Rebels look to avoid upset by Cowboys

A struggling Wyoming football team routing San Diego State 35-10 nearly two weeks ago made sense -- the Aztecs are that bad.

Trying to figure out the Cowboys' 13-7 victory at Tennessee on Saturday? Not so easy.

Certainly the Volunteers were in turmoil with coach Phillip Fulmer announcing earlier in the week that he was being forced to resign after 17 years in Knoxville. And Tennessee doesn't remind anyone of the Peyton Manning-led teams of the 1990s. But it's still a traditional Southeastern Conference power that plays in one of the country's more intimidating venues.

"It doesn't matter what the circumstances were at Tennessee," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said. "Just the fact they won at Knoxville is huge."

Now the Rebels welcome Wyoming to Sam Boyd Stadium at 6 p.m. today, and they should find out early what kind of Cowboys team shows up.

It will be a second straight bowl-elimination game for UNLV, which knocked New Mexico out of contention Saturday with a 27-20 victory. The teams tonight own 4-6 records, and each is 1-5 in the Mountain West Conference.

UNLV needs to beat Wyoming and San Diego State on Nov. 22 to become bowl eligible. Even then, the Rebels would need help from other teams to play in the postseason.

The Cowboys put themselves in position to possibly become bowl eligible by cleaning up their offensive act. After committing 24 turnovers in their first eight games, they had just one giveaway combined against San Diego State and Tennessee.

Wyoming's two-game surge might help save coach Joe Glenn's job -- he didn't address his status, preferring to talk about tonight's game.

Expect Wyoming to follow previous UNLV opponents and put the ball in the hands of its running game. The Cowboys' Devin Moore has had three 100-yard performances in his past four games and a 98-yard day at Tennessee. Against San Diego State he had 234 yards and three touchdowns.

Moore isn't just a big part of the offense. He is the offense.

The Cowboys average 11.8 points per game, worst in the nation. Wyoming's defense is fourth in the MWC and No. 36 in the nation, allowing 321.1 yards per game.

"I think Wyoming's defense is one of the best in the country and definitely one of the best in the Mountain West Conference," Sanford said.

UNLV will start Mike Clausen at quarterback for the second week in a row in place of Omar Clayton, who has an injured right knee.

Maybe the timing worked out perfectly last week for Wyoming, which caught a group of distracted Volunteers.

"The Tennessee thing is in the rearview mirror, but I do think it really buoyed our confidence," Glenn said.

Oddsmakers, however, have made Wyoming a touchdown underdog.

But the Rebels know they don't want to be the next victim of a Wyoming upset, especially with so much at stake.

"I think they kind of got into a lull in the middle of the season and had some tough losses just like we did," UNLV wide receiver Ryan Wolfe said. "I think they re-identified themselves as a team in the last few weeks and got some big wins."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.

RUSHING YARDS 126.1

PASSING YARDS 220.7

2008 OFFENSIVE AVERAGES

TIME OF POSSESSION 28:38

PENALTIES 46.1

BREAKING DOWN THE REBELS

RUSHING YARDS 232.4

PASSING YARDS 199.1

DEFENSIVE AVERAGES

177.7 RUSHING YARDS

104.9 PASSING YARDS