Arizona Bowl | Preview & Prediction

By Don Phillips

 

Nevada Wolf Pack

Record: 6-6, 4-4

Streak: L2

Last result: L, 31-14, SDSU

Head Coach: Brian Polian

Record at Nevada: 17-20

 

Colorado State Rams

Record: 7-5, 5-3

Streak: W4

Last result: W, 34-31, FS

Coach: Mike Bobo

Record at CSU: 7-5

 

Game Information

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015

Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. PT

Stadium: Arizona Stadium

Location: Tucson, Ariz.

Capacity: 56,029

Surface: FieldTurf

Series: CSU leads, 11-2

Last Meeting: Oct. 11, 2014; L, 31-24

Digital Broadcast: Campus Insiders

Television: American Sports Network

Radio: Wolf Pack Radio Network

Flagship: ESPN Radio – 94.5 FM, 630 AM)

 

 

The Wolf Pack ranks in the top five in the Mountain West in the following statistical categories: punt return average (1st, 12.6), field goal percentage (1st, .875), average turnover margin (2nd, +0.67), red zone offense (2nd, 90.0), onside kick percentage (2nd, 66.7), red zone defense (3rd, .761), rush offense per game (4th, 205.6), opponent average penalty yardage (4th, 54.6), PAT kicking (4th, .974), rush defense per game (5th, 188.8) and average penalty yardage (5th, 49.0).

 

James Butler and Don Jackson became just the third running back duo in program history to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing in the same season. Butler and Jackson are the first 1,000-yard running backs in the same season at Nevada since 2009, when Vai Taua (1,345) and Luke Lippincott (1,034) joined QB Colin Kaepernick to become the first team with three 1,000-yard rushers in NCAA history. The first RB duo to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing in the same season was Otto Kelley and Anthony Corely in 1983.

 

Junior QB Tyler Stewart started in all 12 games during the regular season, accounting for 2,065 passing yards and 294 rushing yards. Stewart ranked sixth in the Mountain West in total offense, averaging 196.5 yards per game.

 

The Wolf Pack is just one of four non-power five teams and one of 18 teams overall to advance to at least a 10th bowl game in the past 11 seasons … Nevada is looking to improve upon its bowl record of 4-10 while snapping a three-game bowl losing streak … Both Nevada and Colorado State will be playing in their 15th all-time bowl game … The Wolf Pack trails in its series history to the Rams by a margin of 11-2 … Nevada had seven players earn All-Mountain West honors, including first team selection Ian Seau, at the end of the regular season … Nevada is one of just two teams in the nation that feature a pair of 1,000-yard rushers.

 

Key Player Injuries

 

NEVADA
[OL] 12/19/2015 – Joey Anglemire out for season ( Knee )
[DB] 12/19/2015 – Tere Calloway expected to miss Tuesday vs. Colorado State ( Personal )
[LB] 12/09/2015 – Matthew Lyons “?” Tuesday vs. Colorado State ( Foot )
[DB] 12/06/2015 – Jarid Joseph “?” Tuesday vs. Colorado State ( Concussion )
[LB] 12/06/2015 – Travis Wilson “?” Tuesday vs. Colorado State ( Shoulder )
[OG] 10/14/2015 – Adam Khouri out for season ( Concussion )
[TE] 09/29/2015 – Matt Moen out for season ( Undisclosed )
[WR] 09/08/2015 – Brayden Sanchez out for season ( Knee )

 

 

COLORADO ST
[DB] 12/19/2015 – Nick Januska is upgraded to probable Tuesday vs. Nevada (Undisclosed)
[FB] 12/19/2015 – Nu’uvali Fa’apito expected to miss Tuesday vs. Nevada ( Concussion )
[OL] 12/06/2015 – Nick Callender “?” Tuesday vs. Nevada ( Ankle )
[DB] 12/06/2015 – Preston Hodges “?” Tuesday vs. Nevada ( Undisclosed )
[DB] 12/05/2015 – Trent Matthews out for season ( ACL )
[WR] 10/30/2015 – Elroy Masters Jr. out indefinitely ( Collarbone )
[Backup RB] 09/23/2015 – Treyous Jarrells left the team ( Personal )

 

Selection: Nevada +3

 

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