Week 7: New Mexico State at Nevada

After a bizarre start to the season that included two bye weeks before they played a game, back-to-back close encounters with bitter rivals and an odd morning game against Alcorn State, the Aggies finally get to settle into a routine and begin WAC play.

This is an intriguing matchup because New Mexico State will attack Nevada in much the same way as the only two teams to beat the Wolf Pack this year — Missouri and Texas Tech. While New Mexico State doesn’t have the talent of those teams, it does average 321.8 passing yards per game with experienced quarterback Chase Holbrook.

Nevada, thanks in large part to the pair of Top 10 foes, ranks 118th in pass defense at 332 yards per game and 103rd in scoring defense at 31.6 points per game.

Nevada, however, counters with one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. The Wolf Pack, behind multi-talented quarterback Colin Kaepernick, rank fourth in the nation in rushing (308 yards per game) and seventh in total offense (521.2 yards per game).

With many of these same offensive stars on display last year in Las Cruces, these teams staged an entertaining shootout. Nevada won 40-38.

Notes:

New Mexico State has lost five straight WAC games.

New Mexico State has scored on one of its first three plays in each of the past two games.

Nevada will end a 35-day drought between home games. The Wolf Pack lost to Texas Tech on Sept. 6 in Reno before playing three straight on the road (2-1).

At least one team has scored 40 points in eight of the last nine meetings between these schools.

Key Player (Aggies) — Marquell Colston, RB

Colston rushed for 127 yards against Alcorn State, the most by a New Mexico State running back since the Aggies joined the WAC in 2005. That’s also when pass-happy coach Hal Mumme arrived. Colston will face a Nevada defense that allows just 67.8 rushing yards per game.

Key Player (Wolf Pack) — Marko Mitchell, WR

The Aggies run a blitzing defense, which leaves them susceptible to the big play. And Mitchell specializes in the big play. Each of his last nine touchdown catches have covered at least 28 yards and seven of them have covered at least 40 yards. He has 22 catches for 380 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Nevada by 13