Robb Akey's radio show Thursday night was a mini pep rally.

The Idaho coach cracked jokes, gave his thoughts on his team and the Fresno State team, and rallied the crowd of at least 50 inside the Best Western conference room just down the hill from the Vandals' Kibbie Dome.

Fans laughed (a few wildly at times), clapped as the show came back from break and blew horns as it went to commercial.

It was the best crowd of the season, which has been a resurgent one for the Vandals, who have gone from a 2-10 record in 2008 to 7-2 thus far this season. (Read BJ Anteola's story about the Vandal turn around in today's paper.)

ESPN's Graham Watson made her picks for this weekend's games and she's picking against Fresno State.

"Idaho 33, Fresno State 30: This is the upset special of the week. Idaho's come-from-behind win over Louisiana Tech got the Vandals believing again. Yes, Ryan Mathews will probably run for 200-plus yards, but Idaho's offense will put some major pressure on the Bulldogs' defense, and this game will be an entertaining shootout."

The men's and women's Fresno State basketball team's will hold open practices and autograph sessions tonight at the Save Mart Center from 6-7:30 p.m.

The women's basketball team will have its court session at 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 6:30 p.m. The autograph session will be held from 7-7:30 p.m.

Men's coach Steve Cleveland and women's coach Adrian Wiggins will both show the public how they run their practices during the open sessions. Admission and parking are free; Concessions food is $1.

Both teams play Fresno Pacific at home Wednesday with the women beginning at 6 p.m. and the men at 8 p.m.

Fresno State kicks off here inside Bulldog Stadium against Utah State in a couple minutes on a beautiful October day. The air is clear, you can even get a glimpse of Mt. Goddard from the press box.

The key for today's game of course will once again be how the Aggies do against the Bulldogs' rush offense, which features the nation's leading rusher, running back Ryan Mathews (1,131 yards, nine touchdowns).

The Aggies were going to struggle in the first place, but they face an even tougher challenge without starting linebacker Paul Igboeli. The senior has started 38 games in his career but an ankle injury will hold him out, according to Utah State team spokesman Zach Fisher. Senior safety James Brindley (28-game starter, hamstring injury) and senior CB Kejon Murphy (Edison High grad, 23-game starter, concussion) both "should play," said Fisher. Brindley, though, is not listed as a starter right now.

LB Kyle Gallagher and S Walter McClenton will start in their places.

Kejon Murphy came home this weekend.

The Utah State senior cornerback, who played at Edison High with Bulldogs Sonny McCree and Cornell Banks, made his Fresno return with the rest of the Aggies on Friday and is probable for Saturday's game.

Murphy suffered a concussion during the Aggies' game last week against Louisiana Tech when he took a knee to the right side of the head while making a tackle.

He told the Herald Journal (Logan, Utah) that he was unconscious for about three to five minutes, but expects to play Saturday. He also said he was "very excited" to play against the Bulldogs, who recruited him to play running back. Fresno State coach Pat Hill said the Bulldogs did not recruit Murphy, but that he was a good player.

All the talk around town is that Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews should be up for the Heisman. Thing is, he hasn't locked up the WAC offensive player of the year crown yet.

Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore is ahead of Mathews in the Heisman race, according to ESPNs experts, which leads me to wonder if Mathews is guaranteed to win the WAC's award.

Mathews appears to be the best RB in the WAC and among the top RBs in the country, but Moore's numbers can't be shoved under the table without a glance.

He leads the nation in passing efficiency (172.1 rating) and has thrown for 1,627 yards, 21 touchdowns and two interceptions ... Two.

Fresno State receiver Rashad Evans may be redshirting, but that doesn't mean he's sitting on his butt.

A sophomore who redshirted this season because of a nagging hamstring injury and increased depth at the receiver position, Evans (below) has been a useful tool on scout offense this season. He's been really helpful this week, as he's used his high school quarterback skills to give the Bulldogs a taste of what to expect Saturday inside Bulldog Stadium.

Evans, who played a little bit of every position in high school, has been running the option during practices this week to help the defense prepare for Utah State QB Diondre Borel and the option attack that he'll use Saturday.

Borel ran for 73 yards and a score last season against the Bulldogs and also threw for another touchdown. A feature on Borel and how he's improved since last season is coming in Friday's paper, so look out for that. Apparenyly, he's become a true run and pass threat, instead of simply being dangerous on the run. This season he averages 240 yards passing a game and has 10 TDs and just one INT.

That's what the latest Heisman watch is saying over on ESPN.com.

And that's what many believe Heisman voters all over the country are saying.

I plan to bring you readers more on Mathews' Heisman chase (which, depending on who you talk to, really is just a grasp by Fresnans for their own respectability) in the minds of actual Heisman voters soon.

As for right now, the latest Heisman watch poll has Bama's Mark Ingram leading the way with Boise State's Kellen Moore 5th on the list under Clausen, Tebow and McCoy.

The Bulldogs are still no where close to being ranked in the national polls, but ESPN has them in its non-AQ power rankings.

Boise State is No. 2 in this ranking (a smidge behind TCU), the Bulldogs are ninth and Idaho is 10th.

Idaho is such an interesting story this year. The Vandals are bowl eligible and have to be considered the favorite to go to the Humanitarian Bowl right now after riding a great early season.

But the defense got exposed to the tune of 500 rushing yards and 70 points by Nevada this past week. Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick ran for 238 yards on 15 carries. Just 15. Geez.

Fresno State QB Ryan Colburn is having a shaky game.

After two games in which he was incredibly efficient, Colburn looks rusty.

He is 4 of 10 with an interception, fumble and another near interception.

The Bulldogs' offense didn't get a first down on their first three drives. Their first score came when safety Lorne Bell picked off a pass and took it 16 yards for a touchdown.

Once again the Fresno State defense and special teams has held Fresno State in it. The defense has forced field goals instead of allowing touchdowns and the special teams has blocked a field goal and given the Bulldogs' good field position on two punts.

Fresno State, the third best rushing team in the league, has run for 75 yards in the first half.