Week 14: Louisiana Tech at Nevada

The Bulldogs and Wolf Pack play for a possible bowl berth.

If Hawaii qualifies for the Bowl Championship Series as expected, the WAC will have an opening for a fourth bowl participant — and the winner of this game will be the fourth and last eligible team.

“I know it’s an exciting game for both teams because there’s a lot on the line,” Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley said.

The Bulldogs have surged into bowl contention by winning four of their past six games after a 1-4 start. The two recent losses were to Top 25 teams Boise State and LSU.

Their season turned around with a fourth-quarter comeback to beat New Mexico State 22-21 on Oct. 13. They beat San Jose State 27-23 on Nov. 17 in a bowl elimination game.

“(The players) stuck together during a time in our season when it got a little tough,” Dooley said. “They kept believing and we started winning some games in the fourth quarter.”

Nevada has failed in its first two tries for its sixth victory, losing by two points to Hawaii and three points to San Jose State. The Wolf Pack have lost five games by eight or fewer points this season, including two-point losses to WAC powers Boise State and Hawaii.

Both offenses are balanced, but the Wolf Pack are much more explosive. They average 35.1 points per game compared to Louisiana Tech’s 21.7.

That will put the pressure on the Bulldogs’ defense. The key matchup will be Nevada’s 11th-ranked rushing offense, which generates 224.8 yards per game, against Louisiana Tech’s 34th-ranked rushing defense, which allows 128 yards per game.

Nevada by 8