BOISE STATE’S DEFENSE VS. NEVADA’S OFFENSE

The Broncos held the Wolf Pack to 10 points last season, when they played without their quarterback and were working through a transition season. But the Pack scored at least 30 points in each of the previous four matchups — and they did most of their damage after halftime.

“That’s what running offenses can do, they keep at it,” Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. “And you know they’re going to do that. They’re just going to keep pounding it in there and break a tackle and then guys start to get on their heels a little bit and guys start pressing. We’ve seen it time and time again."

The Pack are the only team in the country to score 30 points in every game this season. The Broncos have not allowed more than 29.

Petersen isn’t ready to call the Broncos’ defense “great.” He might if they can find a way to stifle the Pack.

“This is a great way to end the regular season for this defense, to see how they show up,” Petersen said. “… This will be our best test, our biggest test of the year on defense, without question.”

Boise State linebackers coach Bob Gregory compared the showdown between one of the nation’s best offenses and one of its best defenses to boxing.

“I told our guys it’s like a heavyweight fight — it’s the old days, it’s 15 rounds,” he said. “They don’t know who Muhammad Ali is, but that’s what it is.”