In this game we have the highest point spread differential between these two teams than in any other bowl game. Wierd line movement as well in this one. It opened at 12.5 and went all the way up to 14.5-15 in some spots. That was before it became known that the Wolfpack's other 100 rusher Vai Taua was declared academically ineligible for this game. Previously, Luke Lippincott, also a 1000 yard rusher has a toe injury and will miss the game. That's a pretty damn big chunk of the nation's leading rushing attack. Now the line is right back where it started from. June Jones is the coach of SMU and has them back into a bowl for the first time since the NCAA declared the death penalty on them back in the days of Craig James. The Wolfpack's weakest element of their team is that they are DEAD LAST in the NCAA in pass defense. Yep, the dreaded 119th!! That's how many D-1 schools there are!! When Jones was with Hawaii we all know how prolific his passing game was and it's not quite Hawaii standards, but the definitely pass more than they run, and by a solid margin.
We also can draw from the fact that Jones is very familiar with "The Pistol" offense employed by Nevada and as a matter of fact, he has never lost to Nevada (4-0). The Wolfpack has not had a lot of success in bowl games recently going 0-3 and we all know what their ATS record is away from Reno. If you don't know, suffice it to say that 'Taint good. Under dog trend still doing well over recent years, especially getting more than a TD.
Steve Duemig 12/24
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