Boise State Vs Nevada: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction
The Wolf Pack return to action in Reno as they host Boise State on Saturday night.
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Nevada Looking To Snap Seven Game Losing Streak Against Boise State on Saturday
WEEK 11: Nevada Wolf Pack (2-7, 0-5 MW) vs. Boise State (6-3, 5-0 MW)
WHEN: Saturday, November 12th –7:30 PM PT/8:30 PM MT
TV: CBS Sports Network
STREAMING: CBS Sports Network available on the streaming sites such as Fubo and Hulu Live. (Click here to subscribe to Fubo)
RADIO: Nevada is on ESPN 94.5 in Reno and Boise State is on KBOI 670AM/93.1 FM
SERIES RECORD: Boise State leads in the all-time series 30-14. The last meeting was in 2021 in Boise, Idaho when Nevada won 41-31.
WEBSITES: NevadaWolfPack.com, the official Nevada athletics website | Broncosports.com, the official Boise State athletics website.
ODDS: Boise State (-21)
SP+ PROJECTION: Boise State by 20.4
FEI PROJECTION: Boise State by 18.0
The Nevada Wolf Pack return to action this Saturday as they host the Boise State Broncos. The Wolf Pack have three games remaining in their 2022 schedule and look to close out the season on a positive note.
Let’s be honest, that positive note would be Nevada ending their seven game losing streak. This season has been brutal for the Wolf Pack and one of the things that would make this season less bad would be to defeat one of their rivals which is Boise State.
The Broncos come into this contest 6-3 after a close loss to BYU last week. However, the Broncos are undefeated in Mountain West conference play and they have their eyes set on winning their division. Boise State has a game with Wyoming on November 19th that more than likely will decide the winner of the Mountain Division of the Mountain West.
But before they clash with the Cowboys, Boise State must face Nevada in Reno. Can the Wolf Pack finally snap their seven game losing streak against the Broncos?
What does Nevada have to earn back to back wins against Boise State for the first time since 1996-1998 when the Wolf Pack won three straight?
Here are my three keys and a prediction for Nevada vs Boise State
Continue to get solid play from Illingworth
With three games left in this season, Nevada looks like they have finally settled on a quarterback. And that quarterback’s name is Shane Illingworth.
In Nevada’s last game to San Jose State, Illingworth completed 18 of 30 passess for 223 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Illingworth was responsible for the second most points Nevada scored against a FBS opponent this season.
With Nate Cox being a senior, two other scholarship QBs on the roster returning next season (AJ Bianco and Jake Barlage) and incoming freshman Jax Leatherwood joining the QB room in 2023, Illingworth will have a chance in these final three games to cement his place as the favorite to be the starting QB next season.
Illingworth will get his next test against Boise State on Saturday. The Broncos defense is ranked second in the Mountain West in pass defense giving up 160.7 pass yards a game. Boise State also leads the conference in run defense as well giving up 104.5 rush yards a game.
Nevada is going to need Illingworth to play close to letter perfect at QB in order for Nevada to upset Boise State on Saturday. Illingworth appears to have the physical tools to play QB and he will need to put them on display against the Broncos.
Focus on stopping Taylen Green
Taylen Green took over as starting QB in late September when Hank Bachmeier entered the transfer portal.
Since Green took over at QB, he has proven to be a very capable and talented QB. Green has completed 68 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,082 yards and six touchdowns. Green has shown to be a threat as a runner as well. Green has ran for 272 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns.
Green has played great in Boise State’s last two games. Against Colorado State, Green completed 24 of 30 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns. Last week against BYU, Green completed 17 of 23 passes for 220 yards while throwing two touchdowns. Green has not thrown an interception in his last two starts and he is only getting better.
For Nevada to stay in this game and hopefully defeat Boise State, the Wolf Pack defense will have to find a way to stop Green and force him to make mistakes. If Nevada’s defense can force Green to make mistakes, that would give the Wolf Pack offense a chance to capitalize on Boise’s mistakes.
Make the big plays against Boise State
Coach Wilson said after Nevada’s loss to San Jose State that the players and coaches were playing not to lose instead of playing to win against the Spartans.
And you know what Wilson was correct when he said that about the Wolf Pack team. Going back to last season, Nevada has found ways to lose close contests because the team lacked the aggressive drive to make big plays late in close games.
Nevada is a young team with very little experience so it is essential for those players to play with controlled aggression in order to win.
Facing a talented Boise State team that is in the picture for the Mountain West championship, Nevada has to throw caution to the win and make the big crucial plays on Saturday.
Final Score Prediction
Boise State 31 Nevada 24
Before losing their seventh straight game against San Jose State, Nevada did have a 21-7 lead on the Spartans. The Wolf Pack did play well enough to win the game but fell apart due to a lack of making big plays late in the game.
For Nevada to pull off the upset against Boise State, they need to make a few big plays along with corralling Broncos QB Taylen Green and getting another good game from Shane Illingworth. If Nevada can do all three of those items, then they have a shot at winning.
But Boise State is just a more talented team than Nevada even after the Broncos fell to BYU last week. With this contest being a rivalry game, Nevada will keep it close but Boise State will win out in the end.
