This year's Boise State vs. Nevada match-up could be one for the ages
Although the season is still young, a potential game of epic proportion is looming out west. Reno, Nevada, could possibly be the site of college football’s most anticipated game of the year this November 26th when the Boise State Broncos come to town to take on the Nevada Wolf Pack. Tickets will be scarce as national title implications will more than likely be on the line when the two teams meet on the gridiron. College football analysts and followers have been so busy feeding the Virginia Tech and Oregon State hype machine that they’ve overlooked a Western Athletic Conference opponent of Boise in the Nevada Wolf Pack.
Recently ranked in the AP Poll, Nevada has quietly rolled through their first three games of the season, outscoring their opponents 179-74. The Wolf Pack are 4-0 after last Saturday’s win over BYU. Prior to that, Nevada enjoyed an impressive week three victory embarrassing Pac-10 conference member Cal, 52-31. Nevada currently boasts the nation’s fourth best offense with a gaudy 2116 yards of total offense. They also have the nation’s fifth best scoring offense, averaging 45 points a game. If any team in the WAC, or the country, has the best shot of giving Boise a legitimate challenging game, it is Nevada. Their two styles of fast-paced football closely mimic each other.
Nevada quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, may be the best quarterback you never heard of. Kaepernick returned to Nevada for his senior year and is the vocal emotional leader of the Wolf Pack. In just three games, the senior has passed for 728 yards and 5 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 379 yards and 7 touchdowns. Had he played for a BCS conference team, his name would surely be mentioned among early Heisman Trophy candidates.
Boise State edged out the Wolf Pack last year in Boise by beating them 44-33. Kaepernick and his Nevada teammates remember that game well. While the hype out of the conference and nationally might be about Boise, Nevada looks to be the team to beat in the WAC this season. With fairly favorable 2010 schedules, all signs point to Boise and Nevada heading into the late November game undefeated. While the bandwagon media fawn over Boise’s victory against Oregon State, Nevada continues to quietly dominate their competition week by week. As of now, they are looking nothing short of impressive. All eyes will be on Reno, Nevada, this November as the game between the two will separate the pretenders from the contenders.
