Friday, Oct. 24, 2003 | 10:08 a.m.
4 p.m., Sam Boyd Stadium TV: KTNV-Ch. 13 Radio: KBAD-AM (920)
WHEN BYU HAS THE BALL
BYU run offense vs. UNLV run defense
The Cougars have been held to 103 yards rushing or less in four of their eight games this season including just minus-5yards in a 18-14 home loss to Stanford. Senior tailback Marcus Whalen suffered a foot injury in the Cougars season-opening 24-13 win against Georgia Tech and lost his starting job to JC transfer Reynaldo Brathwaite, who is fourth in the MWC in rushing and has a glossy 6.0 yards per rush average. However, the Cougars rank a dreadful 100th nationally in rushing offense with an average of 105.9 yards per game and struggled to move the ball on the ground last week against a Wyoming rush defense that ranks 105th nationally and is allowing 204.6 yards per game. With senior defensive end Deitrich Canterberry healthy again, UNLV's run defense, which is allowing just 140.4 yards per game, should be even stronger down the stretch. Edge: UNLV.
BYU pass offense vs. UNLV pass defense
Cougars quarterback Matt Berry, who missed more than a month with a broken hand, took the tape off the injury in practice this week and is close to 100 percent again. He is expected to play the entire game although BYU coach Gary Crowton, who has developed a reputation for playing musical quarterbacks in games, hasn't totally ruled out using freshman John Beck, the better runner of the two. Berry had a solid game in BYU's loss at Wyoming last week, completing 21 of 34 passes for 225 yards but threw one very big interception near the end of the game on a tipped pass after the Cougars had moved in position for a game-tying field goal try. He also appeared to have happy feet at times against a Wyoming pass rush that is the worst in the Mountain West Conference. UNLV's secondary has been vulnerable to t he big play this year and will be starting a true freshman at corner for the first time in Ernest Gordon, who must play the first half for suspended starter Ruschard Dodd-Masters. Look for the Cougars to test him early.
Edge: BYU.
WHEN UNLV HAS THE BALL UNLV run offense vs. BYU run defense
Overlooked in last week's 28-10 loss to Utah is the fact senior tailback Larry Croom had his best game since suffering a thigh muscle injury against Kansas. Croom rushed for 114 yards on 21 carries against a Ute defense that ranks 25th nationally against the run. BYU, led by junior defensive ends Brady Poppinga and John Denney, also has a good rush defense and held the Rebels to just 97 rushing yards a year ago. This UNLV offensive line, however, is bigger and stronger than that one was.
Edge: UNLV.
UNLV pass offense vs. BYU pass defense
With the way Kurt Nantkes has struggled in recent weeks, it's hard to give the Rebels the edge against anybody. UNLV's pass offense ranks a disappointing 86th nationally and snapped a 14-quarter streak without a touchdown pass in the second quarter of last week's 28-10 loss to Utah when Nantkes connected with junior Earvin Johnson for a 16-yard score. Tight end Greg Estandia, who had nine catches in UNLV's first four games, has had just one since as opposing defensives have adjusted and lined up a linebacker on top of him. The Rebels still haven't managed to develop a deep threat although freshman Tremayne Kirkland has that potential. The Cougars have a good secondary led by senior cornerback Jemaro Gilford and junior safety Aaron Francisco. And the Cougars pass rush, which has a MWC leading 22 sacks, figures to com e at Nantkes early and often.
Edge: BYU.
SPECIAL TEAMS This game features arguably the two best punters in the conference if not the entire west coast. UNLV's Gary Cook is 18th nationally with a 43.8 average and has done an outstanding job of pinning opponents down inside the 20. However, BYU's Matt Payne may be even better and leads the MWC with a 44.6 average. Payne also is an excellent placekicker who has connected on 12 of 15 field goal tries, including a 53-yarder, and is a perfect 15 for 15 on PATs. UNLV gets a slight edge in punt returns with Tremayne Kirkland (11.8 avg.) against Toby Christensen (7.8 avg.), but the Cougars rate a huge edge on kickoff returns where freshman Brett Cooper (30.7 avg.) leads the conference while UNLV ranks an embarrassing 117th nationally in kickoff returns with a woeful 13.1 average.
Edge: BYU.
INTANGIBLES Both teams stumble into this game with two-game MWC losing streaks and are hoping to salvage their seasons with a strong finish (wishful thinking?) and even a bowl berth. Got to wonder about the mindset of the Cougars who are coming off two very tough setbacks, an embarrassing 58-13 home loss to Colorado State and an even more embarrassing 13-10 road loss at Wyoming which was only the second MWC win in 23 games for the Cowboys. One plus for the Cougars is that they'll have more than share of fans in the stands for this one. BYU is a 4-0 at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Edge: UNLV.
COACHING How the Cougars finish out the season could very well determine whether Gary Crowton returns to Provo in 2004. The razzle-dazzle offense that was the rage of the Mountain West Conference two years ago is now nothing more than a fizzle. BYU is trying to avoid its second consecutive losing season, something that hasn't happen since the Tommy Hudspeth days. UNLV brings a two-game losing streak into this one but it could be argued the Rebels have already faced the two best teams in the conference in red-hot Utah and Air Force. The Rebels seem to be primed for a strong finish.
Edge: UNLV.
KEYS TO VICTORY To win, BYU must ... 1. Forget about Wyoming. Everyone knew the much improved Cowboys would upset one or two MWC teams this year. The Cougars just happened to be the first one. Time to move on or it could be a really long season.
2. Protect QB Matt Berry. With his broken throwing hand finally close to 100 percent again, it's imperative he has plenty of time to throw against Jamaal Brimmer and company.
3. Stop the run. UNLV's pass offense continues to struggle. Take away the run and it becomes the Gary Cook punting show again.
To win, UNLV must ... 1. Come out strong. Rebels are 3-0 when scoring first this year. UNLV doesn't have the passing attack to play catchup, especially if they fall behind by more than one touchdown.
2. Win the turnover battle. With the offense still not operating on all cylinders yet, the defense will have to make some big plays like it did in earlier big wins against Wisconsin, Toledo and Hawaii and in last year's 24-3 victory at BYU.
3. Be patient. Neither team figures to be able to move the ball well in this one which means it probably won't be decided until the fourth quarter much like the 16-12 Fremont Cannon win at Nevada-Reno.
THE PICK UNLV 17, BYU 13
archive
