Tag: Vincent Davis

UNLV Rebels at Nevada Wolfpack: Keys to a Rebels Win, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Rebels come into the game with a three-game winning streak and will look to make it four and keep the Cannon trophy.

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WEEK 7 UNLV Rebels (4-1, 1-0 Mountain West) vs. Nevada Wolf Pack (0-5, 1-1 Mountain West)

WHEN: Saturday, October 14 — 2:00 p.m. PT

Where: Mackay Stadium, Reno, Nevada

TV: Mountain West Network, SSSEN, Nevada Sports Net

Radio: ESPN 1100 AM & 100.9FM.SiriusXM 392

Series: Nevada holds a 28-20 series lead

Odds: UNLV – 9.5

The Rebels come into the game with a three-game winning streak and will look to make it four and keep the Cannon trophy. UNLV won last year’s meeting 27-22 and three out of the previous five in Reno.

Why UNLV will win

The Rebels’ defense will gear up to stop the Wolfpacks’ rushing attack; they only average 3.1 yards per rush so far this season. Nevada’s passing attack has been nonexistent this season. Wolfpack quarterback Brendon Lewis has thrown no touchdowns and four interceptions this season. 

UNLV will stack the box and force the Wolfpack to beat them with the pass. Last week, the Rebels defense played aggressively against Hawaii and had six quarterback sacks.

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The Rebels will run the ball with a solid rushing attack led by Jai’Den Thomas and Vincent Davis. Thomas has rushed for a team-high 273 yards and seven touchdowns., while Davis adds 256 and one touchdown. The rushing attack will help lead UNLV to victory.

Jayden Maiava has taken over the quarterback duties, but he did not have to do much last week with the rushing attack leading the way. So far this season, he has completed 57.4% of his passes and thrown for three touchdowns and two interceptions. Maiava has also run for 115 yards and one touchdown. he is more of the game manager.

But with the Wolfpack gearing up to stop the run, there will be chances for Maiava to make some plays down the field to leading receiver Ricky White, who has 23 catches for 319 yards.

Prediction

UNLV will win the game 35-21; the Rebels are putting together a solid season; they can not afford to have a letdown to a winless Nevada team.

Players to Watch For UNLV Rebels Offense

Barry Odom hired Brennan Marion to be the UNLV Rebels, offensive coordinator. Marion is installing his “Go-Go Offense,”

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New UNLV Rebels head football coach Barry Odom first hired Bobby Petrino to be Rebels offensive coordinator. After just 20 days at UNLV, Petrino took the Texas A&M offensive coordinator job.

Odom then pivoted to hire Brennan Marion to be the Rebels new offensive coordinator. Marion is installing his “Go-GO Offense,” built around a no-huddle running game and a vertical passing attack.

Quarterback Doug Brumfield

The Rebels have quarterback Doug Brumfield back from injury to run the offense. He has a strong arm and can make plays with his legs; Brumfield is the perfect quarterback for the go-go system; he needs to stay healthy. 

Last season in ten games, Brumfield threw for 1,898 yards, with ten touchdowns and five interceptions on 64.6% passing. He also rushed for 261 yards and six touchdowns.

Brumfield led the Rebels to a 4-1 start last year before injuries derailed their season.

UNLV’s Offense Under Brennan Marion’s Leadership

Receiver Rickey White

All-conference receiver Ricky White returns; he caught 52 passes for 6222 yards and four touchdowns in his first season at UNLV. In Marion’s offense, White’s numbers should increase with many down-the-field targets.

White wants to stretch the field more and have more explosive plays. He averaged 12.5 yards per reception last year and said his YAC – yards after the catch – must improve.

Running Backs

With leading running back Aidan Robbins transferring to BYU, senior Courtney Reese returns. Reese averaged 7.3 yards per carry last year and ran four 370 yards.

At 5’8 165 pounds, he is unlikely to be the every down back. The Rebels hit the transfer portal and brought in junior Donavyn Lester from William & Mary and senior Vincent Davis from Pittsburgh.

 Last year Lester ran for 533 yards and eight touchdowns, while Davis rushed for 274 yards and one touchdown. We will probably see a running back by committee in Las Vegas this year.

If Brumfield can remain healthy, the UNLV offense could be fun to watch because they have talent on offense. It just will take time to come together, but if it clicks, the fast pace could be killer to opposing defense.

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Tale of the Tape: Leading Rushers – Kyren Williams vs. Vincent Davis

The difference in the leading rusher comparison for the Notre Dame-Pittsburgh game is efficiency.

The difference in the leading rusher comparison for the Notre Dame-Pittsburgh game is efficiency. Kyren Williams has done a lot with fewer opportunities, but every Irish fan knows by now how talented he is regardless of who he’s being compared to. It’s a given by now that he will have a dominant game if he merely steps on the field. In fact, it would be a complete shock if he didn’t have a 100-yard game.

The Panthers enter this game with Vincent Davis as their top rusher. While he’s definitely gotten his share of opportunities both in the running and passing games, he’s hasn’t done a whole lot with them. Given those chances and this point in Pittsburgh’s season, most of his numbers shouldn’t be this low, though he seems to be doing well running the ball into the end zone. Of course, we could be saying all of the above about Ian Book, but that’s an issue for another day.