Bulldogs- Wolf pack matchup could be for bowl game

By Eddie Hughes

Another week, another unimpressive win for the Fresno State football team.

The Bulldogs beat Southern Methodist 20-11 in Dallas on Saturday, but not before trailing 5-3 at halftime. Not something to be proud of considering SMU is 0-9—but at least the Bulldogs won.

As long as they keep winning, everything is going according to plan. But to keep winning, the Bulldogs have to go into Reno and beat Nevada on Saturday.

This isn’t the same mediocre-at-best Wolf Pack team seen in Western Athletic Conference competition the past two years.

This Nevada team won at Washington. But now the real test comes when the Wolf Pack (5-4, 3-2) hosts Fresno State (5-4, 3-1 WAC) and Hawaii (6-3, 5-1) in consecutive weeks. Saturday’s matchup is the big one.

Fresno State and Nevada are the two teams wavering on the edge of being bowl-bound. This week’s winner has the best shot to get that third WAC berth. The loser might be out of the postseason picture altogether.

For the sake of breaking down the WAC title race, we’ll assume that four teams have a legitimate shot at finishing atop the conference—Boise State, Hawaii, Fresno State and Nevada. In that order.

Fresno State still has games against Nevada (Saturday) and Boise State (Nov. 21). The Bulldogs lost to Hawaii.

Hawaii still has games against Nevada and Boise State (at home). Boise State and Nevada still must play each other, Fresno State and Hawaii.

For those of you scoring at home, that means Fresno State can clinch at least a share of the WAC championship by winning its four remaining games. If Fresno State doesn’t do that, there are no guarantees of a postseason berth. If Nevada and Boise State both beat Fresno State, that third bowl invite could go to Nevada.

All those facts and figures are tentative, so just remember one thing—right now, the Bulldogs are in control of their season.

But with a loss Saturday, the Bulldogs would have to rely on other teams losing to make it five straight seasons in a bowl game.

It’s all up to the Bulldogs—for now.