2021 Quick Lane Bowl Preview

The 2021 Quick Lane Bowl features the 7-5 Western Michigan Broncos against the 8-4 Nevada Wolf Pack. Here is the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl Preview.

Western Michigan Broncos (7-5)

Western Michigan won seven games to make their fifth bowl games since 2015. They defeated two bowl-eligible teams in Pittsburgh and Northern Illinois. All five losses came to teams who ended up making a bowl game.

The Broncos score 30.8 points per game, which ranks 49th in the country. They rush for 201.2 yards (ranked 25th) and pass for 261.2 yards per game (ranked 38th).

Kaleb Eleby has been a star at quarterback for the Broncos. He has passed for 3,115 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions on 63.8 percent completion. There are three major contributors as pass-catchers for Western Michigan. Skyy Moore leads the team with 91 receptions for 1,256 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jaylen Hall has caught 46 passes for 752 yards and three touchdowns. Corey Crooms rounds out the major receivers with 43 catches for 694 yards and five touchdowns.

Sean Tyler and La’Darius Jefferson have split time in the Broncos backfield. Tyler has the most yards with 1,004 and also has nine touchdowns. Jefferson has the team-lead in rushing touchdowns with 10 and has 836 yards.

The defense allows 28.6 points per game, ranking 89th in the FBS. They give up 144.9 rushing yards (ranked 55th) and 191.8 passing yards per game (ranked 18th). Linebackers Zaire Barnes and Corvin Moment have led the team in tackles with 67 and 64 respectively. Defensive lineman Ali Fayad has pressured the quarterback a lot with 11.5 sacks. Cornerback Dorian Jackson has 11 passes defended on the season.

Nevada Wolf Pack (8-4)

Jay Norvell led the Wolf Pack to an eight-win season before taking the job at Colorado State. The Wolf Pack defeated two bowl-eligible teams in Boise State and Hawaii. All four losses they suffered on the season came to teams who qualified for bowl games.

Nevada scores 36.7 points per game, which ranks 15th in the country. They rush for 73.5 yards (ranked 129th) and pass for 365.8 yards per game (ranked fourth).

Future NFL Draft Pick Carson Strong has led the offense at quarterback. He has passed for 4,186 yards, 36 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 70 percent completion. He has announced that he won’t play in the bowl game, so Nate Cox will get the start. Cox has 158 passing yards and one touchdown on the season.  Six pass-catchers have over 200 receiving yards on the season. Romeo Doubs is also headed to the NFL after the season and has 80 catches for 1,109 yards and 11 touchdowns. Tight end Cole Turner has been one of the more productive at his position in football with 62 receptions for 677 yards and 10 touchdowns. Tory Horton and Melquan Stovall each have over 600 receiving yards for the Wolf Pack.

They don’t run the ball often, but their leading rusher is Toa Taua who finished the regular season with 704 yards and five touchdowns. Behind him, Devonte Lee has 246 yards and four touchdowns.

Their defense allows 24.4 points per game, ranking them 51st in the country. They concede 172.2 rushing yards (ranked 97th) and 225.4 passing yards per game (ranked 64th). Linebacker Daiyan Henley leads the team with 94 tackles on the season. He also has the team lead in interceptions with four. Defensive tackle Tristan Nichols made an impact with 10 sacks.

Prediction

Without their head coach or Carson Strong, Nevada may be in over their heads. Most everyone is expected to play for Western Michigan, so they should be able to take advantage and win the game.

Western Michigan Broncos 31 Nevada Wolf Pack 25

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