Utah Utes football gameday

Today's forecast: Mostly sunny,

mid-70s.

UNLV (0-1) at No. 20 Utah (1-0)

Saturday, 2 p.m. ? Rice-Eccles Stadium

FieldTurf Surface ? Salt Lake City

TV: The mtn. Radio: 700AM

THE STAKES

For UNLV ... The Rebels are trying to get first-year coach Bobby Hauck's inaugural Mountain West Conference campaign off to a good start. A win would jump-start a downtrodden program.

For Utah ... The Utes are looking to take the first step in pursuit of their No. 1 goal — to win the conference championship.

THE TRENDS

For UNLV ... Nothing good. UNLV has not won a league opener away from Vegas since 1994.

For Utah ... The Utes are riding an 18-game winning streak at Rice-Eccles Stadium. They have never lost to UNLV in Salt Lake City.

THE EDGE

UNLV will win if ... H-E-double-hockey-sticks freezes over. Perhaps that's a little harsh, but a Rebel victory doesn't seem likely.

Utah will win if ... The Utes can come anywhere close to duplicating last week's performance against Pittsburgh.

PLAYER TO WATCH

DeVonte Christopher, Utah: The sophomore faces his hometown-area team on the heels of a career-high, eight-reception performance in Utah's 27-24 overtime win over Pittsburgh.

KEY MATCHUP

Utah's red zone offense vs. UNLV'S red zone defense: Can the Utes improve on last week's 80 percent production in the red zone? They were limited to two TDs and a pair of field goals against Pitt. The Rebels, meanwhile, gave up five touchdowns and one field goal last week.

INJURY REPORT

UNLV:O-lineman Shane Watterson is out with a lower leg injury.

UTAH: QB Jordan Wynn is day-to-day with a sprained thumb. RB Sausan Shakerin (concussion) will not play. LB J.J. Williams (foot) is questionable.

NEXT UP

UNLV plays at Idaho on Sept. 18, while Utah visits New Mexico (The mtn., 6 p.m.).

SCHEDULE

Date....Opponent....Time....(TV)/result

Sept. 2 vs. Pitt W, 27-24 (OT)

Sept. 11 vs. UNLV 2 p.m. (mtn.)

Sept. 18 at New Mexico 6 p.m. (mtn.)

Sept. 25 vs. San Jose 6 p.m. (none)

Oct. 9 at Iowa State TBD (TBD)

Oct. 16 at Wyoming 4 p.m. (mtn.)

Oct. 23 vs. Colorado St. 4 p.m. (mtn.)

Oct. 30 at Air Force 5:30 p.m. (CBS C)

Nov. 6 TCU 1:30 p.m. (CBS C)

Nov. 13 at Notre Dame 12:30 p.m. (NBC)

Nov. 20 at SDSU 8 p.m. (mtn.)

Nov. 27 BYU 1:30 p.m. (CBS C)