[jwplayer tJPh0k22-sNi3MVSU]
Weber State vs. Nevada: Game Preview, TV & Radio Schedule, Livestream, Odds and More
The Nevada Wolf Pack look to get back to their winning ways against Weber State.
Contact/Follow @BrandonGBlake & @MWCwire
Can Nevada Bounce Back Against Weber State?
WEEK 3: Nevada (1-1) VS Weber State (1-1)
WHEN: Saturday, September 14th — 4:00 PM PT/5:00 PM MT
WHERE: Mackey Stadium; Reno, Nevada
TV: ESPN3
STREAM: SlingTV- Get the Free 7-Day Trial or WatchESPN
RADIO: Link to use to access Nevada Wolf Pack Radio | Link to use to access Weber State Wildcats Radio
SERIES RECORD: Nevada leads the all-time series, 9-6.
WEBSITES: NevadaWolfPack.com is the website for the Nevada Wolf Pack | weberstatesports.com is the website for the Weber State Wildcats
ODDS: Nevada -9
SP+ PROJECTION: Nevada by 7.9 (68% win probability)
The Nevada Wolf Pack return home to Mackay Stadium on Saturday afternoon to take on the Weber State Wildcats out of the Big Sky Conference in the FCS.
Nevada is looking to bounce back after last week’s game when they were demolished on the road by Oregon 77-6. The Wolf Pack must regroup and try to get back on the winning track against a Weber State team that is one of the better teams in FCS. The Wildcats have won back to back Big Sky championships in 2017 and 2018 and are coming off a 41-24 victory over Cal Poly last Saturday.
For Weber State, this is their second contest against a team from the Mountain West conference. Weber State played their season opener against San Diego State and lost to the Aztecs by a score of 6-0. The Wildcats are hoping for better luck against a Mountain West team when they take on the Nevada Wolf Pack.
Weber State is a very talented team that will come prepared and looking to defeat the Wolf Pack in Reno. Can Nevada stay focus and bounce back with a win over Weber State on Saturday?
Here are three keys and a prediction for this contest.
Nevada must get better on third down.
After two games, Nevada has struggled when it comes to converting on third down. The Wolf Pack are ranked 122nd in the nation in third down conversion percentage at just 23.5 percent, as noted by Chris Murray from Nevada Sports Net stated in an article about the Wolf Pack’s third down issues this week. In that article, Murray stated that on Nevada’s 35 third down attempts in the first two games, the average distance to gain for Nevada to convert a third down is 7.86 yards. Yikes.
Nevada must get better at converting on third down and to do that the Wolf Pack must gain some positive yards on the early downs. If Nevada’s offense can gain positive yards and put the Wolf Pack in some third and manageable distances, that would go a long way in helping out the offense and score points.
The Wolf Pack offense must get back on track
The Wolf Pack offense against Oregon last Saturday afternoon was just abysmal. Nevada totaled just six points on two field goals, gained only 192 yards of total offense, and turned the ball over four times. Just a dreadful performance by the Wolf Pack offense in Eugene last week.
Now back at home, they must fix last week’s offensive woes and quarterback Carson Strong must lead the way by improving his play along with the Wolf Pack offensive line. Nevada is not going to win many games with the stat line Strong had last week against Oregon (13 for 25, 89 yards passing, two interceptions), so he and the rest of the Nevada offense must elevate their play and it needs to start against Weber State this Saturday.
Nevada must play with a lot more fight and also keeping focus.
Wolf Pack sophomore defensive linemen Dom Peterson said after Nevada’s loss to Oregon that he felt this team gave up against the Ducks. “I personally think we gave up at the half, which is something I’ve never seen from our team ever from last year to now.” Peterson said .
Nevada needs to get that fire back if they are to be the team most people think they can be this season. Nevada has the talent overall to be a good team, but they have to bring their energy every game and also keep focus. That focus and energy will be tested as they take on a Weber State team that is no FCS pushover.
The Wildcats boast a very good defense that held San Diego State to just six points in a loss to the Aztecs on September 1. I know no one will mistake San Diego State’s offense for Boise State’s offense, but for an FCS team to hold an FBS team to just six points is very impressive. Nevada is going to have to stay focused and find a way to score on this Weber State defense on Saturday.
Prediction:
Weber State is not your typical FCS team, as they are the defending Big Sky champions and they almost defeated San Diego State two weeks ago. The Wolf Pack are coming off a terrible loss on the road to Oregon last week that has shaken their confidence. It does not help that the offense is struggling to score points and convert on third down. I feel Weber State’s defense will pose a challenge for the Wolf Pack offense, but I think being at home and getting their fire back, especially on offense, will help Nevada get the win this week in a close contest.
Nevada 28, Weber State 14
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=645997137]