aztecs need a win to avoid ending the season on a four-game losing streak. And in a late surprise, SDSU will have to overcome the suspension of three players — including starters Noble Hall and Daishawn Dixon — sent home by Rocky Long two days before the game.

The Frisco Bowl is the former Miami Beach Bowl, which was played at Marlins Park from 2014 to 2016. Frisco is a half-hour drive north of Dallas.

The Opponent
Before being announced as SDSU’s bowl opponent, I was only vaguely aware of Ohio University’s existence. Founded in 1804 and the oldest university in the state, Ohio U. is situated on a sprawling 1,800-acre campus in the little college town of Athens. It sounds kind of idyllic to be quite honest. The school’s student population is 60 percent women, a demographic anomaly future college applicants may wish to consider.

Ohio started playing football in 1894. Pretty legit considering the game has only existed (as 25-on-25 murderball) since 1869. The football Bobcats have competed in Division I since 1962.

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Game Preview: Hawai’i at Aztecs

What: Football game
Who: Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors at San Diego State Aztecs
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: SDCCU Stadium
TV: ESPNU
Line: SDSU -17.5

The Stakes
At first glance, this appears to be a meaningless play-out-the-string game before a meaningless lower-tier bowl game. Turns out, the full picture is even more depressing! With a likely overflow of bowl-eligible teams and the Mountain West possibly having seven eligible teams for its five (mostly lousy) bowl tie-ins, SDSU likely needs to win its eighth game to be sure of bring invited to a meaningless lower-tier bowl game. You’ve got to work for that trip to the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, kids!

If they lose? The Aztecs might need a few things to break their way for the season to not end in ignominious fashion. In short: DEATH TO ALL 5-WIN TEAMS.

Also, maybe don’t lose.

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Game Preview: Aztecs at Fresno State

The classic dilemma: Bumfuck Nowhere or nowhere, bumfuck.

What: Football game
Who: San Diego State Aztecs at Fresno State Bulldogs
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Bulldog Stadium
TV: CBS Sports Network
Line: Fresno State -13

The Stakes
All the remaining marbles. SDSU stays mathematically alive for a conference championship with a win; a loss sends the Aztecs home with no Oil Can and only a bottom-tier bowl bid to look forward to.

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Game Preview: UNLV at Aztecs

Infographic highlighting New Hey Reb’s most vulnerable pressure points.

What: Football game
Who: UNLV Rebels at San Diego State Aztecs
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: SDCCU Stadium
TV: ESPN2
Line: SDSU -23

The Stakes
It’s pretty simple: If SDSU wants to win the Mountain West Conference’s West division title, it can’t afford another loss. Not to Fresno State, not to Hawai’i and certainly not to these jabronis.

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Game Preview: Aztecs at New Mexico

New Mexico QB Rocky Long getting ready to spin it in 1970.

What: Football game
Who: San Diego State Aztecs at New Mexico Lobos
When: 7:15 p.m. Saturday
Where: Dreamstyle Stadium
TV: ESPNU
Line: SDSU -10

The Stakes
SDSU tries to keep pace with Fresno in the MW-West race with a win while getting key returning players a few snaps. A loss to the 3-5 Lobos would be painfully season-ruining.

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