The college football bowl season kicks off in full force on Saturday, as the Arizona Wildcats take on the Nevada Wolfpack in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. The game offers a offers a matchup of two of the most explosive offenses in the nation in and two teams that can run the ball.
The teams are each 7-5 on the season and are not far apart from each other in geography or philosophy: rush the ball. Both teams are ranked in the top 20 in the nation in rushing and scoring and have a running back that has topped 1,700 rushing yards this year.
Arizona came into the season with high expectations under first-year head coach Rich Rodriguez and started off 3-0, including a 59-38 win against then-No. 18 Oklahoma State. The Wildcats were ranked 22nd in the nation heading into the game against Oregon, but lost 49-0 on the road to start a three-game slide.
The defense has been the biggest issue for Arizona this season and could be the biggest factor in the bowl game against Nevada. The team gave up over 40 points five times this season and are ranked 103rd in the nation in defensive scoring.
The Wildcats will rely heavily on running back Ka'Deem Carey, who rushed for 1,757 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, including 172 in the final 41-34 loss against Arizona State.
Senior quarterback Matt Scott has been solid all year and will have a favorable matchup against a Nevada secondary that is allowing over 30 points per game. Scott has passed for 3,238 yards and 24 touchdowns and is completing over 60 percent of his passes.
Nevada will employ a similar attack against Arizona with dynamic running back Stefphon Jefferson, who had rushed for 1,703 yards and 20 touchdowns this year.
The Wolfpack started off the season 5-1 and had a five-game winning streak, but collapsed towards the end of the year, losing four of the last five games. The team finished the year with a 27-21 loss to No. 20 Boise State, giving the Broncos a share of the Mountain West title.
Nevada has the 7th-ranked passing attack in the nation with 260 yards per game and are ranked 20th in scoring. The team also is ranked 53rd in passing behind quarterback Cody Fajardo, who has passed for 2,530 yards and 17 touchdowns this year.
PREDICTION: Arizona 45, Nevada 31. The Wildcats will prove to be just too much offense for Nevada. The team played better defense down the stretch and will use Carey to take pressure off of the passing game. A high-scoring affair to kick off the bowl season.
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