Arizona @ UNLV preview
Sam Boyd Stadium
Arizona will look to build upon an impressive opening game Saturday when it visits UNLV, which conversely will be trying to rebound from a disheartening 2013 debut. The Wildcats are coming off a 35-0 victory over Northern Arizona, scoring all those points in only 47 snaps. If that explosiveness doesn't scare the Runnin' Rebels, who lost their opener 51-23 at Minnesota, maybe this will: Arizona did it without Ka'Deem Carey.
Carey, the nation's leading rusher last season (1,929 yards), was suspended for the opener due to offseason trouble but will return to an already dangerous backfield against UNLV. The Wildcats managed just fine without him against the Lumberjacks, piling up 306 yards on the ground behind senior Daniel Jenkins, who had a 91-yard touchdown among his career-high 139 yards. Perhaps more encouraging for Arizona was its defense, which gave up an average of 35.3 points per game last season.
TIME: 10:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Arizona -10.
ABOUT ARIZONA (1-0): The Wildcats appear to be turning a corner in their second season under coach Rich Rodriguez (7-5 in 2012). Carey and Jenkins join forces with fleet-footed quarterback B.J. Denker (71 yards rushing, one TD) to form a multidimensional running attack, and Denker was efficient in the passing game in the opener as well (9-of-13, 87 yards, one TD). The defense also showed vast signs of progress in coordinator Jeff Casteel's 3-3-5 system, with safety Tra'Mayne Bondurant earning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording two interceptions and returning one for a touchdown against the Lumberjacks.
ABOUT UNLV (0-1): While the score was lopsided, the Rebels actually outgained the Golden Gophers by 99 yards. Their biggest standouts were running back Shaquille Murray-Lawrence, who gained 104 yards on the ground on only four carries, and quarterback Nick Sherry (225 yards, two TDs, two interceptions), who set a school record with 35 completions and connected with 10 different receivers. What really hurt UNLV were turnovers and special teams — the Rebels allowed touchdowns on a kickoff return, a blocked field goal and an interception return.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The last time the Wildcats posted a shutout — a 56-0 win over South Carolina State last September — they got blanked the following week, falling 49-0 to Oregon.
2. The teams are meeting for only the second time, and the first time in Las Vegas.
3. Sherry, a sophomore, became just the second UNLV quarterback to start back-to-back season openers in the last decade, joining Omar Clayton (2008-09).
PREDICTION: Arizona 35, UNLV 24