Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Utah State Aggies Preview

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The Wake Forest Demon Deacons struck lightning last week as they defeated Gardner-Webb by a comfortable 23-7 score. This week sees the Demon Deacons back on the road. Yes, it is time to go to Logan, Utah and test drive their new offense against the Utah State Aggies. They will need the offense they can find too, as the Aggies are easily the most explosive offense that Wake Forest has played yet.

More from Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Date: September 13

Time: 7:00 PM

TV: CBS Sports Network

Venue: Merlin Olsen Field at (Dick, not George or Mitt) Romney Stadium (Logan, UT)

Last Time: First Ever Meeting Between the Schools

So bragging rights are on the line, which will last until Utah State visits Wake Forest in upcoming seasons.

Sep 6, 2014; Logan, UT, USA; Utah State Aggies quarterback Chuckie Keeton (16) throws the ball while Utah State Aggies head coach Matt Wells watches before the game between the Utah State Aggies and the Idaho State Bengals at Romney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

Opponent: Utah State Aggies (1-1)

The Aggies have started the year a little slower than a lot of Mountain West observers were thinking in the second year of Matt Wells. 37 points were scored by Tennessee in the opener and 20 by Idaho State in game two. For an experienced defense, this did not make much sense. However quarterback Chuckie Keeton and the offense have not gotten on track yet. This means, of course, that they are due. Wake must somehow avoid being the get well game. Which is possible when considering the Wake secondary.

In fact several of the playmakers that made former coach Gary Anderson the Wisconsin coach are gone, meaning that the offense is still transitioning. That puts more pressure on Keeton to take over games with an inferior supporting cast to what he is used to. Keeton was out for most of 2013, so he did not really get to play with these guys.
The offensive of USU has been extensively rebuilt, although there is a lot of experience there. By experience, I mean guys who have been the program a while but not started.

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  • On defense, Utah State returns a lot of experienced players who made the 2013 defense pretty good. This spells bad news to the makeshift Wake offense and probably means that Wake’s defense will have to keep them in the game with turnovers. The one possible weakness is the turnover on the defensive line of Utah State.

    Prediction: 17-0 Aggies
    ONJ Season Record: 9-1

    Where was that explosion of offense I was talking about at the beginning? Hey, things are all relative. Keeton and Company are far more explosive than the War Hawks or Runnin Bulldogs. However I think that both offenses are still figuring things out. Like Pete Thomas for UL-Monroe, Keeton will make enough plays to keep the Demon Deacons out of the game.