Friday, Sept. 10, 2004 | 10:13 a.m.
WHEN UNLV HAS THE BALL
UNLV run offense vs. Wisconsin run defense
This will be a key part of the game for both teams. UNLV, led by senior tailback Dominique Dorsey's 121 yards, rushed for a respectable 164 yards at SEC power Tennessee on Sunday. Here's the bad news: Wisconsin's defensive line, led by All-American tackle Anttaj Hawthorne and senior end Erasmus James, is considered to be even better than the Vols. Dorsey, subbing for the injured Larry Croom, ran for exactly 100 yards on a career-high 26 carries last year against the Badgers. Wisconsin limited Central Florida to an average of just 1.51 yards per rush last week in their season-opening 34-6 victory.
Edge: Even.
UNLV pass offense vs. Wisconsin pass defense
Other than one bad read near the goal line, senior quarterback Kurt Nantkes had a solid game in noisy Neyland Stadium, completing 13 of 24 passes for 175 yards. All-Mountain West Conference wide receiver Earvin Johnson, who had two acrobatic touchdown grabs in last year's upset in Madison, practiced on Thursday and is expected to start despite bruising his knee in the first quarter at Tennessee. The Rebels desperately miss 6-foot-8 tight end Greg Estandia (knee), especially when they get close to the goal-line. Wisconsin has a solid secondary led by senior free safety Jim Leonhard, who has more interceptions (18) than any other Division I player over the past two seasons.
Edge: UNLV.
WHEN WISCONSIN HAS THE BALL
Wisconsin run offense vs. UNLV run defense
The Rebels had 30 missed tackles in the loss at Tennessee. The Volunteers finished with 272 yards on the ground and seemed to convert on third down at will. Wisconsin struggled badly on the ground against UNLV's blitzing defense a year ago and managed just 52 yards rushing on 42 attempts. Starting tailback Booker Stanley began the year ranked No. 3 on the Badgers depth chart but is now the starter following an injury Saturday to Heisman Trophy candidate Anthony Davis (eye socket) while backup Dwayne Smith was forced to quit football with a heart ailment. Stanley had 25 yards on six carries against the Rebels last year. He'll be running behind a big, physical offensive line that should be one of the best in the Big Ten this year.
Edge: Wisconsin.
Wisconsin pass offense vs. UNLV pass defense
UNLV had some breakdowns in pass coverage at Tennessee and also managed just one sack. The Rebels, with the aid of the rain and wind, held future NFL No. 1 pick Lee Evans to just two receptions a year ago and got to the quarterback. The Badgers have a pair of talented junior wide receivers in 6-foot-3 Jonathan Orr, who has 15 career starts, and 5-foot-11 Brandon Williams, who already has 102 career receptions. Sophomore John Stocco makes just his second college start at quarterback for the Badgers. The big key will be if Rebels All-American safety Jamaal Brimmer can come close to have another dominating day against the Badgers.
Edge: UNLV.
SPECIAL TEAMS
UNLV will once again be without all-Mountain West Conference punt returner Tremayne Kirkland (shoulder), which means inexperienced sophomore Donell Wheaton, who fumbled a punt at Tennessee, will handle those return duties again. Wisconsin senior safety Jim Leonhard needs just 36 yards to take over the top spot on the school punt return list and is averaging 13.1 yards a return for his career. UNLV gets the edge at punter in senior Gary Cook while Wisconsin has a proven placekicker in senior Mike Allen, who is 22 of 25 inside the 40-yard line for his career.
Edge: Wisconsin.
INTANGIBLES
The Badgers have been simmering for a year after their sloppy and stunning 23-5 upset loss to the Rebels. They've made no secret of wanting to get a little payback on Saturday. But Wisconsin will have to do it with an unproven sophomore quarterback and a third-string tailback. The Badgers, however, didn't have to fly three time zones and back last weekend and then come back and play again six days later another 1,500 more miles away from home.
Edge: Wisconsin.
COACHING
Barry Alvarez joined the 100-win club with the Badgers' victory over Central Florida. He has done an outstanding job of taking what at the time was one of the Big Ten's worst programs and molding it into a perennial conference contender. UNLV has two former national coaches of the year on its staff in John Robinson (1978) and Bruce Snyder (1996).
Edge: UNLV.
KEYS TO VICTORY
To win, UNLV must ...
1. Stop the run. This is only the second start for unproven Badger quarterback Stocco. If Wisconsin can't run the ball successfully, that puts even more pressure on Stocco.
2. Force turnovers. The Rebels, who had 35 takeaways last season, forced five turnovers and recorded a safety last year.
3. Make holes. Wisconsin has one of the nation's best defensive lines but the Rebels don't need to create a lot of room for Dorsey to get loose.
To win, Wisconsin must ...
1. Run the football. Tennessee had success on the ground, so why can't the Badgers?
2. Start fast. The Badgers need a couple of big plays early to put last year's fiasco behind them.
3. Protect the quarterback. Ex-Badger Jim Sorgi was a punching bag for the Rebels last year.
THE PICK
UNLV 24, Wisconsin 21.
archive
