Saturday’s matchup: UNLV (2-5, 1-2) at Utah (6-0, 2-0)

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Oct. 22, 2004 | 10:58 a.m.

Steve Guiremand

WHEN UNLV HAS THE BALL UNLV run offense vs. Utah run defense The Rebels, behind Mountain West Conference rushing leader Dominique Dorsey (109.6 yards per game), are averaging a solid 4.3 yards per rush and rank fourth in the MWC in rushing with an average of 160.6 yards per game. But they'll be facing arguably the best defensive line in the conference led by terrific junior nose guard Steve Fifita, maybe the best defensive lineman in the Mountain West, and defensive ends Marquess Ledbetter and Jonathan Fanene. The Utes' frount four isn't as good as Wisconsin's was but it's pretty darn close. The Rebels rushed for just 72 yards against the Badgers.

Edge: Utah

UNLV pass offense vs. Utah pass defense

Sophomore Shane Steichen makes his second start of the season, which is probably not a bad idea as he's much more mobile than senior Kurt Nantkes and he could find himself running for his life against a Utah pass rush that has compiled 16 sacks. The Utes lead the Mountain West and rank 38th in the nation in pass defense, allowing just 190.0 yards per game, a stat that is even more impressive when you consider most of their opponents find themselves in a big hole early and are forced to throw a lot to try to get back into the game. The Utes have the top secondary in the conference, led by safeties Morgan Scalley and Eric Weddle. Utah has allowed just two touchdown passes in six games while intercepting six passes.

Edge: Utah

WHEN UTAH HAS THE BALL

Utah run offense vs. UNLV run defense

The Utes have two outstanding running backs in powerful senior Marty Johnson (6-foot, 225 pounds), who is third in the Mountain West Conference in rushing with 511 yards yards on just 91 carries (5.6 avg.), and junior Quinton Ganther, who is eighth in the MWC with 338 yards on 66 carries (5.1 avg). And don't forget about quarterback Alex Smith, who is 10th in the MWC in rushing (262 yards on 59 carries) and has run for seven touchdowns. The offensive line, led by senior right guard Chris Kemoeatu, has dominated UNLV up front over the years and figures to do so again this week. The Rebels are allowing 183.1 yards per game on the ground, which ranks them 85th nationally.

Edge: Utah

Utah pass offense vs. UNLV pass defense

UNLV's secondary, led by All-American safety Jamaal Brimmer and corners Ruschard Dodd-Masters and Charles Ealy, stepped up and played perhaps its finest game of the season in the state of Utah two weeks ago when it allowed just one touchdown pass against a high-powered BYU passing attack. It will need an even better effort on Saturday against Utah's spread offense, which is run so efficiently by Smith, the MVP of the league by a landslide. Smith is completing 64.9 percent of his passes (98 of 151) for 1,460 yards, 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Wide receivers Paris Warren and Steve Savoy form the best receiving duo in the conference. Utah quarterbacks have been sacked just eight times all season.

Edge: Utah.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Junior kicker Bryan Borreson, Utah's starter for the last three years, is out indefinitely after aggravating a long-term groin injury in the second half of last week's win over North Carolina. That means freshman walk-on David Carroll takes over kicking duties, but it probably won't matter because the Utes' offense is so potent it rarely has to settle for field goals (just two all year). Senior punter Matt Kovacevich (42.3 avg.) ranks fourth in the MWC. Utah gets the edge in both kickoff returns (MWC-leading 21.7 yards per return) and, especially, punt returns (8.2 avg.).

Edge: Utah

INTANGIBLES

UNLV is playing basically for pride. Utah is playing to make history by becoming the first team from a non-BCS conference to make it into one of the big four BCS bowls. To do that the Utes know they have to go undefeated. Don't expect any kind of letdown by the Utes.

Edge: Utah

COACHING

UNLV coach John Robinson seems to be at his best in marquee games but this one on paper doesn't appear to be a fair fight. Utah coach Urban Meyer has assembled a top-notch staff and is quickly establishing himself as one of college football's premier coaches.

Edge: Utah

KEYS TO VICTORY

To win, UNLV must ...

1. Force turnovers. Lots of them. Preferably deep in Utah territory. Better yet, run them all the way back to the end zone.

2. Possess the ball. The less time Utah's high-powered offense has the football, the better. That means moving the chains with a strong running game and short, high percentage passes.

3. Hold the Utes to field goals. Utah is going to get its share of yards. But if UNLV can force the Utes and Carroll into attempting field goals, it might have a chance to keep it close.

To win, Utah must ...

1. Show up on time. On paper this is a big mismatch.

2. Start fast. This is nothing unusual for Smith and company, who usually have the game won by halftime.

3. Stop the run. With quarterback and passing game problems, UNLV's biggest hope of an upset is for Dorsey to explode and have a big game.

THE PICK

Utah 41, UNLV 10.