[jwplayer jF5wU66N-sNi3MVSU]
Nevada vs. Utah State: Keys For A Wolf Pack Victory
Wolf Pack are looking to start 3-0
Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire
Nevada looking good.
WEEK 10: Nevada Wolf Pack (2-0, 2-0 Mountain West) vs. Utah State Aggies (2-0, 2-0 Mountain West)
WHEN: Thursday, November 5 — 5:00 PM MT/4:00 PM PT
WHERE: Mackay Stadium; Reno, Nevada
TV: FS1
STREAM: Get a one-week trial of FuboTV.
RADIO: Nevada | Utah State
GAME NOTES: Utah State | Nevada
ODDS (via BetMGM): Nevada -18
The Nevada Wolf Pack are looking to start 3-0 and stay in the race for a berth to the Mountain West title game as they host Utah State in a rare late-afternoon kick on Thursday night.
Nevada is a heavy favorite over Utah State and for good reasons. The Aggies are 0-2 and their starting quarterback Jason Shelley has thrown for under 100 yards in each of his starts, the offense has 20 total points, and the defense has allowed 80 points in two games this year.
It will take a perfect game for Utah State to pull off the upset, and that might not even be enough for an Aggies win.
Keys For A Nevada Win
1. Carson Strong throwing the ball
The Wolf Pack quarterback has been amazing this year shredding up defenses for 770 yards and completing 75.9% of his passes, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Those number likely will increase as the Aggies are just middle of the pack in league play in most passing defense categories. They are allowing 7.5 yards per pass attempt and 67.8% of passes are being completed.
It is a combination of factors from Strong being accurate but he also has some really good receivers like Romeo Doubs who last week had 219 yards vs. rival UNLV and leads the nation in yards per game.
https://twitter.com/NevadaFootball/status/1324198301298819076
2. Find out who leads in the running game
The running game has not been bad for Nevada but Toa Tao missed the first game for undisclosed reasons and vs. UNLV he had 86 yards and a touchdown in a solid effort.
With Tao back and then including Devonte Lee who has 110 yards in two games plus freshman Avery Morrow who has chipped in with 65 yards. The Wolf Pack have not had the need to lean on their running game and that likely will be the case in this matchup, but this position is deep and finding a pecking order will help them down the road.
With this being the second game with all three backs that answer should be found as the Wolf Pack likely will get out to an early lead through the air and then use the running game to wrap up the contest.
3. Stop Utah State’s ground attack
The Aggies running game has experience with Jaylen Warren and Devonta’e Henry-Cole. Last week, Utah State did not have Warren and it showed as Henry-Cole only rushed for only 27 yards in 11 carries vs. Boise State. If Warren does suit up it will give Utah State has a chance to stay competitive in this game.
Nevada needs to slow down Warren with the likes of Dom Peterson to stuff out whatever Utah State ground game gets going. The Wolf Pack stops the run and they will basically shut down the Utah State offense.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=645997137]