Wolf Pack searches for conference win
After a record-setting loss to Boise State on Sunday in front of a nationally televised audience, the Wolf Pack is still looking for its first conference win of the year when it travels to Utah State on Saturday.
Erasing the goose egg in the Western Athletic Conference isn’t the only thing at stake for Nevada. Saturday’s game is a must-win if Nevada wants to earn its third consecutive trip to a bowl game. With a 2-4 overall record, four more wins will put the Wolf Pack bowl eligible and it starts with beating the Aggies.
Nevada will be in luck with its defense as it faces one of the worst offenses in the country. The defense will need to do much better than its last two losses to Fresno State and Boise State after giving up 49 and 69 points, respectively.
The biggest threat coming from the Aggies is in the form of Kevin Robinson, the top all-purpose runner in the country. If Nevada wants to come out on top, it will need to improve its special teams coverage and continue its high-scoring rampage.
Keep the offense going
Last year, Nevada easily destroyed Utah State, 42-0, at Mackay Stadium and will need the same offensive production from the Boise State loss to keep the Aggies winless.
Winning its first conference game of the year is crucial for the Wolf Pack and will help Nevada come closer to bowl eligibility. If quarterback Colin Kaepernick continues his dominant rushing and passing, Utah State will have difficulty containing him and the rest of the offense, including running back Luke Lippincott and wide receiver Mike McCoy.
Keep in mind that Boise State’s defense ranked in the upper quarter of the nation and surrendered 67 points to Nevada. The Wolf Pack can cause nightmares for the Aggies’ defense, which is one of the worst overall in the country.
Don’t stoop down to the Aggies’ level
Nevada cannot take Utah State for granted with its 0-6 record. The Aggies gave Hawaii a battle last week before losing by a couple touchdowns and barely lost to UNLV in the season opener.
Utah State doesn’t have much of an offense or defense, but for a team to lose closely at Hawaii, it will be hard to tell which Aggies team shows up Saturday. Nevada will need to be sound in all aspects of the game and cannot drop down to Utah State’s level. With the Aggies’ poor offense, it will also give the Wolf Pack’s defense a chance to redeem itself after back-to-back losses.
Contain Kevin Robinson
Nevada’s special teams will get its toughest test of the season on Saturday.
Kevin Robinson leads the nation in all-purpose yards, which means he creates havoc returning punts and kickoffs. He ranks as one of the best in both categories and can swing the game’s momentum with a big run.
Even though Utah State’s offense is terrible, a good Robinson run can put the ball in Nevada territory and give the Aggies fewer yards to the end zone.
The Wolf Pack special teams unit has suffered several major runs the last two weeks and will need to stop Robinson because his long runs can make the difference for an Aggie upset.
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on Tuesday, October 16th, 2007 at 1:10 am and is filed under Football, Sports.
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