At stake

Cougars have a chance to improve to 2-0. A victory tonight could wind up making the difference in November as to whether the Cougars reach six wins and get to a bowl game.

What to expect

Nevada has put in a new offense called "the pistol," which is a hybrid of the shotgun. The Wolf Pack hasn't played a game, so the Cougars have no idea of how much option to expect. They do know the favorite pass target of junior quarterback Jeff Rowe will be senior Nichiren Flowers, who caught 91 passes last season for 1,126 yards. On defense, Nevada has gone to a 3-4 but the Cougars don't know how much stunting to expect.

Notes

It was windy last night when the Cougars went through their brief practice at Mackay Stadium, and the forecast calls for possible windy conditions tonight. ... One of best battles could be in the middle of the line as Cougars C Nick Mihlhauser contends with standout DT Matt Hines. ... Cougars K Graham Siderius, who handles kickoff duties, is from Reno and is a special co-captain tonight. ... The Cougars are facing a Western Athletic Conference team for the second straight week. Idaho is a new member of the WAC. ... Nevada was 5-1 at home last year but the slate included Buffalo and Sacramento State. ... Nevada coach Chris Ault is in the College Football Hall of Fame. This is his 21st season and third stint as coach. Ault said he was asked by the university president to become head coach for a third time when Chris Tormey, now a Washington assistant, was fired in late 2003.

Injuries

WSU — TEs Cody Boyd (ankle) and Jacob McKinney (knee), RB Kevin McCall (ankle) all out; FS Husain Abdullah (high ankle sprain) questionable; RB Jerome Harrison (wrist), DE Matt Mullenix (finger) probable.

Nevada — LB J.J. Milan (foot), CB Paul Pratt (knee), S Luke Lippincott (knee), all out; S Nick Hawthorne (concussion) questionable.

Prediction

Cougars have enough firepower and big-play ability to prevail and also have the advantage of having played a game. WSU 24, Nevada 10

Craig Smith