FACTS & STATS: Site: Spartan Stadium (30,456) -- San Jose, California. Television: None. Home Record: NMSU 4-1, SJSU 2-1. Away Record: NMSU 0-5, SJSU 1-5. Neutral Record: NMSU 0-0, SJSU 0-0. Conference Record: NMSU 1-4, SJSU 2-3. Series Record: San Jose State leads, 12-2.

GAME NOTES: Still searching for their first road win of 2007, the New Mexico State Aggies make their way to the Golden State this weekend to challenge the San Jose State Spartans in a Western Athletic Conference battle. New Mexico State, which has not won back-to-back games at all this season, played a wild game last Friday night versus Nevada at home and had a chance to send matters into overtime during the waning moments, but a missed field goal spelled the team's doom in a 40-38 decision in Reno. The loss was the second straight and the fourth in the last five games for the Aggies, who have been dealing with key injuries the entire season. As for the Spartans, a team that went to the postseason last year, they've had a tough run the last month or so with setbacks against WAC powerhouses Hawaii, Fresno State and, last weekend, Boise State by a score of 42-7 on the road in Idaho. San Jose has two more games remaining after this one against Louisiana Tech and Nevada, so it is still possible for the squad to make itself bowl eligible, albeit a long shot. The Spartans have dominated this series, winning all but two of the previous 14 meetings. Last season, SJSU posted a 31-21 win in Las Cruces, marking the third straight win over NMSU for the Spartans.

A failed PAT on the go-ahead touchdown by the Wolf Pack left the door open for NMSU to squeeze out a win at home last Friday night, but with two seconds to play Paul Young shot far left on his 44-yard field goal attempt. The Aggies were once again paced by quarterback Chase Holbrook who converted 35-of-49 passes for 407 yards and four touchdowns, while Tonny Glynn chipped in with a rushing touchdown before going out with an ankle injury that will more than likely cause him to miss this weekend's matchup. A.J. Harris stepped up with a big game in the absence of an injured Chris Williams, collecting 11 receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Williams, who is out with a broken right collarbone, had been the primary receiver for Holbrook, which means the gunslinger now has to find another favorite outlet in order to keep the chains moving. Despite dealing with bruised ribs and sitting out a game earlier this season, Holbrook is still one of the most productive signal-callers in college football, completing a ridiculous 72.4 percent of his attempts for 317.6 ypg and 22 touchdowns. Unfortunately, under the pressure of not having the best running attack, Holbrook has also been known to make some rash decisions in the pocket, resulting in 13 INTs.

While NMSU was struggling to come up with even 100 yards rushing, clearly not a strength of the team, the defense for the Aggies was stepping aside and watching Nevada runners generate 285 yards on the ground. Even if New Mexico State seemed to have a handle on stopping the run, Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick was quick to unleash one completed pass after another, leading to 237 yards and three touchdowns. Dante Floyd led the home team with his 11 tackles, while Sioeli Fakalata (five stops) recorded the lone sack of the game for NMSU. Floyd is averaging an even nine tackles per game this season to lead the Aggies and has a team-best six stops behind the line of scrimmage as the most dominant force the squad has moving up the field. Unfortunately, that's really not saying a lot, considering the team is producing just 4.4 TFLs per game to rank last in the WAC and 115th in the nation this week. That lack of pressure has made it easier for opponents to put up 35.5 ppg against New Mexico State this season, seventh-most in the conference and 105th in the country at the moment.

Kevin Jurovich reeled in a four-yard touchdown pass from Adam Tafralis late in the second quarter on Saturday, but that was it for the SJSU offense as the Spartans lost by 35 points on the road. Tafralis converted 11-of-19 passes for just 77 yards and the one score, while being sacked three times. Eventually the signal-caller gave way to Jordan La Secla and Sean Flynn who combined to hit 5- of-11 passes for another 23 yards. The so-called rushing for San Jose was responsible for just 50 more yards on 32 attempts. The Spartans have fallen back to the rest of the pack this season mainly because the running game has done so little for the group. Unfortunately, that lack of production, represented by a mere 69.3 ypg and just three touchdowns, is the result of key injuries to Yonus Davis and Patrick Perry. In 2006 Tafralis was also able to rely on key, big play receivers, but this season he has only Jurovich whom he has counted on for 56 receptions, 703 yards and six TDs, all of which are team highs.

San Jose State found out first hand what its like to get in the way of a Boise State program trying to fight its way back to prominence both in the WAC and on a national stage. The Spartans not only surrendered 434 yards of total offense, the defense also watched helplessly as the Broncos converted all but four of their 14 third-down opportunities. In the mix once again when it came to taking down the opposition, Matt Castelo led the way for the Spartans with his 14 tackles, followed by Jonathan Harris who had 13 stops. Demetrius Jones contributed one sack, a forced fumble and a recovery in the losing effort as well. As if giving up 231.1 ypg through the air were not bad enough for the Spartans heading into action this week, the secondary now has to look at how they are going respond with an injured Dwight Lowery who is currently listed as questionable with a bruised right calf. Lowery, tied for second on the team this season with three interceptions, was one of the nation's leaders in that department last season.

A weakened San Jose State secondary is just what the Aggies and Holbrook look for in an opponent and unless Lowery can make it back and play at a high level, the rest of the Spartans will be at the mercy of the NMSU passing attack this weekend.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: New Mexico State 38, San Jose State 24

Saturday, November 10th, 4:00 p.m. (et).