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BYU hopes for easy win against lowly San Diego State

Nov 8, 2008 - 11:19 AM San Diego State (1-8) at (16) Brigham Young (8-1), 2:00 pm EST

PROVO, Utah (Ticker) -- Brigham Young is still living on the edge.

After a second straight scare and with their defense still struggling, the 16-ranked Cougars return home to host San Diego State on Saturday.

Two weeks ago, BYU (8-1, 4-1 Mountain West) needed a late touchdown to hold off Nevada Las-Vegas, 42-35, and last week was more of the same as Max Hall tossed a 17-yard TD pass to Dennis Pitta with 22 seconds remaining to give the Cougars a 45-42 win at Colorado State.

The Cougars gained 551 yards against Colorado State, with Hall completing 28-of-37 passes for 389 yards and five touchdowns.

Austin Collie, who led the Football Bowl Subdivision in receiving coming into the game, caught nine passes for a career-high three touchdowns.

However, BYU has allowed 119 points in its last three games. The Cougars hope they can avoid more last-minute heroics against a San Diego State team that is winless in the Mountain West and has allowed 35 points or more in six of its last seven games.

Last week, the Aztecs (1-8, 0-5) allowed Devin Moore to rush for 234 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-10 loss at Wyoming.

San Diego State Is headed for a 10th straight losing season and its only win this year was a 45-17 victory over Idaho State.

Last season, BYU struggled in the first half against the Aztecs, only leading 20-13 at the intermission before pulling away for a 48-27 victory to complete a second straight undefeated season in the Mountain West.

Harvey Unga ran for 161 yards and scored four touchdowns for the Cougars, who rushed for 311 yards. Hall threw three touchdown passes as BYU wore down Diego State with a balanced attack.

The Cougars are still in the running for a third straight Mountain West title, but will need help as they are in third place - one game behind Utah (5-0) and 1 1/2 games behind TCU (6-0), which handed BYU its only loss.

The Cougars are in the unlikely position of having to root for Utah - their arch-rival - in the Utes' showdown against TCU on Thursday.

If Utah beats TCU and BYU handles San Diego State on Saturday and Air Force next week, the Cougars would be in position to forge a three-way tie in the Mountain West with a victory at Utah in their regular-season finale on November 22.