UNLV vs Boise State Preview: Can the Rebels notch another upset?

A week after pulling out the thrilling victory against Wyoming in OT, the Rebels are looking to do it again as they prepare to take on the Boise State Broncos. With four wins on the season, UNLV only needs two more to become bowl eligible (something the team hasn’t done since 2014).

On the other side, the Broncos are sitting at 9-1 and are looking to land themselves in one of the six New Years bowl games. A loss to UNLV could seriously jeopardize their chances.

With that in mind, both fan bases should be in for an exciting game come Saturday. Here is how UNLV can pull off another shocker.

In their victory over the Cowboys, the Rebels offense saw a big boost with the return of quarterback Kurt Palandech, who threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Palandech’s performance earned him Mountain West offensive player of the week honors, but more importantly, provided UNLV with a solid option at the quarterback position.

Add to the fact that the team already possesses a strong running game, the Rebels are now able to be more balanced on offense. This in turn should allow their defense to play with more energy.

As for that potent rushing attack, The Rebels currently rank 14th in the nation while Boise State’s rushing defense is ranked 66th . With those type of numbers, The Broncos can expect to see a heavy dose of Charles Williams and Lexington Thomas.

If Palandech can duplicate last week’s numbers, and the Rebels focus on the run game, they should leave Boise with their fifth victory and one win away from being bowl eligible.