FACTS & STATS: Site: Mackay Stadium (31,900) -- Reno, Nevada. Television: None. Home Record: USU 1-2, Nevada 1-2. Away Record: USU 0-3, Nevada 2-1. Neutral Record: USU 0-0, Nevada 0-0. Conference Record: USU 1-1, Nevada 1-1. Series Record: Nevada leads, 14-4.

GAME NOTES: The Utah State Aggies again shoot for their first road win of the 2008 campaign as they settle into Mackay Stadium in Reno to tangle with the Nevada Wolf Pack in Western Athletic Conference action. The Aggies, who are 1-1 in conference at the moment, have dropped two straight outings. Last Saturday the squad was held to a season-low seven points in a 23-point setback to San Jose State on the road. Prior to the team's lone victory of the season, a 42-17 triumph over Idaho back on September 20th, the squad had fallen in three straight to open the campaign. As for the Wolf Pack, they scored at least 45 points for the third consecutive outing last weekend, but in this case it simply was not enough in a 48-45 setback versus New Mexico State at home. The decision also snapped a two-game win streak for Nevada, which is now just 1-1 in league play and an even 3-3 overall. Nevada holds a 14-4 advantage in the all-time series with Utah State and held on to defeat the Aggies in last year's meeting, 31-28, in Logan.

With three straight wins against WAC opponents dating back to last season, Utah State had reason to be somewhat confident going into action against San Jose State last weekend. However, with just a single touchdown the squad just couldn't compete with the Spartans on the roads. USU was limited to a mere 191 yards of total offense, with all but 48 of that coming in the second half. Quarterback Sean Setzer finished 5-of-9 for 53 yards and a score, while fellow signal-caller Diondre Borel hit 8-of-21 passes for 66 yards but was picked off twice. Going back and forth between Borel and Setzer has been tough on everyone this season, especially the offensive line which has to constantly switch up its approach. Unfortunately, all of that change has made it rather easy for opposing defenses to take advantage, to the tune of three sacks per game allowed, which is seventh in the WAC and 113th in the nation at the moment. In terms of total offense after six games, the Aggies are last in the WAC and 101st in the country with a mere 304.7 ypg generated.

The Aggies did well to limit San Jose State to just 87 yards rushing on 29 attempts, but it was the pass defense in this case that couldn't bring down the Spartans on the road. Utah State surrendered not only 314 yards through the air, it also saw SJSU record three aerial touchdowns. Although it may not have helped in the final analysis, the Aggies did well to stop the Spartans on 12-of-18 third-down attempts. Even though he didn't get to the quarterback, Jake Hutton continued his strong play with four of his nine stops behind the line of scrimmage. Sutton leads the team with his 5.5 tackles for loss this season and is also first in terms of total tackles for the group with 52. However, Hutton's lack of sacks tells the story for this defense in 2008, a defense that ranks sixth in the conference and tied for 86th nationally with just 1.33 sacks per contest. Having permitted 66 points to Oregon one week and 58 points versus Utah seven days later earlier in the season, USU now ranks eighth in the league and 113th in the country this week with 38.7 ppg allowed.

Colin Kaepernick threw for three touchdowns and ran for a fourth, yet his efforts could not get the Pack out ahead of New Mexico State on Saturday in a three-point home loss. In addition to Kaepernick's efforts, running back Vai Taua had yet another sensational game with 188 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. In addition, Taua contributed another five receptions for 49 yards and two scores as well. Although the team fell short of a third straight victory, the Pack proved once again that it is more than just a gimmick offense. The squad is now up to 308.8 ypg on the ground after six games, ranking them first in the WAC and third in the nation behind only UL-Lafayette and Navy. A huge part of that attack has been sophomore quarterback Kaepernick who now has the unit ranked seventh in the country in total offense with 518.8 ypg. From an individual standpoint, Kaepernick is 17th in the nation in total offense with his 286 ypg. The QB is first on the team with nine rushing TDs, the same number he has through the air, while Taua is up to eight on the ground as he averages better than six yards per rushing attempt.

The pass defense for the Wolf Pack was put to the test on Saturday and didn't exactly pass with flying colors, instead allowing Chase Holbrook to have his way in the three-point setback. Holbrook was allowed to generate 409 yards and three touchdowns through the air, adding a rushing score as well in the wild shootout. Joshua Mauga posted a game-high 13 tackles for the Pack, while Kevin Basped made half of his six stops behind the line of scrimmage and was credited with one of the team's three sacks. Having surrendered an unhealthy 519 yards and five touchdowns to Missouri in a lopsided 52-point decision earlier in the season, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Nevada is now last among the 119 FBS programs with 344.8 ypg passing allowed. Strangely enough, the Pack defense is also second in the WAC and 18th in the country with 2.67 sacks per game, but opponents seem to be fine with trading a few sacks for big dividends down the field. Were it not for the 13 points surrendered to Grambling in the opener and just 14 points given up to Idaho in the conference opener a couple weeks back the squad would be even worse than 109th in the country with 34.3 ppg allowed.

The combination of Kaepernick and Taua far outweighs the duo of Borel and Setzer, which is more than enough reason to pick Nevada in this matchup.