GAMEDAY

San Jose State (1-7/0-5) at Fresno State (6-1/4-0)

TIME/SITE: 6:00 p.m. (PT); Fresno, Calif.; Bulldog Stadium (41,031/Grass)
TELEVISION: SportsWest; Ralph Wood, Randy Rosenbloom/Comcast SportsNet West (San Francisco Bay Area)/KFRE (Fresno)
SERIES LOOK: Fresno State leads the series 34-32-3 and has won 11 straight against the Spartans. The Bulldogs won last year in San Jose, 62-28. San Jose State’s last win came in 1990 when it won 42-7 at home.
COACHES: San Jose State’s Dick Tomey is in his first season with the Spartans. Overall, he is 159-117-7 in 25 years with stints at Hawai‘i and Arizona. Fresno State’s Pat Hill is in his ninth season as a head coach and has a record of 70-39.
GAME NOTES: San Jose State – has lost seven games in a row ... has a 12-game road losing streak ... has lost 11 WAC games in a row ... Ezekiel Staples has led the Spartans in tackles in five of the last six games ... has converted a WAC-high 64.7 percent (11-17) of its fourth-down tries. Fresno State – has a five-game winning streak and has won nine consecutive WAC games ... Wendell Mathis has scored a touchdown in 11 of his last 12 games and seven straight ... he leads the WAC in rushing with 100.9 yards per game ... Paul Pinegar has thrown a touchdown pass in 16 straight games. -wacsports.com

GAMEDAY

It should be a second straight home sellout at Bulldog Stadium for the Spartans of San Jose. ESPN 1430 is going to pass out thunder sticks to the first 15,000 fans. Hopefully, all the students get some. The student section is loud enough already, but with thunder sticks it will be a whole other ball game.

Many do not realize the advantage the Fresno State students have. There are two sections directly behind the visiting team’s bench. The students are loud, rude, obnoxious, and they never stop heckling the entire game.

The last home game against Utah State former Fresno native Kevin Robinson got the brute of it.

“Go back to Hoover.”

“Hey Kevin, Fresno State didn’t want you. You couldn’t even be our water boy.”

If an opposing player has certain look or “catchy” name, believe me he will get it. Just ask PK Tyler Seaman from Utah State.

INJURIES

Defensive tackle Louis Leonard is questionable for today. He will forgo season ending surgery on the tendon of his middle finger and will finish out the season with it heavily taped. His counterpart Jason Shirley has yet to fully recover from an ankle sprain suffered against Utah State three weeks ago. His status is probable.

Starting kicker Clint Stitser will probably miss another game and be healthy enough to return for next week’s big game against Boise State. His status is questionable.

Defensive lineman Garrett McIntyre is still not 100%, but will play with a cast on his broken hand. Linebacker Ahijah Lane finally returned to practice this past week and is questionable for today.

Wide receiver Joe Fernandez is questionable after injuring his ankle last week against Hawaii.

NCAA 06 PREDICTION

According to Sony Playstation’s NCAA Football 06, Fresno State rolls to a 42-10 victory. San Jose takes an early 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, but it does it last. Paul Pinegar shakes off two first quarter interceptions to pass for over 300 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Adam Jennings 48 yard punter return kickstarts a run to a 21-10 halftime lead.

In the second half Wendell Mathis and Bryson Sumlin combine for over 250 yards of rushing and three touchdowns.