Wolf Pack bowl eligible, but is it bowl bound?

The Wolf Pack football team is bowl eligible.

That doesn’t meant the Wolf Pack football team is headed to a bowl game.

The Mountain West has seven bowl tie-ins this season, although the Hawaii or Las Vegas Bowl will go to BYU, leaving six spots for MW teams. The conference currently has five bowl-eligible teams in Nevada, Boise State, Air Force, San Diego State and New Mexico. Two more teams – Utah State, which Nevada plays Saturday, and Colorado State – are one win away from bowl eligibility.

If the Aggies and Rams both win a sixth game, which seems likely, that would leave seven teams for six slots, potentially leaving one bowl-eligible team on the outside looking in, like San Jose State in 2013.

Nevada (6-4, 4-2) could all but wrap up a certain bowl berth with a win over Utah State or San Diego State in the next two weeks. It’d be more difficult to leave out a seven-win Pack over a six-win Pack.

“I always feel like we need to get one more,” coach Brian Polian said, “but when you study the different landscapes, you have a good chance at six. Last year, I felt six wasn’t going to get you in. I feel like this year, six gives you a chance. I’m not saying I feel like it’s a guarantee or certainty, but when you look at the landscape, not only with our tie-ins but also with where other conferences are, there’s a chance.”

In addition to the MW’s primary bowl tie-ins – the Las Vegas, New Mexico, Famous Idaho, Poinsettia, Hawaii, Armed Forces and Arizona bowls – the conference has a secondary agreement with the Cactus Bowl to fill a spot there if the Pac-12 doesn’t have enough bowl eligible teams. But that won’t come into play as the Pac-12 already has eight bowl-eligible teams for its seven bowl tie-ins.

Currently, there are 62 bowl-eligible teams for 80 spots, leaving 18 free. Thirty-five teams have been ruled out of bowl contention; 31 teams could still become bowl eligible over the next three weeks.

So, while Nevada is likely safe even if it loses its final two games, it’s not assured of a bowl. And with the Wolf Pack reaching a bowl in nine of the last 10 seasons, one of just four Group of 5 teams to accomplish that, playing in a bowl game and continuing that streak remains vital in recruiting.

“It’s very important,” Polian said. “It’s important that recruits know that there’s been a lot of success here for a long time because we might not have immediate name recognition with some recruits. As you educate them, and they start to understand there’s been a high standard around here for a long time and a winning tradition, that’s definitely something that we focus on in recruiting.”

ROOTING FOR UNLV?

If the Wolf Pack wants to have any shot at playing for a MW title, it has to root for UNLV this week.

In order to win the West Division, Nevada must win its final two games and have San Diego State lose at UNLV on Saturday (the Aztecs are a 13-point favorite). So, is Polian rooting for the rival Rebels?

“That’s hard,” he said. “I’m not going to concern myself with stuff we can’t control. We’re having to cheer for people because we didn’t take care of business. That’s our fault. Some games you get beat and say, ‘OK, They’re better than us.’ Some games you get beat and you say, ‘We didn’t play well enough and that’s on us.’ I have no doubt when I look back on this season I’ll feel like we gave up one or two.”

Nevada lost to UNLV at home and at Wyoming, the Cowboys’ only win, when it was favored in both.

INJURY UPDATE

Instead of going through a regular Monday practice, Nevada did a walk-through due to injuries.

“We’re a mess right now,” Polian said.

Nevada’s special teams units have been hit hard. Jarid Joseph suffered a concussion on the opening kickoff against SJSU and is unlikely to play this week. Travis Wilson dislocated his shoulder during practice last week and could miss this game. Alex Bertrando (knee) also missed last week’s game. His status for this week is unknown. With those injuries, Nevada allowed a 71-yard return to SJSU.

“The injuries showed up on the kickoff coverages,” Polian said.

Starting linebacker Matt Lyons (foot) is questionable after getting hurt against SJSU. Offensive guard Joey Anglemire (knee) will miss his sixth straight game. Second-string tight end Evan Faunce (upper body) was cleared against SJSU but didn’t play. He should return this week. Fourth-string tight end Austin Carrow, originally a walk-on, has played in Nevada’s two-tight end sets the last few weeks.

“Austin Carrow is not pretty,” Polian said. “He has a horrible-looking body for a Division I college football player, but there was a third-and-1 or fourth-and-1 when he absolutely dug a guy out. He’s fighting his tail off and giving us everything he’s got and we’re proud of him for it. Thank God we got him.”

WOLF PACK AN UNDERDOG

For the first time in its seven conferences games, the Wolf Pack enters as an underdog.

Utah State was listed as a 14-point favorite on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in Logan, Utah.

The Aggies (5-5, 4-3) have been up and down this season and have lost three of their last four.

WOLF PACK FOOTBALL

Who: Nevada (6-4, 4-2 MW) at Utah State (5-5, 4-3)

When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

Where: Romney Stadium (capacity, 25,513)

TV/Radio: None/94.5 FM

Internet: ESPN3

Betting line: Utah State by 14

Weather: High of 48; low of 22