TV/radio: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, CBS Sports Network, WIND-AM 560.
Line: San Diego State by 11.
Records: NIU 0-2; San Diego State 2-0.
Last meeting: In the Huskies’ third season playing on the major-college level, they dropped a 30-10 decision to the Aztecs on Oct. 2, 1971, in San Diego.
Keys to the game
Can home cooking help the Huskies turn things around? The setting for the home opener is an 0-2 record with a new starting QB and a quality opponent. NIU is 35-2 at Huskie Stadium since October 2009, yet it’s a double-digit underdog.
Is San Diego State really better than South Florida? The media and oddsmakers think so, and coach Rod Carey said the Aztecs will be as good as anybody NIU faces this season — and that was a couple of days after a 48-17 loss at USF. The Aztecs beat Cal 45-44 last week for their 12th win in a row and are on the verge of breaking into the Top 25.
Who’s a bigger question mark, Ryan Graham or the defense? Graham will step in for injured QB Drew Hare, whose return this season is in doubt. Graham also stepped in for an injured Hare last season and played well. The defense has not done so. USF gained 658 yards against the Huskies, while San Diego State put up 604 on Cal.
Mike Helfgot’s pick: RB Donnell Pumphrey has gained more yards for San Diego State than Marshall Faulk did. A couple hundred more will keep the Huskies at bay.
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San Diego State 34, NIU 21.