No. 18 Washington State takes on stumbling Nevada
Posted Sep 21, 2017 11:22:26 AM.
Last Updated Sep 21, 2017 12:00:31 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Nevada (0-3) at No. 18 Washington State (3-0), Saturday, 6 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Networks)
Line: Washington State by 28
Series record: Washington State leads 2-1.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Washington State is looking for its first 4-0 start since 2001, and to avenge a 2014 loss in Reno. Nevada seeks to bounce back from an embarrassing 30-28 loss last weekend to FCS bottom feeder Idaho State and give new head coach Jay Norvell his first win with the Wolf Pack.
KEY MATCHUP
QB Luke Falk threw six touchdown passes last weekend against Oregon State, and will lead an Air Raid offence that averages 43 points per game against a Nevada defence that is giving up almost 33 points per game. The Washington State defence must respond to the loss of star MLB Peyton Pelluer, a four-year starter who suffered a broken foot against Oregon State.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nevada: QB Kaymen Cureton. The freshman made his first start last weekend and threw three touchdown passes. Nevada running backs rushed for 218 yards against Idaho State.
Washington State: Falk is the Pac-12 offensive player of the week, and finally got the ball downfield last week to outside receivers Isaiah Johnson-Mack and Tavares Martin Jr. The former high school teammates from Florida combined for 19 receptions and five touchdown passes against Oregon State.
FACTS & FIGURES
Nevada may be without starting RB Jaxson Kincaide, who suffered a concussion last weekend … Nevada is 4-26 when playing teams in the Top 25 … This is the fourth of five consecutive home games to open the season for Washington State … The Cougars will try not to look six days down the road to their home game against No. 5 Southern California … Falk is the NCAA active leader in passing yards (11,793), touchdown passes (98), and yards per game (346.9) … DL Hercules Mata’afa leads the Pac-12 with 30 career tackles-for-loss.
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