Eat 'em up, eat 'em up...

Here we go; with kickoff just twenty two hours away, or thereabouts, it's last pre-game posting time.  I thought my comrade would add just one, but...c'est la vie.

So far everything I've heard from everywhere and anywhere about this game is that it should be one high-scoring sockfest, and there really is no evidence to the contrary.  But there seems to be nearly unanimous concord amongst would-be prognosticators: Mustangs goin' down.  Reading the ESPN Bottom Line a few moments ago Nevada was shown to be the favorite of 91% of the replying pollsters.

Although the story of the game, for some reason, is June Jones returning to Hawai'i; not Ault, not Kaep, a little of the prolific, Flanders-style rushing attack, but mostly Jones returning to face his former fans.  Not that it's not a nice footnote, but it really is something of an aside in the issue: an SMU team, once glorious, long hapless, tastes some success for the first time since 1986 (6-5-0), 1985 (6-5-0), and 1984 (10-2-0) not including the 6-6 season in 2006 or the no-team years 1987-1988; Nevada's historic year of sorts; Ault being Ault, good or bad; &c. &c.

But the Pack is the universal favorite in spite of recent setbacks faced by the Wolf Pack, many of which most people haven't seemed to notice or care about.  The announcement regarding Taua and his incredulous accademic record came out this past weekend, but those happy few discussing this game continue to include him in their synopses.  Now the suspension/expulsion of Messrs. Willson and Davis...the lumps seem to keep coming; almost like a Higher Power exerting influence in order to beleaguer the beloved Wolf Pack; I'm pretty sure that this sort of smiting is what happened to men's basketball vs. Nevada Southern last month.

Yet, regardless of the influence of a few bad eggs, mistakes, injuries, or Vinz Clortho, I believe that it will take Ault harnessing every ounce of his storied bowl-choking powers to blow this game.  Not because Nevada can be that dominating, which I believe it can, but, really, what can SMU do about it?

The "bend but don't break" pass defence worked well enough against Fresno State (who is a better team then SMU, might I add), allbeit with a little fairy dust from the officials.  I think that SMUs passing game should be similar: fairly gaudy numbers, but with a disproportionately small showing of points.

I mentioned this in an earlier post, but it deserves a refresher:
SMU-
PF: 335 PA: 349 Dif: -14
Nevada-
PF: 487 PA: 326 Dif: +161
Dif-
PF: Nevada +152 PA: Nevada -23

And at running back, the Pack has Mark getting the start, backed up by fan favorite Mike Ball and Courtney Randall:

Lampford Mark-
Carries: 44 Yards: 286 YPC: 6.5 Long: 23 (TD) TD: 3
Mike Ball-
Carries: 19 Yards: 201 YPC: 10.6 Long: 89 (TD) TD: 5
Courtney Randall-
Carries: 20 Yards: 149 YPC: 7.5 Long: 57 TD: 3

Ball definately has the capability of rushing for 100+; the other two probably would if presented with the opportunity.  These three on their own will account for the offense being able to dust off and open up the old Air Wolf.  Not saying that Kaep will pass for gaudy numbers, but he can, and we actually have receivers who can, you know, CATCH THE BALL!

Long story short, Nevada can't 'stop' SMU anymore than France can 'stop' the German Empire, but they sure can slow them down.  On the open field Nevada should be able to win; if this game goes down into the trenches then the Wolf Pack has the decided advantage.

Let's go, Pack!  Despite the indicators, though, Pack fans everywhere should knock on every piece of wood they can find to help dispel lingering bowl tradition.

Upcoming articles for the off-season:
Season Statistical Review
Introducing Ourselves to the New Public Enemy #1 (can HE translate 1-AA success into FBS winnage?)
A Look at California-Nevada All-time Series

Just for Google:  Bobby Hauck is Public Enemy #1, may he suffer horrific indignity.