2* - Nevada (-7)
After the 2005 campaign in which Northwestern ended their season with the 4th ranked offense in the country, the linesmakers are smart to give the Wildcats more credit than they deserve in this game. Public perception of a team is what fuels equal action on lopsided lines and that is what I see here. This team has yet to show any semblance of consistency and is playing with a redshirt freshman quarterback who has passed for just 355 yards in three games with two interceptions and one passing touchdown.
To date, N?Western has beaten a Miami Ohio team that is off to an 0-3 start, lost to Div. II-A New Hampshire in Evanston and avoided an upset by Eastern Michigan by picking off a pass near their own endzone in the 4th quarter. Eastern Michigan who is also 0-3, was able to gain only 134 yards on offense and convert just 2 of 15 third downs but was still in the game late as the Wildcats pulled out a 14-6 win at home. Now they travel across the country on a short week as the first Big 10 team to ever play at Mackay Stadium where the Wolf Pack have covered six straight and 11 of their last 13 games.
Nevada is playing well despite losing their first two games to Fresno State and Arizona State on the road. Last week they had Colorado State in their home opener and it was a different story as QB Jeff Rowe completed 19 of 22 passes for 210 in the 28-10 victory. Colorado State was held to only 64 yards rushing, 113 yards passing and the Wolf Pack intercepted Rams QB Caleb Hanie twice to go along with five sacks.
This line has moved 2? points since it opened and with good reason. The altitude in Reno will work against the run oriented offense of the Wildcats who play on the shores of Lake Michigan and I see the Silver & Blue leaving them in the dust in the 4th quarter.
After the 2005 campaign in which Northwestern ended their season with the 4th ranked offense in the country, the linesmakers are smart to give the Wildcats more credit than they deserve in this game. Public perception of a team is what fuels equal action on lopsided lines and that is what I see here. This team has yet to show any semblance of consistency and is playing with a redshirt freshman quarterback who has passed for just 355 yards in three games with two interceptions and one passing touchdown.
To date, N?Western has beaten a Miami Ohio team that is off to an 0-3 start, lost to Div. II-A New Hampshire in Evanston and avoided an upset by Eastern Michigan by picking off a pass near their own endzone in the 4th quarter. Eastern Michigan who is also 0-3, was able to gain only 134 yards on offense and convert just 2 of 15 third downs but was still in the game late as the Wildcats pulled out a 14-6 win at home. Now they travel across the country on a short week as the first Big 10 team to ever play at Mackay Stadium where the Wolf Pack have covered six straight and 11 of their last 13 games.
Nevada is playing well despite losing their first two games to Fresno State and Arizona State on the road. Last week they had Colorado State in their home opener and it was a different story as QB Jeff Rowe completed 19 of 22 passes for 210 in the 28-10 victory. Colorado State was held to only 64 yards rushing, 113 yards passing and the Wolf Pack intercepted Rams QB Caleb Hanie twice to go along with five sacks.
This line has moved 2? points since it opened and with good reason. The altitude in Reno will work against the run oriented offense of the Wildcats who play on the shores of Lake Michigan and I see the Silver & Blue leaving them in the dust in the 4th quarter.
