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FACTS & STATS: Site: Qualcomm Stadium (54.000) -- San Diego, California. Television: The Mountain. Home Record: Wyoming 3-1, SDSU 2-1. Away Record: Wyoming 1-1, SDSU 2-1. Neutral Record: Wyoming 0-0, SDSU 0-0. Conference Record: Wyoming 1-0, SDSU 1-1. Series Record: Wyoming leads, 17-15.

GAME NOTES: A couple of Mountain West Conference programs coming off bye weeks head back to the gridiron on Saturday night, as the San Diego State Aztecs entertain the Wyoming Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium.

For the Cowboys, this is an opportunity for them to record a win in their Mountain West road opener for the first time since 2006 when the team defeated New Mexico by a score of 14-10. Wyoming started off this season well enough with three straight wins, but then the team bowed to Nebraska and Utah State in a couple of lopsided outings before securing a convincing 41-14 triumph over UNLV in the home conference opener on October 15.

Meanwhile, the Aztecs have followed a similar pattern during the first half of their schedule, taking down the likes of Cal Poly, Army and Washington State in the first three games before being bounced by Michigan and TCU. On October 13, SDSU defeated Air Force, 41-27, to move to an even 1-1 in conference play. Nevertheless, at 4-2 San Diego State has matched its best record after six games in the last 34 years, so things are again moving in the right direction for the program.

The Pokes gave San Diego State a strong run last season before bowing in a 48-38 final in Laramie, yet Wyoming still clings to a 17-15 advantage in the all-time series nonetheless.

In a league where Air Force and TCU are regularly among the top rushing teams in the nation, the Cowboys aren't doing too bad for themselves these days with an average of 192.7 ypg, ranking them third in the conference and 28th nationally. The team doesn't have a single running back doing most of the damage, rather relying on a host of able runners who can find holes in defenses and give each other breaks in the action. One of those players is Brett Smith who, in addition to posting 211 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, has also completed slightly better than 59 percent of his pass attempts for more than 220.0 ypg and has nine touchdowns, against five interceptions. As is the case in the rushing attack, the Pokes also like to spread the wealth down the field as well, although Robert Herron has the best overall numbers with 30 catches for 267 yards and three TDs.

Going up against the Cornhuskers and the Aggies in back-to-back games certainly didn't do the run defense of the Cowboys any favors. In fact, with Nebraska and USU combining for 636 yards and eight TDs on the ground, the stats indicate that Wyoming simply doesn't have any control over what opponents do when they keep the ball on the ground. But you have to remember that the Huskers and Aggies are two of the top running teams in the nation and because of that the stats are bound to be skewed in that department. Then again, this is the same team that allowed Weber State to generate 227 yards on the ground and 541 yards of total offense in a 35-32 win in the season opener, so maybe the overall defensive stats for the Cowboys aren't really that far off. Searching for a leader on the Wyoming defense, look no further than Gabe Knapton who, after making 10 stops against the Rebels in the last game, now ranks eighth on the school's all-time list with 325 career tackles.

Even though the Aztecs already have two losses in six games this season, the fact remains that the program enjoys one of the best one-two offensive punches in the league this season with Ronnie Hillman on the ground and Ryan Lindley through the air. In the case of Hillman, he currently leads the nation in rushing with 138.8 ypg and while that might not rival the sort of numbers put up at SDSU like those of alum LaDainian Tomlinson, he still brings a powerful option to Lindley's arm. Hillman, who has scored double-digit touchdowns in four games this season, has 10 TDs on the ground overall. Meanwhile, Lindley has thrown at least one touchdown in 16 consecutive outings and in all but two games since the start of the 2009 campaign. Because of Lindley's efforts a guy like Colin Lockett has been given the chance to show what he can do with 25 receptions for 429 yards and four TDs thus far.

Like the Cowboys, San Diego State had the misfortune of going up against two of the more accomplished running attacks in the nation the last two games, trying to slow down Air Force and TCU. Throw in Michigan, which raced for 320 yards and four touchdowns and Army which tallied 403 yards and three scores and it is easy to see why SDSU is currently ranked seventh in the conference and 117th in the country with 223.3 ypg allowed. Obviously it is a tough pill for the SDSU defense to swallow, but this might be one of those times when the stats are not a true representation of what a team is capable of. On more positive notes, the Aztecs rank second in the MWC and 15th nationally with just 181.2 ypg allowed through the air and the squad has also forced 19 turnovers which is three more than the squad had in 13 games all of last season.

Both of these teams have something to prove, but with Hillman and Lindley getting all the glory and the Aztecs playing at home, assume this one will land in the win column for San Diego State.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: San Diego State 41, Wyoming 24