We are hours away from the start of the 2013 college football season and which gives me just enough time to get in my predictions for what will happen to the Utah State Aggies as they venture into the MWC.

The Aggies are coming off their most successful season in more than 50 years and first ever 11 win season.  The Aggies return a ton of play makers from last season’s impressive squad but don’t expect a repeat of their success.

The Aggies return what is possibly the schools best quarterback ever in Chuckie Keeton and the entire offensive line but lose just about every viable receiver from last year’s juggernaut.  The Aggies will also take a hit in the backfield with the loss of Kerwynn Williams.  His main back up from last season, Joe Hill is still on the roster and looks ready to carry the load after scoring nine touchdowns in limited action a season ago.  Hill should soften the blow of losing Williams quite nicely.

The defense also returns a bunch of play makers on the d line and in the line backing core.  The secondary losses two of its most talented players and that will affect the Aggies success against a very tough early schedule.

The most painful lose might be that of Head Coach Gary Anderson, who made his way to the Big 10 and the Wisconsin Badgers.  Utah State replaced Anderson with Aggies offensive coordinator and former quarterback Matt Wells.

The Good:

The Five returning starters on the Aggie offensive line will give Keeton all day to work his magic and he will become a strong candidate for the Heisman trophy.   Keeton will improve in every statistical category and throw for well over 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.  Chuckie will also dominate will his feet and rush for close to 1,000 yards.  Joe Hill will pick up where Williams left off and rush for more than 1500 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The defense will get pressure from the get go and force good teams to make bad mistakes every night.  Kyler Fackrell, Zach Vigil and Jake Doughty will shut down the running game of almost every foe as they each tally more than 100 tackles on their way to All-MWC honors.  Nevin Lawson and Brian Suite will make their presence known in the secondary and the Aggies won’t have any growing pains as the newest members of the MWC.

The Aggies will only stumble against college football power houses USC and Boise State on their way to another 10 win season and a third straight bowl game.

The Bad:

The offensive line will struggle during early season matchups with some of college football’s elite programs.  With no time to throw the ball and very little confidence in his new receiving core Keeton will settle for tucking the ball and running.  With the lack of a passing game the rushing attack will underachieve greatly.

The defense will still play well but will be on the field for far too long and breakdowns will occur.  The d line will have a difficult time in getting pressure against the bigger, more physical offenses on the schedule this year.  The line backers are far too talented not to make their fair share of plays but will be on the field too long every night and will breakdown towards the end of games.  The secondary will be challenged on a regular basis by great quarterbacks and will get burned a lot.

The Aggies will wonder why they ever wanted to make the jump to the Mountain West Conference as they eke out a 3-9 record.

The most likely:

Utah State has a brutal early season schedule and there are some built in losses there.  The Aggies play BYU, Utah, USC and Boise State in four of their first seven games while also having to travel to Air Force and San Jose State.  The Aggies will find rough sledding during that stretch but will bounce back later in the season.

The offensive line will do a good enough job for Chuckie Keeton to make a name for himself nationally however I don’t see the same passing success as a year ago.  There are far too many questions in the receiving core for that to happen.  The Aggies will be more impressive in the running game with both Keeton and Hill putting up big numbers.  Keeton will rush for at least 700 yards while Hill will easily crack the 1,000 yard mark if he stays healthy.

The defense won’t be as good as last season but has too many studs not to do some damage.  The line backers will carry the unit and keep games close early on and dominate the second half of the season.

The Aggies will overcome a slow start to win seven games and make their third straight bowl game in Matt Wells’ first season at the helm up in Logan.