La. Tech 62
Texas State 55
It wasn’t quite the impressive victory one would expect from La. Tech. The Texas State Bobcats are 3-6 on the year for a reason, but the Bulldogs really are that bad defensively. The Bobcats actually led at one point, 21-14, and were tied 48-48 early in the fourth quarter before La. Tech scored two touchdowns to take control of the game. The Bulldogs now sit at 9-1 with games against San Jose State and Utah State (combined 16-4 records) standing in their way of the BCS. The Bulldogs have to finish in the Top 16 of the BCS standings, and currently sit at No. 20. La. Tech also got a boost from Louisville’s loss to Syracuse Saturday. In addition to be ranked in the Top 16, La. Tech also has to finish ahead of an automatic qualifying conference champion. Louisville sits at No. 19, with Rutgers sitting at No. 22, so the Big East faltering is La. Tech’s best bet.
San Jose State 47
New Mexico State 7
Things are getting real in San Jose. The Spartans are more than likely headed to a bowl for the first time since 2006 and sit at 8-2 after a 40-point drubbing of New Mexico State in Las Cruces, N.M. It’s not fun times to be an Aggie — the team sits at 1-9 going into independence, and is winless against FBS competition. David Fales threw for 276 yards and four touchdowns on only 18 attempts for San Jose State. Fales will get a real test next weekend when the Spartans host BYU, and then WAC-leading La. Tech the week after that.
UTSA 31
McNeese State 24
UTSA is the fourth team out of seven in the WAC that will finish the season at least .500 or better (Texas State also could if it wins out). So which of those five wins came over FCS or Division II schools? The Roadrunners are 5-0 against such competition and thoroughly dominated New Mexico State in its one FBS victory. The Roadrunners open this week as six-point favorites at Idaho this weekend, and as bad as Idaho has been it would be a statement victory for UTSA and the direction its program is headed.
Sean Kramer can be reached at [email protected]