Friday, Sept. 12, 2003 | 9:50 a.m.
WHEN UNLV HAS THE BALL
UNLV run offense vs. Wisconsin run defense The Badgers have battled injury and suspension problems on the defensive line this year but get junior end/ tackle Darius Jones back after sitting out the Akron game serving a one-game suspension. However, senior tackle Nick Cochart suffered a sprained left ankle against Akron and isn't expected to play this week and end Erasmus James is expected to miss his third consecutive game with a hip injury. The Badgers are so thin up front that reserve offensive guard Kalvin Barrett is expected to see time at defensive tackle. Wisconsin has allowed 162 yards rushing in each of its first two games and a total of five rushing touchdowns. UNLV could be without starting tailback Larry Croom for this one, however, which means Smurfish Dominique Dorsey will have to carry the bulk of the load at tailback al ong with JC transfer Alvin Marshall. Rebels are averaging almost 200 yards per game on the ground. Edge: UNLV
UNLV pass offense vs. Wisconsin pass defense Junior quarterback Kurt Nantkes struggled in the second half of last week's loss at Kansas with two big interceptions. Junior wide receiver Earvin Johnson had a solid but unspectacular debut with four catches for 61 yards while 6-foot-8 tight end Greg Estandia, the hero of UNLV's season-opening 28-18 victory against Toledo, was held to just one reception by the Jayhawks. Wisconsin did a nice job defensively against the pass in its opener at West Virginia when it held the Mountaineers to just 138 yards through the air. But the Badgers were badly carved up by Akron's Charlie Frye, who completed 31 of 49 passes for 372 yards, last week. Still, Wisconsin has a good secondary headlined by 5-foot-8 junior free safety Jim Leonhard and junior corner Scott Starks, who will be starting his 27th consecuti ve game on Saturday. Edge: Wisconsin
WHEN WISCONSIN HAS THE BALL
Wisconsin run offense vs. UNLV run defense The Badgers specialize in the power running game and haveanother big, strong offensive line to block for Heisman Trophy candidate Anthony Davis, the nation's No. 2 rusher with 414 yards. Backup tailback Dwight Smith is a future star, too. The Rebels limp into Madison after allowing 276 rushing yards to ... Kansas! Yikes! This could get ugly. Edge: Wisconsin
Wisconsin pass offense vs. UNLV pass defense Speaking of ugly, Wisconsin wide receivers Lee Evans, a probable first round NFL pick, and super sophs Jonathan Orr and Brandon Williams takes on a young Rebels secondary that took more than its share of lumps in last week's Kansas debacle. Toss in the fact that Badgers senior quarterback Jim Sorgi is arguably a better pure passer than his predecessor, New York Jets sixth round pick Brooks Bollinger, and it has all the makings for another long afternoon for Willie Tagoai, Joe Miklos, Ruschard Dodd-Masters and company. Edge: Wisconsin
SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior free safety Jim Leonhard is one of the nation's top punt returners, averaging 12.8 yards per return in 2002.Sophomore wide receiver Brandon Williams averaged 20.0 yards per return last season when he set school records for kickoff returns (32) and kick return yards (670). The Badgers could be without placekicker Mike Allen (hip) but backup Scott Campbell has connected on his past three field goal tries. UNLV punter Ryan Cook leads the Mountain West Conference in punting with a 44.6 average. Edge: Wisconsin
INTANGIBLES
Wisconsin is 19-1 in its past 20 non-conference home games. Since Barry Alvarez took over as head coach, the Badgers are 29-4 vs. non-leagues foes at Camp Randall Stadium, which will once again be sold out with a crowd of about 76,000 expected. Have to figure the Badgers' defense is still smarting from last week's poor effort against Akron and will be out to prove a point. Edge: Wisconsin
COACHING
Barry Alvarez inherited a program that was a perennial cellar dweller and took Bucky Badger to the Rose Bowl three times in the past decade. With a Big Ten schedule that skips Michigan and gets defending national champion Ohio State to visit Camp Randall in mid-October, there's a good chance Wisconsin could be headed back to Pasadena again this season. UNLV coach John Robinson (8-1, .899) has the best career Division I-A bowl game winning percentage among active coaches who have coached in a minimum of eight games while Alvarez (7-1, .875) is No. 2. Expect Barry, thanks in part to a excellent group of assistant coaches, to tie that mark this year. Edge: Wisconsin
KEYS TO VICTORY
To win, UNLV must ... 1. Fly to the football. The Rebels need to use their excellent defensive speed to cause havoc and force turnovers like they did in the opening 28-18 win against Toledo.
2. Pressure the quarterback. Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi figures to pick apart the Rebels' inexperienced secondary if he is given too much time. That means turning Jamaal Brimmer lose on the blitz just about every play.
3. Play error-free football. That means no turnovers or careless penalties, which have hampered the team in its first two games.
To win, Wisconsin must ... 1. Test UNLV's secondary early and often. The Rebels struggled badly against Kansas last week and the Jayhawks don't have any receivers in the same class as a Lee Evans or a Jonathan Orr. And UNLV figures to go all out to try to stop talented tailback Anthony Davis.
2. Possess the ball. The thin Badgers defensive line was gassed after being on the field for 92 plays last week and would like nothing better than to watch most of this game from the sideline.
3. Stop the run. UNLV's passing attack still is not in sync yet and the Rebels haven't shown that they have any game-breaking threats at wide receiver.
THE PICK Wisconsin 34, UNLV 14
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