Utah Utes football gameday

San Diego State (4-6, 2-4) at No. 23 Utah (8-2, 5-1)

Rain/snow showers: 40 degrees

Today, 2 p.m. (MT) - Rice-Eccles Stadium (45,017) - Salt Lake CIty.

TV: Versus-HD - Radio: 700AM

THE STAKES

For SAN DIEGO STATE ... The Aztecs are still fighting for bowl eligibility. They have no room for error, however - needing season-ending wins over Utah and UNLV to do it.

For UTAH ... The Utes need a victory to extend their winning streak at Rice-Eccles Stadium to 17 straight games. It'll also provide some much-needed momentum for rivalry week.

THE TRENDS

For SAN DIEGO STATE ... The Aztecs are coming off a painful 30-27 loss at home to Wyoming. The setback may have cost them a chance to go bowling under first-year coach Brady Hoke.

For UTAH ... Victories at home have become commonplace. Surrendering 55 points as the Utes did last week at TCU is not. It's the most they allowed since giving up 66 to SDSU in 1990.

THE EDGE

SAN DIEGO STATE will win if ... Utah gets caught looking ahead to next week's regular-season finale at BYU. The Aztecs have bowl eligibility as primary motivation to succeed.

UTAH will win if ... Eddie Wide is able to run the ball more effectively than last week when he netted 25 yards. SDSU's defense has been giving up 167...4 rushing yards per game.

INJURY REPORT

For SAN DIEGO STATE: Linebacker Logan Ketchum (knee) will not play.

For UTAH: Defensive end Derrick Shelby is out for the season with a knee injury. Defensive tackle Kenape Eliapo (undisclosed illness), linebacker Matt Martinez (quad) and special teams contributor Victor Spikes (hand) are not expected to play.

NEXT UP

San Diego State travels to UNLV on Nov. 28.

Utah faces BYU in Provo on Nov. 28 (3 p.m., CBS-C/The Mtn.).

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

UTAH SENIORS: Can the veterans -- including team captains Matt Asiata, Zane Beadles, Koa Misi and Stevenson Sylvester -- rally the troops after last week's lopsided loss at TCU?

KEY MATCHUP:

SDSU'S RYAN LINDLEY VS. UTAH'S SECONDARY: The Aztecs' quarterback enters the game ranked second in the MWC with 250.6 passing yards per game. Can he throw on Robert Johnson and company?