San Diego St Aztecs 2022 College Football Preview

San Diego St Aztecs 2022 College Football Preview

July 13, 2022

2021 Recap

Record – 12-2

ATS – 7-6-1

The Aztecs got off to a great 7-0 start that included a pair of multiple-OT wins (Utah, San Jose St) and kept on trucking all the way to the conference title game. They were DISMEMBERED by Utah St in the big game which was a yuuuge disappointment, and it’s now been quite a while (2016) since the Aztecs have won the Mountain West.

Let’s see if these guys have what in takes to be CHAMPS in 2022.


San Diego St Aztecs 2022 Outlook

OFFENSE

It was a familiar story for San Diego St LY as they moved the ball well on the ground (175 YPG, #54 FBS) but had a great difficulty MATRICULATING the ball down the field thru the air (168 YPG, #115 FBS). We don’t want to get too excited, but San Diego St may have a decent QB this year given the transfer of Braxton Burmeister from Virginia Tech. We think he’ll fit in very well with a team that likes to run the football and play great defense. Two of their top-four RBs are back in the fold and they always seem to find great production at the position. Maybe USC transfer Kenan Christon will be the HIDDEN GEM in 2022? The WR group isn’t that deep but Jesse Matthews is one of the most underrated weapons in the Mountain West and he hasn’t dropped a pass since 2008 **. Two starters return up front including their excellent center Alama Uluave and they added a potential starter at guard in Cade Bennett (Oklahoma St) (!).

** needs fact check

DEFENSE

The Aztecs allowed fewer than 20 PPG for the third consecutive season LY (19.8, #17 FBS) and were an absolute BRICK WALL vs the run (80 YPG, #3 FBS). They also displayed impressive PENETRATION by leading the Mountain West with 41 sacks (tied with Nevada). There’s still a lot of talent on this side of the football but they’ll certainly miss the play of devastating DE Cameron Thomas who’s off to the NFL (11.5 sacks, 19 QBH LY). San Diego St will be stout vs the run as per usual but will have trouble replacing Thomas’ sack production. The strength of the defense is an elite LB corps that boasts a pair of 1st Team MW honorees in Caden McDonald and Patrick McMorris. Two excellent starters depart on the back end but the Aztecs almost always play good pass D, particularly given the help they get from the DL and LB groups. This is the best defense in the conference.

SPECIAL TEAMS

RUH ROH. San Diego St loses the best special teams player in college football with the departure of PK/P Matt Araiza to the NFL. He was a walking CHEAT CODE. Thankfully, the dangerous Jordan Byrd is back to do damage at PR and KR.

Schedule Analysis

Overall –  The Aztecs only play five road games but three of those are flat out NASTY (at Utah, at Boise St, at Fresno St). They only play one road game in November and that’s a date with the rebuilding Lobos.

Potential ATS Trouble Spot – September 24 – Toledo

The Rockets are almost certainly the most talented team in the MAC and this is a SANDWICH spot for San Diego St (at Utah, at Boise St).

Season Win Total

per BetOnline July 13

Over 7.5 -130

Under 7.5 +100

MEGALOCKS says:

Lean: Over

It’s tough to bet against the Aztecs at this price point (see below). 87 of our 98 models have them winning between seven and nine games.

MEGAmazing Tidbits

San Diego St has achieved double-digit wins in five of the last ten years. They had a winning record in each of those seasons excluding the 2020 PLANDEMIC campaign (4-4).

The Aztecs open the brand new Snapdragon Stadium on September 3rd when they take on the Arizona Wildcats.


MEGALOCKS Outlook:

We like the look of this team. The offense definitely has some upside with a former Power 5 QB in charge and the defense is always FLAT OUT NASTY. Special teams takes a yuuuge hit tho and we downgrade their Mountain West championship chances slightly due to road games at Fresno St and Boise St. 


Want more Aztecs Football ?

WEBSITE

https://goaztecs.com/sports/football

FORUM

http://aztecmesa.proboards.com/board/2/aztec-sports-conference-discussions

NEWS

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/

http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/21/san-diego-state-aztecs