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College Football: Five teams on upset alert in Week 2

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Sep 20, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Taveze Calhoun (23) talks with LSU Tigers wide receiver Malachi Dupre (15) following the game at Tiger Stadium. Mississippi State defeated LSU 34-29. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Taveze Calhoun (23) talks with LSU Tigers wide receiver Malachi Dupre (15) following the game at Tiger Stadium. Mississippi State defeated LSU 34-29. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Nate Phillips (6) and wide receiver David Richards (4) (front) celebrate after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners at Arizona Stadium. Arizona won 42-32. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Nate Phillips (6) and wide receiver David Richards (4) (front) celebrate after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners at Arizona Stadium. Arizona won 42-32. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /

Like Missouri, Arizona is another ranked Power Five Conference team making an odd, interesting trek to a smaller program’s stadium. And, just one week after escaping with a 42-32 win over UTSA in a Thursday night season opener, it doesn’t come at an opportune time.

The Wildcats were good, but not great, offensively in Week 1. Quarterback Anu Solomon threw for 229 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers without an interception. Nick Wilson gained a workmanlike 97 yards on 22 carries, but the Wildcats only had 163 rushing yards total.

Of course, the biggest problems came on the defensive side of the ball. Arizona led just 21-20 at halftime last week. The Wildcats were outgained 525-392 and their defense allowed 29 first downs. Oh, and they lost All-American/All-Pac-12/All-Everything linebacker Scooby Wright, who finished in the top ten of the Heisman Trophy voting last season and won the Nagurski, Lombardi and Badnarik Awards. Luckily, Wright is expected to be back on the field in a few weeks – but he won’t play Saturday night in Reno.

Nevada, a contender in the Mountain West’s Western Division this season, beat UC Davis 31-17 in Week 1. And the team was surely excited about the performance of running back Don Jackson, who had 124 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 13 carries. The Wolf Pack are sure to rely on Jackson early and often as they break in new starting quarterback Tyler Stewart, who completed 13 of 20 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown and added 43 rushing yards and another TD on the ground.

Also, Nevada is accustomed to facing Pac-12 schools – Arizona in particular. The Wolf Pack beat Washington State last season and came up just short of upsetting the Wildcats before losing 35-28 in Tucson.

"“We have our hands full but we’re excited about the opportunity,” Nevada head coach Brian Polian said this week, according to Chris Murray of the Reno Gazette-Journal. “I don’t think our guys are intimated. I don’t think they’re sacred by any stretch of the imagination, nor should they be. But we obviously have a very strong respect for this opponent.”"

A strong respect, yes, but with a sold out “whiteout” crowd rocking in Mackay Stadium, Polian also knows his team can pull off a big upset in Week 2.

Next: Boise State

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