Nevada @ Louisiana Tech preview
Joe Aillet Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 9, 2009 ) Louisiana Tech 14, Nevada 37
No. 17 Nevada got the biggest win in its program history last week when the Wolf Pack defeated previously undefeated and would-be BCS buster Boise State.
That victory will lose a little bit of its luster if Nevada can’t finish its season with a win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday in the Western Athletic Conference finale for both teams.
The Wolf Pack (11-1, 6-1 WAC) can win a share of the conference title for the first time in five years and punctuate its most successful season since it joined Division I, now the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Nevada likely would share the WAC title with Boise State and Hawaii, each of whom is heavily favored at home Saturday. Boise State faces Utah State and Hawaii plays UNLV.
Conversely, the Bulldogs are looking for their signature win at Nevada’s expense. Under first-year coach Sonny Dykes, the Bulldogs (5-6, 4-3) would become bowl eligible with a win and end their season with an upset not quite the magnitude of Nevada’s over Boise State, but a notable win regardless.
Last week, Nevada overcame a 17-point second-half deficit to break its 10-game losing streak against Boise State in one of the most memorable finishes in recent memory.
The Wolf Pack tied the game on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Colin Kaepernick to Rishard Mathews with 13 seconds left, only to allow Boise to get into field goal range with a long completion on its next play from scrimmage.
Kyle Brotzman then missed two short field goals – one at the end of regulation and one in overtime – to leave the door open for Anthony Martinez’s 34-yard game-winning field goal.
Nevada piled up a season-high 528 yards against a Boise State defense that was second in the FBS in total defense, allowing 229 yards per game.
Louisiana Tech, which defeated San Jose State 45-38 on the road last week, will try to stop a five-game losing streak to Nevada. The Bulldogs are third in the conference with 177 rushing yards per game and are coming off a season-high 374-yard performance against the Spartans.
Lennon Creer had a career-high 252 rushing yards and three touchdowns and Phillip Livas tied an NCAA record with his eighth career punt return for a touchdown.
While Louisiana Tech has shown some potency on offense, defense has been a shortcoming. The Bulldogs rank No. 112 nationally in total defense, allowing 449 yards per game and 30.3 points per game.
Nevada has the nation’s No. 3 offense with 537.5 total yards per game and is No. 6 in points scored with 43.2 per game.