SUNDAY
Boston College (7-5) vs. No. 13 Nevada (12-1), 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Line: Nevada by 7 1/2.
Series Record: First meeting.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Nevada is trying to cap the best season in school history with a bowl win. The WAC co-champion was ranked for the first time since 1948 and posted the school’s best record since becoming an FBS team. Boston College is trying to end the season with six straight wins and snap a two-game bowl losing streak. The Eagles had won eight bowl games in a row before falling to Vanderbilt and Southern California the past two seasons.
KEY MATCHUP
Nevada’s running game vs. Boston College’s run defense. The Eagles have the nation’s stingiest run defense, led by LBs Luke Kuechly and Mark Herzlich. They’ve given up just 80.2 yards per game and have not allowed a 100-yard rusher since Oct. 10, 2009. Facing QB Colin Kaepernick, RB Vai Taua and the Wolf Pack’s vaunted pistol offense will offer its toughest test yet. Nevada is third in the nation in rushing with 305.9 yards per game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Boston College: RB Montel Harris. The junior needs 126 yards to break Derrick Knight’s school record of 3,725 yards rushing in a career. Harris has 21 career 100-yard games, including six straight, second to Taua’s 26 among active players. Harris ran for 102 yards in this game last season against USC.
Nevada: WR Rishard Matthews caught a pass in every game this season, but it was his performance in an upset of Boise State that highlighted his season. He had 10 catches for 172 yards and a TD and also scored on a 44-yard run in the 34-31 overtime victory.
FACTS & FIGURES
Boston College is making its second straight trip to San Francisco for a bowl and third in the nine-year history of this game. … The Eagles have won five straight following a five-game losing streak, the first time BC has had two such streaks in the same season in school history. … Kuechly leads the nation with 171 tackles, including at least 10 in 21 straight games. … BC has allowed just three offensive touchdowns in the last five games. … Nevada has lost four straight bowl games. … The Wolf Pack’s only loss this season was a 27-21 defeat at Hawaii on Oct. 16. … Kaepernick is one of three players to have 20 TDs rushing and 20 passing in the same season. He is also tied for the most career rushing TDs by a QB in NCAA history with Eric Crouch at 59. … Nevada DE Dontay Moch had 22 tackles for loss this season. His 63 career TFLs are a WAC record and are sixth most in NCAA history.
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