Sunday’s matchup: UNLV (0-0) at Tennessee (0-0)

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 | 9:54 a.m.

Steve Guiremand

WHEN UNLV HAS THE BALL

UNLV run offense vs. Tennessee run defense

New UNLV offensive coordinator Bruce Snyder believes in a strong, physical run game and says his goal is to have an offensive line that is the most feared in the Mountain West. The Rebels will be starting two promising sophomore tackles in Marco Guerra and Chris Bowser but they figure to have their hands full against a very athletic Vols defensive line led by junior end Parys Harralson. Tennessee also has an excellent group of linebackers led by junior Kevin Simon and senior Kevin Burnett. The Rebels go five deep at running back and have a pair of game-breakers in senior starting tailback Dominique Dorsey and sophomore Erick Jackson. Tennessee finished just 43rd in the nation in rush defense a year ago, allowing 138.3 yards per game, including more than 200 yards in games against South Carol ina, Auburn and Alabama and 180 against Duke.

Edge: Tennessee.

UNLV pass offense vs. Tennessee pass defense

A healthy and experienced Kurt Nantkes should do wonders for a Rebels passing game that was at best anemic a year ago. UNLV finished 95th in the nation in passing offense, averaging just 175.8 yards per game through the air. However, look for Snyder and his staff to open things up, especially when it comes to getting explosive running backs Alvin Marshall and Dorsey involved. All-MWC wide receiver Earvin Johnson looks primed for a big season and will be better utilized in the revamped offense. The Rebels suffered a big loss, however, when tight end Greg Estandia, who figured to be a key third-down receiver, injured his knee in training camp. Tennessee, led by standout junior corner Jason Allen and sophomore safety Corey Campbell, ranked 20th in the nation in pass defense last season.

Edge: Tennessee.

WHEN TENNESSEE HAS THE BALL

Tennessee run offense vs. UNLV run defense

Despite the fact the Vols have perhaps the nation's premier offensive tackle in junior Michael Munoz and a Rimington Award candidate at center in senior Jason Respert, Tennessee ranked just 70th in the nation in rushing last year with an average of 138.5 yards per game. Chalk up part of that to a difficult SEC schedule but things don't figure to get better too quickly this year with two true freshmen, Brent Schaeffer and Erik Ainge, playing quarterback. Senior tailback Cedric Houston had led the Vols in rushing two consecutive years and was a second-team all-SEC pick. He's backed up by junior Gerald Riggs, Jr., a former prep All-American who is the son of former NFL star and Bonanza High product Gerald Riggs. UNLV returns a veteran linebacker corps led by senior s Adam Seward and Ryan Claridge and ranked 44th nationally against the run a year ago.

Edge: UNLV.

Tennessee pass offense vs. UNLV pass defense

Whenever you decide to play two true freshmen at quarterback it's usually a red flag unless one of the newcomers is named Elway or Marino. Brent Schaeffer, considered more of a runner than a passer, and Erik Ainge, a nephew of former BYU and Celtics star Danny Ainge, both make their college debuts against the Rebels. As Wisconsin's Jim Sorgi and Hawaii's Timmy Chang can tell you, that's not an easy task thanks in part to Rebels All-American safety Jamaal Brimmer. It figures to be even more difficult this season thanks to some upgrading at the cornerback position by the Rebels. The Vols have their usual group of big, fast and talented receivers led by 6-foot-4 junior Chris Hannon, who caught three touchdowns in one game against Mississippi State last year.

Edge: UNLV.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Both teams have All-America-caliber punters. Tennessee's Dustin Colquitt (45.3 avg.), a Ray Guy Award finalist last year,gets a slight edge over UNLV's Gary Cook (43.4 avg.). The Vols would appear to have a big advantage at placekicker, where James Wilhoit was a Freshman All-American after connecting on 17 of 24 field goals and all 41 PAT attempts. Meanwhile, UNLV will counter with unproven freshman Sergio Aquayo. The Rebels also will be without star punt returner Tremayne Kirkland (shoulder) who led the Mountain West Conference with a 12.6 average last year.

Edge: Tennessee.

INTANGIBLES

UNLV has a veteran team that has won its past two games against Top 25-ranked teams on the road -- at Wisconsin and Colorado State. But beating 14th-ranked Tennessee in front of 108,000 fans is a different animal. The Vols are approaching this game as a dress rehearsal for their big SEC clash with Florida in two weeks. If they come in overconfident, or if their freshman quarterbacks suffer stage fright, they might be vulnerable to an upset.

Edge: UNLV.

COACHING

UNLV coach John Robinson is 2-0 against Tennessee in his career and even won in Knoxville on a 47-yard Eric Hipp field goal as time ran out in 1980, 20-17. But that was with a USC team that had folks such as Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott, Bruce Matthews and Chips Banks on it. Tennessee's Phil Fulmer is the winningest active coach in the country with a minimum of 10 years of coaching (113-28, .801).

Edge: Even.

KEYS TO VICTORY

To win, UNLV must ...

1. Force turnovers. The Rebels had a Mountain West-leading 35 takeaways a year ago including five in their big 23-5 upset of Wisconsin.

2. Possess the ball. The less time Tennessee's potentially explosive offense is on the field the better.

3. Start fast. The Rebels need some big plays early to build confidence and also to put some pressure on the Vols' young offense.

To win, Tennessee must ...

1. Run the football. With hot and humid conditions expected,the Vols could wear down the Rebels defense while also taking pressure off their freshman quarterbacks.

2. Blitz the quarterback. UNLV's young tackles are a question mark entering the game.

3. Be patient. If their young quarterbacks make an early mistake or two, there's no need to panic.

THE PICK

Tennessee 23, UNLV 14