TAKE FIVE: UNLV VS. COLORADO STATE

Friday, Oct. 19, 2007 | 7:33 a.m.

What: UNLV vs. Colorado State

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Sam Boyd Stadium

Tickets: $15 and up; 739-3267 or unlvtickets.com

There will be little at stake - save for pride - when UNLV hosts Colorado State on Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

The Rebels, who have lost three in a row, have fashioned a 2-5 record and have dropped two of their three Mountain West Conference games. The Rams are winless in six outings, including all three of their conference games, and have lost 13 straight dating to last season.

But we still managed to come up with five reasons why you should head to the east end of Russell Road for the Rebels' penultimate home game of the 2007 season.

1. No TV

Another problem with the Mountain West Conference's TV deal with CSTV/ the mtn.: For the second time this season, a UNLV football game will not be televised in Southern Nevada. Instead, the mtn. will offer a student-produced sports show and a replay of Thursday night's Utah- Texas Christian University game while UNLV and CSU are playing.

2. Something to cheer?

Although head coach Mike Sanford said there are no guaranteed wins among the Rebels' final five games, this is as close as it comes. Then again, the Rams' last victory came against the Rebels (28-7 last October in Fort Collins).

3. Controversy brewing?

Watch a good old-fashioned quarterback controversy develop right before your eyes as freshman Omar Clayton tries to wrest the starting job from redshirt freshman Travis Dixon. Clayton provided a spark in his two cameo appearances last week against BYU and figures to get more playing time Saturday.

4. End of an era

Coaching legend Sonny Lubick just might be making his final appearance at Sam Boyd Stadium as the Rams' head coach. Lubick, in his 15th season at CSU, turned 70 this year, and there is talk that this might be his final season on the Rams' sidelines. He has a 105-71 record at CSU, and his teams are 10-1 against UNLV.

5. It's homecoming

OK, this really isn't a great reason to go, but it's better than "Watch the 114th-ranked scoring offense (UNLV) go up against the 92nd-ranked scoring defense (CSU)."