Utah State vs. San Diego State Prediction, Odds & Pick
Prediction, odds and the model's read
Our model's read
Scouting report
2026 · 2 games in, blended with the projection
Where San Diego State gets at Utah State: 23rd at keeping a clean pocket, against a unit 129th at generating havoc. Utah State projects no clear way in against San Diego State. San Diego State is also 21st in the push up front, against a unit 87th.
How
SDSUattacks
USU
- 1
Expect a clean pocket
sacks and tackles for loss · projected · 1 game in
SDSU16.5%#23 of 138USU9.9%#129 of 138 - 2
Establish the push up front
the push the line gets · projected · 1 game in
SDSU3.02#21 of 138USU2.41#87 of 138 - 3
Run it
running it · projected · 1 game in
SDSU+0.13#41 of 138USU-0.01#90 of 138
The two teams
Utah State
Utah State throws it: Bronco Mendenhall's offenses have been pass-leaning across 9 seasons. The strengths are on both sides of the ball, led by 11th at keeping everything in front of them. The way in is 129th at generating havoc, and they are 119th at staying out of the backfield.
On fourth down he goes for it about as often as his peers do from the same spots (−2.3%). Against what the expected-points model recommends he is −32.6% — the profession as a whole is negative on this.
Utah State has not played an FBS opponent yet, so this is the projection: last season regressed toward the mean, plus returning production, recruiting, talent and whether the staff is the same one.
Strengths
- Defensehitting chunk plays1.00#11 of 138
- Offensehitting chunk plays1.35#28 of 138
Soft spots
- Defensesacks and tackles for loss9.9%#129 of 138
- Offensegetting stopped at the line27.5%#119 of 138
- Offensefirst and second down36%#112 of 138
San Diego State
San Diego State runs it: Sean Lewis's offenses have been run-leaning across 6 seasons. The strengths are defensive, led by 11th at closing out passing downs. The way in is 125th at stuffing runs at the line.
On fourth down he goes for it about as often as his peers do from the same spots (+0.1%). Against what the expected-points model recommends he is −28.6% — the profession as a whole is negative on this.
San Diego State has not played an FBS opponent yet, so this is the projection: last season regressed toward the mean, plus returning production, recruiting, talent and whether the staff is the same one.
Strengths
- Defensesurviving second and twelve30%#11 of 138
- Defensethrowing it+0.12#13 of 138
- Defensehitting chunk plays1.05#15 of 138
Soft spots
- Defensegetting stopped at the line8.3%#125 of 138
Ranks are national. Nothing here is last season's number — carrying one forward is measurably worse than saying nothing — and in-season figures are adjusted for who was actually played. This describes the matchup; it is not a prediction and not a pick.
Head coaches only — there is no free feed for coordinators, so on a program where the head coach does not call the offense this describes the staff he hired. Play-calling identity is a style, not a grade: throwing more than the situations warrant is not better than throwing less than they warrant.
Model prediction
how the number is builtOur model simulates the game drive by drive from each side's opponent-adjusted efficiency (SDSU Elo 1477, USU Elo 1386 for reference), with home-field advantage. That projects SDSU -6.3 (65% to win), essentially in line with the market.
Why that percentage is worth reading: across 604 graded in-season games, the calls this model put near 58% came in at 58.2%. The full calibration table is published, bin by bin. Early in the season the cold-start path runs instead and calibrates less well (Brier 0.2028 against 0.1889).
Model as of Sep 1 · through week 1 · drive simulation
Where the game is won
2026 national rank · right is better
offensethe defense it faces
Moving the ball
USU125th65thSDSUSDSU123rd41stUSUThrough the air
USU77th86thSDSUSDSU133rd67thUSUOn the ground
USU111th105thSDSUSDSU50th52ndUSUStaying on the field
USU21st75thSDSUSDSU104th64thUSUTaking care of it
USU137th22ndSDSUSDSU105th126thUSU
Each bar runs from last in the country on the left to 1st on the right. The filled span is the gap between the offense and the defense it faces.
Season form — 2026
nationally rankedThe matchup, in context
series history + adjusted profilesSan Diego State leads 13–5 · Utah State has won 3 straight · 28% have been one-possession games
| USU | SDSU | |
|---|---|---|
| -2.0 (#79) | CORE overall | +8.6 (#38) |
| -0 / +2 | offense / defense | +2 / -6 |
Bold is the side ahead. CORE strips the situation from every play and solves the schedule out across the league, so these compare two teams that never met.
Key matchups
The analyst read: each team's offense splits crossed against the opponent's defense, with the edges called out.
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FAQ
Who will win Utah State vs. San Diego State?
Gridpex's model favors San Diego State with a 65% win probability.
What's the predicted spread for Utah State vs. San Diego State?
The model projects San Diego State by 6.3.
What time is Utah State vs. San Diego State and what channel is it on?
Sat, Nov 14, 9:30 PM ET, at Snapdragon Stadium.
Where this number comes from. Every projection on this page is produced by the same model, run before kickoff on opponent-adjusted efficiency, power ratings and situational data — walk-forward validated on eleven seasons and never adjusted after the fact. How the model works →