San Diego State (0-0) vs Texas A&M-Commerce (0-0)
Game Info: Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 8:00 pm (Snapdragon Stadium)
Betting Odds: San Diego State -34.5 / Texas A&M-Commerce +34.5 --- Over/Under: 54.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Texas A&M-Commerce Lions and the San Diego State Aztecs meet in week 1 college football action from Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday night. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Texas A&M-Commerce vs. San Diego State prediction.
Texas A&M-Commerce Team Preview
The Texas A&M-Commerce Lions come into the 2024 season looking to rebound from an abysmal 2023 campaign where the Lions finished just 1-9 and averaged just 15.9 PPG. Eric Rodriguez is back under center at QB for the Lions after missing the entire 2023 season due to injury, and while BK Jackson is likely to start at RB for the Lions, he didn’t have a carry last year with North Texas so there are question marks there. Jared Wilson comes in as Commerce’s top receiver, transferring in from Snow Community College, logging 55 catches for 628 yards and 10 touchdowns.
On defense, the Lions bring back a fair bit of production from last year’s team, with Clifford Funderburk back on the line after leading Commerce with 5 sacks last year while Max Epps is Commerce’s top returning tackler after logging 48 tackles last season.
Why the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions will win
- San Diego State has lost eight of its last 10 games.
- San Diego State has failed to cover the spread in seven of its last eight games against non-FBS teams.
- The road team has covered the spread in five of San Diego State's last six games.
San Diego State Team Preview
The San Diego State Aztecs come into the 2024 campaign looking to leave 2023 in the rearview, finishing the year at 4-8 overall including a 2-6 mark in Mountain West conference play. 2023 was San Diego State’s first sub-.500 season since 2009.
AJ Duffy and Danny O’Neil are expected to be battling for starting QB time for much of the year but it looks like Duffy, the Florida State transfer, will get the first crack. Marquez Cooper leads the Aztecs in the backfield after three straight 1,000-yard seasons in the MAC, the most recent with Ball State, and Mekhi Shaw is back as the top receiving threat for the Aztecs. Ja’Shaun Poke and Louis Brown transferred in from West Virginia and Colorado State respectively to bolster the Aztecs’ receiving room.
On defense, Tupu Alualu is back at nose tackle while Cody Moon is back at linebacker alongside Central Michigan transfer Kyle Moretti. San Diego State’s defense has to retool in the secondary, but Josh Hunter returns to headman the group and a bunch of transfer portal acquisitions have the potential to make this a really deep unit in 2024.
Why the San Diego State Aztecs will win
- San Diego State has won each of its last nine games against non-FBS teams.
- San Diego State has covered the spread in each of its last three games.
Texas A&M-Commerce vs. San Diego State Prediction
I’m going to lean towards San Diego State here but not rushing to bet it. This is a huge number but Commerce was so bad last season that it’s really hard to make a case for them here. Sure, San Diego State’s going to need some time to gel, but they’re the far more talented team in this matchup and when it comes down to which team is going to break off more game-breaking plays, I just think that’s San Diego State by a landslide. Give me the Aztecs.
Chris’s Pick San Diego State -34.5
AUTHOR: Chris Ruffolo
Mitch's Take...
