FACTS & STATS: Site: Aggie Memorial Stadium (30,343) -- Las Cruces, New Mexico. Television: Local. Home Record: USU 0-5, NMSU 4-1. Away Record: USU 0-5, NMSU 0-6. Neutral Record: USU 0-0, NMSU 0-0. Conference Record: USU 0-6, NMSU 1-5. Series Record: Utah State leads, 25-6.

GAME NOTES: The nation's second-longest losing streak goes on the line again this weekend as the Utah State Aggies saddle up against the New Mexico State Aggies in a Western Athletic Conference bout from Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces. Not only is USU winless in 2007, a stretch of 10 games, the program has now strung together 16 consecutive losses which currently stands as the second- longest drought at the FBS level, behind only Florida International and it's 21-game slide. Last weekend, the Aggies hit a new low as the Boise State Broncos crushed them in a 52-0 decision in Logan. Meanwhile, New Mexico State has also had it's share of issues, particularly against the rest of the WAC. Last weekend, the Aggies were demolished by San Jose State on the road in a 51-17 decision, marking the team's third straight loss and the fifth in the last six games, all coming against league foes. NMSU, which closes out the 2007 campaign with a home date against Fresno State on November 30th, has just one win over a WAC opponent, that being a 45-31 decision against Idaho, the only other program without a conference win thus far. Utah State leads the all-time series by a count of 25-6 at the moment against the NMSU Aggies, but it was New Mexico State that posted a 42-20 win in Logan a season ago.

As far as the Utah State offense was concerned last week, there wasn't much to speak of with the team being blanked at home. The quarterbacking combination of Leon Jackson and Jase McCormick hit 11-of-23 passes for 152 yards, as the latter also tossed three interceptions under desperate conditions. The pair also proved to be the leading ground gainers for the team, for whatever that's worth, picking up a collective 48 yards on 15 attempts. In a conference that is known for passing the ball at every turn, the Aggies are bucking the trend with just 152.9 ypg through the air as Jackson and McCormick have registered only eight TDs, against nine interceptions for the nation's 113th-ranked passing attack. Squeezing out only 117.9 ypg on the ground doesn't add much to the attack either, providing the Aggies with a grand total of only 270.8 ypg to rank last in the conference and 115th in the nation. The team's 18.8 ppg pushes them down to 110th in the country as well.

While the offense for the Aggies was fumbling around and trying to stay competitive, the defense was having its own set of issues with allowing BSU to roll up 190 yards rushing and another 294 yards through the air. The squad made Titus Young look like an all-conference performer, giving him access to the end zone three times. James Brindley certainly put up a fight with his game-high 14 tackles, followed by Kyle Gallagher with 11 stops, while Carl Singleton (three tackles) logged the only sack of the game for the squad. Singleton has just 32 stops over 10 games, yet he leads the group with four and a half sacks and is among the leaders with his six tackles for loss. Paul Igboeli (75 tackles) and Frank Maile (29) are tied with eight TFLs. The team is currently 95th in the country with just 5.3 TFLs per game and 113th in sacks with one per outing. Due to the lack of pressure up the middle, Utah State is surrendering 452.1 ypg overall and 37 ppg, the latter number ranking it 111th in the nation.

New Mexico State looked like a decent team to begin the 2007 campaign, but once the conference schedule began the squad shriveled up and disappeared. Last weekend Chase Holbrook was up and down as usual, converting 30-of-49 passing for 318 yards and a pair of scores, but he also tossed three interceptions which made it that much easier for San Jose State to capture the victory at home. From a rushing standpoint, the program rolled up just 80 yards on 25 attempts. Holbrook, who has been in and out of the lineup with injury, is still completing 71.1 percent of his pass attempts for 317.6 ypg, helping the Aggies to the seventh-best passing attack in the nation, but his 24 touchdowns are beginning to get overshadowed by his 16 INTs. Part of the problem is that the so-called rushing attack is now 109th in the country with just 91.5 ypg, the other issue being that Holbrook no longer has Chris Williams to throw to down the field and that has forced the signal-caller to seek out new options whether he wants to or not.

The New Mexico State defense, which should be used to handling passing attacks since they practice against one of the more explosive programs in the nation during the week, looked soft versus the Spartans and made a star out of wideout Kevin Jurovich. The secondary watched helplessly as Jurovich, named the WAC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, posted 233 yards and two touchdowns on 10 receptions. Overall NMSU surrendered 507 yards of total offense and watched as the Spartans scored on all five opportunities inside the red zone. For as powerful as the New Mexico State offense can be at times, the defense for the squad can be far too easy going. Except for Southeastern Louisiana (14 points) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (17), the unit really hasn't stopped anyone this season, which is evident by the squad's 36.9 ppg allowed, currently 110th in the nation and second-to-last in the WAC. Ranked 114th in turnover margin (minus-1.27 per game) and 115th in tackles for loss (4.55) doesn't give fans much reason to believe in the defense these days.

This should be the one game on the schedule when New Mexico State can feel like it's old self again, moving the ball up and down the field with ease. However, USU sees this as a winnable game as well and could make it competitive if it can gain some consistency at quarterback.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: New Mexico State 35, Utah State 23

Saturday, November 17th, 2:00 p.m. (et)