Nevada at No. 21 UNLV Preview
This Saturday, Nevada (3-9, 0-6 Mountain West) will face off against No. 21 UNLV (9-2, 5-1, No. 22 in the CFP rankings) at 8 p.m. EST on CBSSN. Currently, UNLV holds a 17 1/2 point advantage in the betting odds from BetMGM. The historical series record favors Nevada at 28-21.
What’s at stake for both teams is significant. A win for UNLV guarantees them a spot in the Mountain West Championship, where they would play against No. 11 Boise State with hopes of advancing to the College Football Playoff. Even if the Rebels were to lose, they could still end up in the title game, though the path would be more complex and their postseason hopes would diminish dramatically.
One critical matchup to observe will be the performance of the UNLV offensive line against the Nevada defensive front. The Rebels are known for their strong ground game, led by quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams and running back Jai’Den Thomas, averaging an impressive 245.3 rushing yards per game, placing them sixth in the nation. They are expected to find openings against a Wolf Pack defense that concedes an average of 179.7 rushing yards.
Key players to keep an eye on include UNLV’s linebacker Jackson Woodard and Nevada’s quarterback Brendon Lewis. Woodard stands out as he is currently ranked ninth nationally in both tackles (108) and tackles for loss (15). In addition to his defensive contributions, he has also made four interceptions and defended against 12 passes. On the other hand, Lewis is recognized as one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the Mountain West, having passed for 14 touchdowns and run for eight, accumulating 1,998 passing yards and 745 rushing yards this season.
In terms of statistics, a win for UNLV would mark only their third season with 10 wins, following similar milestones in 1974 and 1984. This matchup is noteworthy as it marks the 50th time these teams have played against each other. UNLV will aim for a third consecutive win over Nevada, a feat not accomplished since achieving five straight victories from 2000 to 2004 under the legendary John Robinson. The reward for the winning team is the Fremont Cannon, a hefty 545-pound trophy symbolizing their rivalry, which is painted in the colors of the victorious school.
Additionally, UNLV’s wide receiver Ricky White is making headlines with four blocked punts this season, which tops the rankings nationally. The Rebels also boast a third-best ranking in the nation for their turnover margin at plus-13. On the opposite side, Nevada has endured eight close games this season, tied for the most in the country, but unfortunately, they have only secured victory in two of those. Lastly, the Wolf Pack’s last win over a ranked opponent was in 2019 when they defeated No. 24 San Diego State by a score of 17-13. First-year coach Jeff Choate is looking to maintain his perfect record in rivalry games, which he achieved while coaching Montana State against Montana.