UNLV @ Wisconsin preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2010 ) Wisconsin 41, UNLV 21

THE STORY: No. 10 Wisconsin has high hopes for 2011 after making a Rose Bowl appearance last year, and will be looking for its third straight 10-win season. UNLV, meanwhile, is simply trying to make progress. The Rebels won just twice last season and were outscored by an average of 21.3 points per game.

Wisconsin defeated UNLV 41-21 last year in the season opener for both teams.

TV: ESPN. Line: Wisconsin -35

ABOUT UNLV (2010: 2-11, 2-6 MWC): Caleb Herring, a sophomore, was named UNLV’s starting QB by head coach Bobby Hauck after competing for the job with junior Sean Reilly in training camp. He showed promise in eight games as a backup in 2010. With the quarterback race settled, UNLV’s primary concern should be its defense. The Rebels gave up 39.7 points per game last year.

ABOUT WISCONSIN (2010: 11-2, 7-1 Big Ten): Wisconsin opens the season ranked in the top 10 for just the fourth time in school history. The Badgers likely received a boost in public perception after landing Russell Wilson, a highly-regarded senior quarterback who transferred from North Carolina State in the offseason. Wilson provides the Badgers with a dual-threat signal caller who should help an already strong offense improve in 2011. Last year, the Badgers ranked fifth in scoring and 21st in total yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wisconsin has won 15 straight home openers by an average of 18 points per game.

2. UNLV is 2-9 against teams currently in BCS conferences since 2006.

3. UNLV is 1-3 in Madison, Wis., all time.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 51, UNLV 10. The Rebels made a game of it last year, trailing by just 3 points at halftime. This year’s game doesn’t figure to be as close.