Bulldogs ready for payback

With the Hawaii Warriors in town, this Fresno State team is foaming at the mouth to do to them what Hawaii did to the Bulldogs a few times over the last few years. They want to take them down and they want to put them down early.

Hawaii visits Fresno State with a 1-3 record, not the same team that had a high powered offense and a defense that was just as good. Not the same June Jones, now at SMU, led team or quarterbacked by one of the best in Division 1 in Colt Brennan. The large shadow that once loomed large in the Bulldog schedule, is now just a blip in the road to what could be one of their best seasons in recent memory.

For the Bulldogs, it's coming down to how their defense plays or which one shows up tonight. They have struggled mightely against the run, giving up over 500 yards of offense on the ground alone. Even though Hawaii comes into today's game averaging under 100 yards per game in the run, Fresno State's defensive line still needs to step up and close off that part of their game, don't let them believe they can stay in this game. Offensively, the Bulldogs are one of the best in the nation as far as putting points on the board, you know Tom Brandstater and company are going to put up points. With offensive weapons like Ryan Mathews, Lonyae Miller and Anthony Harding in the backfield, then you look at Seyi Ajirotutu, Marlon Moore and Chastin West as the receiving corps, this is a very dangerous offensive squad.

Todd's keys to the game: I've said this the past 2 weeks and I'll continue to say it, defense is going to be the key for the Bulldogs again today, especially defending the home turf. Hawaii knows that the Bulldogs have struggled against the run and they'll try to exploit that today. The defensive line and secondary need to step up today and take away that part of the game, force Hawaii to beat you in the air, and we all know that isn't gonna happen.

Offensively, get Ryan Mathews involved early and often against a Hawaii team that is giving up over 130 yards per game on the ground. Once you establish the running game, it allows Brandstater to use the play action and go up top to his 3 weapons on the outside in Ajirotutu, Moore and West.

Prediction: Fresno State wins big 42 - 21