UNLV @ Boise State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2011 ) Boise State 48, UNLV 21

Boise State has its eye on a BCS bowl and seeks its sixth consecutive victory when it hosts Nevada-Las Vegas on Saturday. The No. 22 Broncos aren’t the offensive juggernauts they have been in recent seasons and have ridden their defense to five consecutive wins. Boise State is ranked 22nd in the first BCS standings of the season, the highest placement of any non-BCS program. UNLV has lost three consecutive games after blowing a 21-point lead and losing to Nevada last week. The Rebels have lost 18 consecutive road games dating back to 2009.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network. LINE: Boise State -28

ABOUT UNLV (1-6, 1-1 Mountain West): Junior running back Tim Cornett has five 100-yard rushing games this season and is only 15 yards away from becoming the sixth player in school history to reach 2,000 career rushing yards. Cornett has 747 yards this season. Redshirt freshman quarterback Nick Sherry has passed for 1,771 yards and 11 touchdowns, but has also been intercepted eight times. Senior linebacker John Lotulelei has a team-best 69 tackles and had a career-high 19 stops against Nevada. Junior linebacker Tim Hasson (53 tackles) also posted a career-best with 14 tackles.

ABOUT BOISE STATE (5-1, 2-0): Junior quarterback Joe Southwick has experienced consistency issues – two 300-yard games, four games less than 200 – and the Broncos rate only 80th in scoring offense (25.2 points per game) and 88th in total offense (370.8). Senior running back D.J. Harper (549 yards) has fared well with three 100-yard outings. The defense has carried Boise State and has forced 19 turnovers (10 fumbles, nine interceptions) and is allowing only 14.7 points per game, which ranks 12th nationally. Redshirt freshman defensive end Sam Ukwuachu has three fumble recoveries and sophomore defensive end Demarcus Lawrence has a team-best 5.5 sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Boise State leads the series 4-3 and posted a 48-21 victory last year in Las Vegas.

2. The Broncos have won 46 consecutive games in October dating back to a 45-14 loss to Rice in 2001.

3. The Rebels are 5-27 under third-year coach Bobby Hauck.

PREDICTION: Boise State 34, UNLV 13