Louisana Tech Bulldogs (2-2) 1-2 ATS, 1-2 O/U at Nevada Wolf Pack (1-3) 1-3 ATS, 1-3 O/U Friday October 10, 2009 9:00 p.m. EST
By Wilson of Predictem.com
Point Spread: Louisana Tech +7/Nevada -7
Over/Under: Off
The Nevada Wolf Pack will be looking forward to hosting Louisana Tech this Friday in Reno. The Wolf Pack are fresh off a huge victory over UNLV, 63-28. Nevada brings a ton of offense into this game as they piled up 773 yards of total offense against the UNLV Rebels.
Louisana Tech comes into Nevada after beating Hawaii 27-6 and snapping Hawaiis 62-game touchdown streak. The Warriors could only manage 2 field goals versus the Bulldogs defense.
The Bulldogs tailback Daniel Porter rushed for 160 yards on 25 carries and 2 touchdowns. The Wolf Pack will have to prepare well for the elusive Porter. But its the Wolf Pack that has been giving up more than 32 points per game.
Nevada is allowing more than 300 yards in passing and 126 on the ground. Not the most stellar numbers if youre gambling on defensive stops but anything can happen in college football.
The Wolf Pack definitely holds the advantage, at least on paper, when it comes to the rushing game. Nevada gains about 274 yards per game compared to L. Techs 161 on the ground. Both teams are averaging around 25 points per contest. Louisana Tech has scored 75 points in their last two games even though they have been against weaker teams.
Nevada is sitting at 1-3 after losing their first three games, but they dropped those three contests to some solid programs in Missouri, Notre Dame, and Colorado State. This weekend will be a tell of the tape for both programs within the WAC.
Nevada has won the last two meetings between these two schools. Last year the Wolf Pack sqeezed out a close win 35-31, and a 49-10 lopsided victory in December of 2007.
The boys in Vegas and most of the online sportsbooks opened the line in favor of Nevada -6.5 on their home field. Louisana Tech is hoping to stay ahead the Wolf Pack in the WAC standings by winning in the state of Nevada, which is what millions of people try to do every year in Nevada only they are usually playing in the casinos.
Louisana Tech is 14-37 in their last 51 games on the road, and the under is 7-2 in the Bulldogs last 9 games on the road. The Wolf Pack are 22-9 ATS in their last 31 home games. Head to head, the over is 6-2 in the last eight meetings.
As far as the QB matchup is concerned it could be a great battle as both QBs numbers are similar with each holding just above a 60 percent completion rate, Ross Jenkins of L. Tech is at 61.4 percent while Colin Kaepernick is at 64.5. Both have thrown for three touchdowns while Kaepernick leads Jenkins in the INT category 4 to 2.
I like Nevada in this matchup, their 1-3 record does not paint a fair picture of their football team. The Wolf Pack have a much more difficult schedule to date than Louisana Tech and I think well see how good the Pack are this Friday.
The Wolf Pack lead the Bulldogs in points per game, 26 to 25 (not huge but ya know its a point!), yards gained, 466 to 354, and time of possesion.
The player to look out for if youre L. Tech is freshman Mike Ball who is from Las Vegas. Ball rushed for 184 yards and five touchdowns! Wow, really? Is UNLVs Defense really that pathetic? In fact, the Wolf Pack had three guys who rushed for over 100 yards- Ball, Kaepernick, and Luke Lippincott.
Wilsons Pick: Hey, anything can happen in the WAC baby! Im not convinced that either team will dominate in a specific area but my gut is with the home town advantage in this Friday thriller. My pocket book says take the over. Nevada 45, L. Tech 42. Luck to ya.
