Gameday

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (6-4) at (23) Fresno State Bulldogs (8-3)

Date: Friday, December 2nd Kickoff: 9 p.m. (et)
Site: Bulldog Stadium (41,031) -- Fresno, California
Surface: Natural Grass Home
Record: Louisiana Tech 4-1; Fresno State 5-0
Away Record: Louisiana Tech 2-3; Fresno State 3-3
Conference Record: Louisiana Tech 5-2; Fresno State 6-1
Current Road Win/Loss Streak: Louisiana Tech 2W
Current Home Win/Loss Streak: Fresno State 8W
Television: ESPN2 Announcers: Dave Pasch, Rod Gilmore, Trevor Matich and Stacey Dales-Schuman
All-Time Series: Fresno State (5-1)
Last Meeting: October 2, 2004 (Louisiana Tech, 28-21 at Louisiana Tech)
Series Streak: Fresno State has won all four meetings at Fresno State.

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Gameday

Well, last week Thanksgiving impeded my ability to write a game preview for the Nevada game and the Bulldogs lost. This week the driving rain killed power at my home last night as I started to write the Louisiana Tech preview. I guess I could have wrote it by candle light, yeah right? I went to sleep, since my laptop's battery was dying and there was no way to charge it. Lets see what happens this week?

Today's game is pretty simple to forecast. Fresno State has 16 seniors who lost to Louisiana Tech last year and lost to Nevada last week. There is no way in hell, the Bulldogs come out flat tonight. Last year the Bulldogs entered the LT game on a high and simply overlooked the Bayou Bulldogs. That and the fact the defense could not tackle Ryan Moats. This year Fresno State enters the game on a down, and with a lot on the line.

A win over Louisiana Tech will give the Bulldogs a share of the Western Athletic Title for the first time since 1999. Last week's loss was nothing more than a fluke, as the Bulldogs were clearly not ready to play. Louisiana Tech has beaten everyone it was supposed to beat, but has not pulled any upsets this year. Their defense has been solid, but their offense has not been the usual high-flying self. Last year, LT rode the legs of Ryan Moats, but this year they do not have that luxury.

This year LT has used a combination of Mark Dillard and Patrick Johnson at tailback. The two have combined for over 1,000 yards and have been somewhat effective. Quarterback Mark Kubick has only completed 54.5 percent of his passes and has thrown for less than 2,000 yards. Those numbers hardly compare to the great LT passers of the past.

The Bayou Bulldogs lack of potency on offense will inhibit any chance at an upset. Fresno State has lost three games this year, all games were shootouts, to teams with great offensive schemes.

Injuries

Roshon Vercher and Marcus Riley are still out. Senior Matt Rivera is listed as probable, but come on, you know he is going to play.

NCAA 06 Prediction

According to Sony Playstation's NCAA Football 06, Fresno State runs away with the victory. Paul Pinegar complete just 13-16 passes for 169 yards and no passing touchdowns, but runs for 3 scores.

Wendell Mathis and Bryson Sumlin combined for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns and the defense hold Louisiana Tech scoreless for three quarters. Alan Goodwin caps the Bulldog win with a 37 yard interception return for a touchdown in the 49-3 win.

ESPN2

Tonight's game will be called by the worst broadcasting team in college football. Some might argue different, but if have you seen at least one ESPN2 Friday night game, you know what I am talking about. The play-by-play is ok, but Rodney Gilmore and Trevor Matich are just a chore to listen to. Their analysis is like fingernails on a chalkboard.

I believe Gilmore has not called a Fresno State game since 2002, when him and play-by-play man Steve Levy did all of the Bulldogs Friday night games in 2002. I remember in December 2001 when Gilmore was guest analyst on Gameday and he tore Fresno State apart because in his mind they were running up the score on Utah State. Please!

Matich is like the dumb jock who is always trying to get in on the conversation, but has no idea what to say. How do these dumbfucks get jobs with ESPN. Matich, I have no idea? Gilmore's claim to fame was being on the 1982 Stanford team, and he still claims that the Cal player's knee was down.