Fresno State Bulldogs Face Off Against Air Force Falcons in Crucial Mountain West Clash

The Fresno State Bulldogs (5-4, 3-2 MW) are set to take on the Air Force Falcons (1-7, 0-4 MW) in a Mountain West Conference matchup on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The game, scheduled to kick off at 9:45 p.m. ET, will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.

Fresno State is coming off a narrow 21-20 loss to the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, while Air Force suffered a 20-3 defeat at the hands of the Army Black Knights in their most recent games. The Bulldogs are looking to rebound and secure a crucial victory to stay in contention for bowl eligibility, which they can achieve with a win on Saturday, marking their fourth consecutive bowl-eligible season.

Air Force, currently at the bottom of the Mountain West standings, is riding a three-game winning streak against Fresno State but faces significant challenges. The Falcons have lost their first four conference games and have a 1-3 record at home this season. Quarterback John Busha leads the team with 415 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 5 interceptions, while Cade Harris has been a key contributor with 224 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns.

Historically, Fresno State has struggled on the road against Air Force, with a 1-3 record in Colorado Springs. Their last win at Falcon Stadium was a 20-17 victory on October 18, 1997. However, the Bulldogs are optimistic about their chances this time around, given their strong passing attack and defensive performance. Fresno State’s defense has been particularly effective, allowing only 129.3 rushing yards per game and 5.6 yards per pass play.

The game is expected to be a defensive battle, with both teams showing trends toward lower-scoring games. Six of Fresno State’s nine games this season have ended under the posted total, and Air Force has had five of their eight games go under as well. This suggests that the smart bet for this matchup would be on the under, given the defensive strengths of both teams.