Nevada Wolf Pack Football

Will this be the year that Nevada is able to climb to the top of the Western Athletic Conference to unseat the Boise State Broncos, making it to a BCS bowl?

Overview

Nevada returns a ton of talent with dual threat QB Colin Kaepernick, the 2008 WAC offensive player of the year, returning for his Junior season, as well as two running backs, Vai Taua, the WAC's leading rusher in 2008, and sixth year senior Luke Lippincott.

Schedule

With an early trip to Notre Dame, we will know early if Nevada will be as good as they are hyped to be, but there may be a few road blocks with Colorado State and Missouri before ending the season at Boise State.

Offense

Ranked as the No. 3 rushing team in the country, averaging 277.8 yards per game, will this Nevada Wolfpack team be able to run as much as they want?

• Colin Kaepernick is a Quarterback that can throw, but he can also tuck the ball and run.
• Vai Taua put up great numbers last year as the Wac's leading rusher, but will he repeat?
• Luke Lippincott, after missing three-fourths of last season, will be coming back for his sixth season to continue where he left off.
• The receivers, Junior Malcolm Shepherd and freshman Brandon Wimberly, are going to adjust while Maurice Patterson and L.J. Washington, enrolled in January, will most likely develop in this young offense.

Defense

• Dontay Moch and Kevin Basped, a pair of junior All-WAC players, will give other teams' O-lines problems.
• Five redshirt freshman Defensive Backs, Ahmad Wood, Khalid Wooten, Marlon Johnson, Mose Denton, and Thaddeus Brown, are all playing hard for the starter role for the upcoming season.
• After having the nation's worst passing defense, Nevada looks to its young but talented defense to pick up the slack in hopes of aiding the offense to victories.

MARYLAND 42, Nevada (Wolf Pack, 11,962 students, Reno, NV) 35

Evidently it was too cold to play defense...

Talk about incentive. What say we play a little better next year so we get invited to a bowl game where the weather is a wee bit warmer? Who’s with me?

Yesterday’s Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl on the Smurf Turf in Boise, Idaho was played in temperatures in the high thirties. By way of comparison, the temp at game time in Tampa, FL was a balmy 72 degrees...

Having said that, host Boise State must have left some of their mojo on the field, as the Terps and Wolf Pack generated 77 points and 940 yards of offense. Giddyup!

Now mind you, had the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl been played in a warmer, more exotic location than Boise, who knows how many Terps would have jumped curfew, gotten busted, and been subsequently benched like starting running back Da’Rel Scott? Even in Boise, Scott (No. 23) and six other potato lovers found the temptations of Idaho just too much to bear.

Terp coach Ralph Friedgen declined to specify exactly what the players did, but indicated the players had sneaked out a couple of nights before the game. "Five percent of guys thought they didn't need to listen to me, that they could get bed checked and sneak out," Coach Fridge said. "This isn't my first rodeo.”

Nor was it his first hospitality banquet, which players, no doubt, were hoping would serve as sufficient distraction for their chicanery.

Scott was benched for two-and-a-half quarters for his curfew violation, and then blew up the final 20 minutes of the contest. The newly-inspired and freshly humbled Scott carried 14 times for 174 yards and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Expanded out over a 60-minute game, that’s 42 carries, 522 yards, and six touchdowns. Here at T.A.H. we haven’t memorized the Humanitarian Bowl record book, but we wager all of those would have been records.

"I just felt as though I had to run with a purpose," Scott said.

Colin Kaepernick and Nevada's potent "pistol" offense almost kept up with the torched Terps, but Kaepernick played the second half with a sprained right ankle. In spite of a brief third quarter benching to “refocus,” Kaepernick finished 24-for-47 for a bowl-record 370 yards and three touchdowns, and added a 15-yard scoring run that pulled the Wolf Pack within a touchdown late in the game.

(Photos by AP Photos/Matt Cilley)

It's hard to imagine that Maryland was two wins away from potentially playing in the Orange Bowl in sunny Miami. It's also equally hard to imagine that the team would be shipped out West to play on the infamous blue turf of Boise State University in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl.

Yet the worst case scenario transpired as the Terps dropped its last two games of the season to Florida State and Boston College, ultimately finishing with a 4-4 record in the ACC which punched their ticket to Idaho.

While five teams in the conference finished their season with an identical record as the Terps, Maryland had no other choice but to play at Boise since the team was unable to accept a bid for the inaugural EagleBank Bowl in DC due to final exams as well as have participated in the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco a year ago.

Then again, the entire idea of the bowl pecking order, at least in the ACC, has seemed a little preposterous since Clemson was invited to the prestigious Gator Bowl with a paltry 6-5 record.

That didn't sit too well with Florida State fans, as the Seminoles had a better overall resume. Unfortunately for the Noles, money, not your record, is what ultimately counts as Clemson is known for their well-traveling fan base.

As for today's game, scheduled for a 4:30pm ET kickoff, the Terps (7-5, 4-4 ACC) will be taking on the Nevada Wolf Pack (7-5, 5-3 WAC) of the WAC Conference in what will (thankfully) be the ACC's final game in the Humanitarian Bowl.

Maryland running back Da'Rel Scott will have a difficult time on the ground as Nevada possesses the nation's second best run defense. Scott will have to channel the success he had earlier in the season now that the speedy sophomore is finally healthy but he could have trouble finding some holes not only because of the Wolf Pack's strong defensive skills but also because of the Terps' own underachieving offensive line.

If the Terps want to come out of Boise victorious they'll have to rely on throwing the ball as the Wolf Pack's pass defense is the worst in the country, giving up nearly 321 yards per game. 

Fans, however, should be sure not to overlook Nevada just because they're in a non-BCS league. 

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the WAC offensive player of the year, threw over 2,400 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Kaepernick is also quite the mobile threat as he scrambled for over 1,000 yards and collected another 16 touchdowns on the ground.

Prediction: 38-31 Nevada

The Wolf Pack's shotgun pistol formation will give the Terps all sorts of defensive problems judging from Maryland's past games against mobile quarterbacks.

Then again, with former defensive coordinator Chris Cosh departing before the bowl game, linebackers coach Al Seamonson will step in as interim DC and could possibly inject new life into the struggling unit.

The Terps won't be able to get the running game going which means quarterback Chris Turner will have to rely on wide receivers Danny Oquendo and Darius Heyward-Bey (in what could very much be his final game in a Maryland uniform) against a very weak Nevada pass defense.

All and all, Nevada's potent offense may ultimately be too much for the Terrapins, which will lead to a Wolf Pack victory.

The Roady's Humanitarian Bowl: Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID

Nevada (7-5) vs. Maryland (7-5)

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008, 4:30 EST

The Line: Maryland +2

Overview

It will be strange watching a game on the blue turf in Boise without seeing the Broncos, but this is a pretty interesting matchup between teams who have been decent in spots and, well, not so decent in other spots. At the start of the year I didn't have either of these teams picked to go to a bowl, so both have really exceeded expectations.

Nevada's season has been based on the performance of their offense. Nevada scored less than 20 only twice this year (both losses) and scored over 40 on eight separate occasions. As good as the Nevada offense has been, their defense has been equally as inept, as every game is a shootout. They are led by QB Colin Kaepernick, who runs the show in the modified shotgun formation they refer to as The Pistol.

While their stats are impressive (as you will see shortly), most of their success came against weaker conference teams, and when they played against teams from larger conferences, they had all sorts of trouble on both sides of the ball. It will be interesting to see how they handle the Terrapins in this one.

After two games this season, Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen was on everybody's "coach on the hot seat" list, as they struggled against I-AA Delaware and then lost at Middle Tennessee State.

After that point the Terps really turned things around and at times looked like world-beaters, and at other times looked ordinary. Maryland would beat bowl teams back-to-back and then get shut out and run out of the building by a not very good Virginia team. Which Maryland team shows up in Idaho for this one?

See Mitch's Humanitarian Bowl pick against the spread.

Humanitarian Bowl
Boise, Idaho

Maryland vs. Nevada
Tuesday 4:30 PM ESPN

Line: Nevada -2

Maryland and Nevada meet for the first time ever in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl on the smurf turf in Boise. The Wolf Pack bring one of the nation's best running attacks from the Pistol formation to face the 7-5 Terrapins, who lost their final two games in the regular season.

Keys to the Game

1. Just stack the box, right?

It would seem that a Nevada opponent should just stack the box to try to slow down the running game averaging 290 ypg. Well, Nevada passes the ball pretty well too, at a clip of 219 ypg. They were even skewed towards the passing game down the stretch, going for 277 per game versus 193 on the ground in their final three contests.

Maryland is not very good at stopping the run allowing 150 ypg, and they didn't even play Georgia Tech this year in the ACC. I think the Terps have to come out aggressive on defense and try to get a big play early to keep this Nevada offense in check.

2. Chris Turner has a big game

You thought Maryland was bad against the run? You haven't seen the Nevada pass defense, which gives up just a grass length over 321 ypg through the air. Turner has been up and down in '08 after seizing the starting job early in the season, with 11 TD and 10 INT with a completion rate of 58 percent. Napoleon Dynamite needs to take advantage of the porous Nevada defense.

3. Maryland turnovers

The Terps cannot afford to get behind big against a team with the fifth-best offense in the country. Maryland has really struggled in the turnover department at -.67 margin per game, good for 99th in the country.

Motivation

Ticket Sales have not been brisk for this game for either team, so don't expect a lot of Pack backers or Terp followers in Boise. Maryland had a potential Atlantic Division fall right through their hands with their poor performance over the final two and gets the West Coast Bowl Trip from the ACC offices (this is the last year for the ACC in Boise). Nevada gets a chance to defeat a team from a BCS conference, so I have to give the edge to Nevada.

Prediction

I see Nevada's running game being able to have success against Maryland's run defense. The Terps really need to shorten the game as much as possible and create some turnovers on defense to pull the upset. I like Nevada by at least a touchdown here.

Nevada 38, Maryland 24
Nevada Covers -2

Confidence Ranking (of 34): 13
My confidence ranking of the 34 bowl games for a Nevada win.

Bowls: 2-2 ATS, 3-1 SU
Season: 33-32-3 ATS, 44-24 SU

My Home Page

What's that whistling sound? Just Colin Kaepernick standing in the wind.

Boise State and the Bronco Nation head to Reno this Saturday to take on the Nevada-Reno Wolf Pack.

The Broncos are coming off Vandal hammering (no, pun intended) and Nevada is coming off a dominant performance against San Jose State.

Most fans, like me, know little about the Wolf Pack outside of the lil General and "the fastest thing on stick legs" Colin Kaepernick.

Needless to say, there is a lot to be learned about this week's foe (don't worry, Kellen Moore already knows their defense intimately)...so let's explore through the magic of factoids and childish jokes.

For the mutual benefit of the Wolf Pack faithful, I will let you get to know us a little bit too...so take notes.

Ten things Bronco fans might not know about the Wolf Pack and their iniquitous den to the south:

10. Ron Toomer, who holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from UNR, designed the first upside down roller coaster, the Corkscrew. The Corkscrew was a mainstay at Knott's Berry Farm for years, but now resides at the Silverwood amusement park in Athol, Idaho. Corkscrews are also good for popping corks...say on a champagne bottle...whilst celebrating an outright WAC title.

9. The Wolf Pack play their games at Mackay Stadium (29,993). The stadium is named for Clarence H. Mackay, the son of John W. Mackay, a silver and telegraph mogul. Clarence Mackay was an early financier of the university and gifted the school the Mackay School of Mines. Mackay was a tad eccentric, some might say...he collected medieval suits of armor, refused to marry his second wife for 15 years until his first wife died, and disinherited his daughter after she married composer Irving Berlin.

8. The oldest secret society at the University of Nevada-Reno is the Coffin and Keys Society, which was founded in 1916. The club was formed to be "a force to give the proper impetus to affairs of school life.". Currently, the society appears to be mainly involved in putting T-shirts on statues, arranging canned food in decorative ways, and lounging in jaunty caps and Halloween masks. Spooky.

7. The UNR football program has produced an NFL Hall of Famer in fullback Marion Motley. Motley was only the second African-American player inducted into the Hall of Fame after playing nine years in the league with the Steelers and Browns. During Motley's tenure with the Browns, in which he played fullback and linebacker, the Browns were 47-4-3 and won every championship in the AAFC. Sounds like Motley had quite the Crüe.

6. Each year, UNR and UNLV battle on the gridiron for the Fremont Cannon. The cannon goes to the victor of the contest for a year and it's undercarriage is painted in the winning school's colors. The cannon is a replica of the howitzer cannon that explorer John Fremont and his party hauled west and abandoned in the Sierra Nevada in 1844. Fremont was also the first Republican nominee for President of the United States...he didn't win, of course—maybe the nation was looking for a leader that didn't just leave cannons lying around.

5. Archaeological digs show that ancient native Americans known as the Martis, lived in the area where Reno now stands. The Martis resided in the area from 3,000 BC to 500 AD. Man, they just missed Chris Ault.

4. The UNR campus was the setting for five motion pictures in the 1940s, among the titles: Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble, Apartment for Peggy, Mother is a Freshman, and Mr. Belvedere goes to College (no, not that Mr. Belvedere), which was one of Shirley Temple's last films.

3. Nevada coach Chris Ault, "inventor" of the Pistol offense, is one of only four active coaches that have already been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The other three are Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden, and Joe Gagliardi. If that doesn't sound like an advertising dream team for Geritol® and Efferdent®, I don't know what does.

2. UNR football's first All-American (1923) was James "Rabbit" Bradshaw. No relation to this guy OR this guy.

1. Boise State has clinched outright WAC titles in Reno in every even-numbered year since 2002. The Wolf Pack haven't had a sellout at Mackay since 2003. The Wolf Pack have the number-one rushing offense in the country and Boise State has the No. 2 scoring defense in the country. Boise State has not lost to the Wolf Pack since 1998. Something's gotta gonna give on Saturday...excited yet?

Ten things Wolf Pack fans might not know about the Broncos and their heavenly home to the north:

10. Idaho governor C.L. "Butch" Otter is an alum of Boise Junior College where he played linebacker for legendary Bronco coach Lyle Smith. Otter didn't stuff the run...he vetoed it.

9. Former Boise State cornerback DaWuan Miller had only one arm. He had several key interceptions in the 1994 Division 1-AA playoffs that helped get the Broncos to the national championship game. Looks like the arm he was left with was his good arm. Amazing.

8. Former Bronco QB Jared Zabransky once told ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit that he could throw a potato 80 yards. The comment found its way into the NCAA Football 07 game when Herbstreit, doing the voice over work says at random points in games "That reminds me of the time that kid at the Liberty Bowl told me he could throw a potato 80 yards."

7. Boise had it's very own "trial of the century" in 1907, when the leaders of the Western Federation of Miners labor union went on trial accused of hiring assassin Harry Orchard to kill Idaho governor Frank Steunenberg.

6. Boise's Statehouse building is heated geothermally by underground hot springs. Most hot springs I've ever been to are rife with scantily clad hippies...can't imagine who you'd meet at an underground one.

5. Hollywood director Michael Hoffman is a Boise State alum and was the school's first Rhodes Scholar. He won two Oscars for the film Restoration, but I think his finest work is the documentary film Out of the Blue, which is about Boise State's undefeated 2006 season...oops, I just spoiled the ending.

4. Boise State has been shutout only twice in football, the last coming against Washington State in 1997. Boise State registered two shutouts over their opponents just last year. 20 of Boise State's 24 opponent shutouts since 1968 have occurred at home. Their most lopsided win ever? The first-ever game on the blue turf: a 74-0 win over Humboldt State which answered once and for all the question, "can Hippies play football?"

3. Since 1973, Boise State has won 13 conference championships including five straight WAC titles from 2002 to 2006. Prior to 1968, they competed in the JC ranks, and as stated before...were a dominant force at 153-25-6 and winning the JC national championship in 1958. Boise State won the 1-AA national championship in 1980 by defeating Eastern Kentucky and played in the championship again in 1994, but lost to a Jim Tressel-led Youngstown State.

2. Boise State sophomore wideout Austin Pettis is the nephew of former major league baseball player Gary Pettis. Gary Pettis still holds the record for most stolen bases in the Angels organization (186)...Austin holds the Boise State record for stealing the most corner fade routes from defensive backs (all of them).

1. Boise State freshman QB Kellen Moore set state records for career completions (787), career touchdown passes (173), completions in a season (317), passing yards in a season (4,600) and touchdown passes in a season (67) at Prosser High, in Washington, but he never won state. His brother Kirby, who will join Kellen on the Blue next season, recently became the national record holder for receiving TDs in a career. Something in the water in Prosserngton besides apple residue.

That's about the long and short of it...apologies for the delay this week...one of my biggest resources was out of commission so I had to wing this one and bring back some oldies-but-goodies.

 The Bronco Nation Podcast - 10 Years of Whoopins: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

In this Episode:

• 1:50 Min: JT, Drew & KIDO Boise State Radio Color Commentator Jadon Dailey recap the Idaho Game.  Jadon confirms Doug Martin slammed the hammer down on the Idaho Vandal Logo. In a related note Jadon would need a bigger hammer if he were allowed to lead the Broncos onto the field. Jeremy Avery the Offensive Lineman left their mark on the backs of the Idaho Defense.
• 18:08 Min: Will Utah win out, can the Cougars pull out the upset?  Jadon talks about what may be going through minds of the Utah and Boise State Players this week.  Does the H-Bowl have Sex appeal, well Jadon doesn’t think so.  Also what is up with all these WAC teams getting Bowl eligible all the sudden?
• 28:30 Min: That Guy from Utah State got fired.  Byron Hout you da man, do we dare say he has become Korey Hall esque?
• 36:53 Min: Jadon breaks down the upcoming Boise State vs Nevada game.  Essentially Jadon provided a breakdown that is second to none.  Oh ya JT and Drew throw their two cents in.
• All this and much, much more.  I promise no more movie references for here on out.

Please Email questions or comments to questions@bronconationnow.com

This episode brought to you by theBlueAndOrangeStore.com where listeners can save 10% by entering in the coupon code nationpodcast at check out.

Well, my preview wasn't even close.

I figured that the Missouri defense step up to the plate against a potent Nevada offense, but I never imagined that the offense would put up numbers like this.

This game was even better then the contest against Southeast Missouri State, because it was against a real opponent that some people thought would give the Tigers a battle. 

Not so much.

-Derrick Washington is a star. I've said it every week. I don't care. He catches passes, breaks tackles, runs between the tackles, and can lower his head into the pack. D-Wash averaged 9.3 yards a carry, and had two TDs on just eight touches.

-Congratulations to Chase Daniel, who became the leading passer in Missouri history, passing Brad Smith. Daniel looked amazing again today, only throwing five incompletions. With 400 yards and four TDs today, Daniel has 12 TDs and a field goal in his last 13 possessions. Now, THAT is efficiency.

-On the Nevada side, ya gotta tip your hat to Colin Kaepernick. The kid is no Steve Young, as hyped to be by some of the Nevada press, but he is a big-time playmaker, and his scrambling and play action skills gave Mizzou trouble at times.

-I personally thought the fake field goal was excessive. It made the score 52-17, and although Nevada is capable of putting up big numbers, they were probably out of the game at that point. Nevada has a Hall of Fame coach in Chris Ault that didn't deserve that. Against Nebraska or Texas, maybe, because past contests, but it didn't need to happen today.

-People that say Jeremy Maclin isn't a real receiver are on drugs. Jeremy Maclin is one of the best WRs in the country. Some people think he's just a track star, but his second TD catch was a pure thing of beauty, and he'll make a fantastic player at the next level. I just pray he stays at Missouri next year.

-Speaking of beast mode, Jared Perry is absolutely ready for stardom. The former freshman All-American improved his work ethic and attitude after a tough sophomore campaign and has already equaled his production from a year ago. He compliments Maclin well and is much more explosive then Tommy Saunders.

-Danario and Van Alexander (no relation) both played today. Danario was admittedly a little nervous and tentative, but he'll be 100% for conference play. Van was a little slow, but solid late in the game. It's nice to see those two back on the field.

-If anybody doubted Missouri's status as a top-flight team, stop now. There were whispers that Nevada would shred the Tiger defense and that blitzing would phase Chase Daniel. That didn't happen either.

If USC gets bumped up three or four spots for clubbing Washington, I say Mizzou should jump Georgia. They have played better teams and have looked much better.

Before we start this, let me share my Reno experience; Sleezy, his first (and second) ex-wife, and I loaded up in his creepster van to hit Reno circa 2000. Up in the mountains, we were stuck dodging crazy Chinese people that thought it really snowed in July, and finally, we hit the hotel. Sleezy and I check in and looked like two queens in town for a homo convention. Either way, I figured out that Keno was really a retarded form of Roulette and Bingo, and I ate some huge pancakes (not Sleezy's ex's flap jacks, but some actual ginormous pancakes). That's Reno for you. Basically a cooler Branson. Let's get to the game.

-Nevada is the best of the cupcakes that is on Mizzou's non-conference slate this year. Nevada could beat Baylor, K-State, and ISU, and would probably give the Huskers a game. They have some talent, but coming in to Columbia, they have have something in common with a PBR in front of Sleezy's dad. Basically, they are about to get destroyed. Luke Lippincott, their best player, is out for the year. Night Night.

-Chase Daniel was en fuego last week. He had better aim than the "Magic Bullet" and JFK's head would have exploded in amazement from Chase's stats anyway: 16-17, 245 yards, three scores. And that was before halftime. Expect more of the same against the Wolfpack D. The guy was more badass than Kimbo Slice's Mohawked chest hair.

-My favorite Tiger, DaNario Alexander, is back for this one. The dude was thinking of taking a medical redshirt, and instead, is back and ready to roll. He is a big receiver, which is something that Mizzou really needs. Maclin and Jared Perry are both speedsters, and DA brings the size. I don't think DA is getting the kudos he deserves for coming back from killing two ACLs in a year. Props.

-Watch for a big game from the Tiger D. The Pack run the Pistol, which is basically a sawed off shotgun (see what I did there?) formation. QB is up another yard, and the back is behind him and off to the side as he always is in a Shotty formation. Chris Ault is an innovative coach with this offense in the WAC. Sean Weatherspoon will be all over the place as always, but this will be the test that the secondary needs since Nevada is sans running back. Lots o' passing from Nevada. I'd imagine a few picks from the Tiger secondary, and maybe a fatality thrown in from Will Moore.

Nevada got smoked worse than Roger Ebert at a movie theatre last week against Texas Tech in Reno. I said I'd tack another seven points on to Tech's final score, and that's what Mizzou would put up. I'm a man of my word: 42-14 Tigers. Yeah, I know Nevada put 19 on the Sand Pirates, but that was in Reno. Yoink! I'll take those five off the board.

You can listen HERE (and not to the Pack's announcers this week, Dave MacD.) and make sure to hit up Rock M Nation for some pre/during/post game trash talk and bold predictions. Also, this one is on FSN if you have been in a cave. Thanks Ike!

I hate to beat a dead horse, but as community leader, I'll again state that Mizzou did what they had to against SE Missouri State this weekend.  Now they look forward to their next game, this time against a respectable Nevada team.  Nobody was hurt, and the offense rolled.  Let's move on.

This week, Nevada's respected if not heralded offense rolls into town.  After the Wolf Pack played Texas Tech very closely last weekend, a team similar to Missouri, the Tigers are certainly not letting their guard down.  Wary of an upset, here are some points that are crucial to a Tigers victory.

5. Willy Mo's return

After missing the SEMO game, coaches are claiming that safety William Moore will play on Saturday if all goes well this week.  He's definitely needed, as Missouri's pass defense has been one of the worst in the nation thus far (fourth worst).  Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick is a talented young signal caller, so they'll need every weapon they can get to defend the pass.

4. Back at full strength?

Make no mistake, Missouri still hasn't played at full strength all year.  Van and Danario Alexander (no relation) were possibilities to play against SEMO but didn't.  Will they play this week?  The offense won't be running on all cylinders until they have the freakish ability of Danario back.  Nevada might be the first victim to combat that this season.

3. Nevada's pass defense

Is it possible that the Nevada defense could slow down Chase Daniel and the Tigers?  Well, Graham Harrell certainly struggled, completing only 41.3 percent of passes and throwing for two INTs to only one TD.

Missouri's spread offense is a different version of Texas Tech's, and Daniel is actually a more consistent player at times, so the real test will be on Gary Pinkel.  His play calling will have to take what the Nevada offense gives him.  But if all goes well, I see no reason that Missouri won't roll again.

2. Special teams

I saw Jeremy Maclin in my Social Inequalities class today, and he was drooling for the entire hour.  Why, you ask?  Well, Nevada special teams gave up an 86-yard punt return against Texas Tech, and J-Mac, as we all know, likes to return punts for huge chunks of yardage.

But that's not even the end of it.  Nevada also had a punt blocked and missed two field goals.  Meanwhile, Jake Harry has been a good punter thus far, and the Tigers have one of the best placekickers in the country in Jeff Wolfert.  This area alone could bump Missouri ahead in a close game.

1. No Luke Lippincott

Lippincott led the WAC in rushing last season, but he injured his left knee against Tech and will miss the rest of the season.  He was averaging 6.1 yards per carry and was obviously the most heralded guy in the backfield, but Vai Taua and Brandon Fragger are talented as well.

Missouri has had no trouble stopping the run this season, so unless Taua and Fragger have monster games, they should be in good shape.

Final Prediction: Missouri 38, Nevada 20

Nevada might put some points up on Missouri, but the Tigers should put more up on Nevada.  Period.  Nevada is a respectable Division I program, but Missouri should continue to improve, and Nevada is missing their best player on offense.  Mizzou continues to roll at home.