Sacramento State (0-0)
at UNLV (0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 5, 7:05 p.m
Las Vegas, Nev.
Sam Boyd Stadium
(36,800 Fieldturf)
The Series: First Meeting.
The Coaches: Sacramento State’s Marshall Sperbeck is 9-14 entering his third season with the Hornets…UNLV’s Mike Sanford is 11-36 entering his fifth season.
Notes: Sacramento State is coming off a six-win season, its most since 2000…UNLV finished 5-7 in 2008…Sacramento State is playing a Mountain West team for the third straight season. The Hornets lost to New Mexico in 2007, and fell 23-20 at Colorado State last season...Jason Smith will start at QB for the Hornets. The junior threw for 1,824 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions last season...Brothers will battle in the game. Sacramento State’s Brian Heath is a tight end. His brother Jason is an offensive lineman at UNLV...Evander Wilkins will start at running back for the Hornets. Wilkins rushed for 424 yards last season...UNLV won two games in each of Sanford’s first three seasons...UNLV is picked to finish in the Mountain West...Sacramento State is 1-1 in openers under Sperbeck....The Hornets are looking for consecutive victories in openers for the first time since 2000-2001. Sac opened with a win over Humboldt State in 2008.