Look ahead to 2024: Nevada preview

[Ikus]

I was going to update my prior post with a more accurate parking map, but NWPF beat me to it by mere minutes!

It's game week, and even with no idea what to expect, I'm excited to finally see this new era get under way. A few restaurant recommendations for those of you attending:

Breakfast ~ Two Chicks in midtown (modern fare) or Peg's downtown (classic diner fare)
BBQ ~ Carolina Kitchen & BBQ in Sparks, Butcher's Kitchen & Char-B-Q in south Reno, or Brothers BBQ in midtown (my wife and I had CK cater our wedding reception last month, and they were a big hit with our guests)
Pizza ~ R Town across from the Atlantis (if you visit only one restaurant while you're in town, make it this one) or Noble Pie in midtown (good pizza in its own right, but the real star is the hot wings, which are consistently voted the best in the city)
Mexican ~ Carlillo's Cocina in Sparks (very small with odd hours, but fantastic food) or Tacos Los Campesinos in Reno (my wife and I's go-to Mexican place)
Burgers ~ Archie's across from the stadium, Beefy's in midtown, or Royce Burger Bar near downtown (hole in the wall bar that low-key serves fantastic burgers and fries)
Breweries ~ Revision in Sparks (lots of IPAs), IMBIB in Reno (great sour and barrel-aged beers), Schussboom in south Reno (bit of everything, along with pizzas, wings and sandwiches), or Pigeon Head near downtown (mainly lagers)
Bars ~ Red's Little Waldorf Saloon across from the stadium ("the Wal" to locals, the main pre- and postgame hangout) or Beer NV in south Reno (50+ different beers from around the world on draft)

Thanks for this. We're supposed to land mid-afternoon Friday. Looking forward to trying some fo your suggestions.

[Nevada Wolf Pack Fan]

Hope you have a good time at the game, based on the spread and what's expected of us you probably will . I have lots of family in Elk Grove, nice area and not too bad of a drive to get to Reno.

This is a pretty rough map, but you can park free in any of the yellow lots. The Whalen garage is most convenient, and if the game is a blowout and you leave at the end it shouldn't be too much of a hassle getting out. https://www.vividseats.com/nevada-wolf- ... on/5080365

It's been a few years since I've driven to Reno, but I'm looking forward to it Saturday.

How much do they charge to park in the garage?

Good luck to y'all this year (outside of this game haha). SMU is the envy of the former G5, and I hope you're able to have a successful first year in the ACC.

I'm still haunted by our Hawai'i Bowl debacle against you guys. I remember you did the same thing to Fresno a couple years later.

Thanks.

Yes, that ended a long bowl drought for SMU and we were thrilled with the result.

The Brian Whalen Garage is free and right on Virginia Street, just about a ten minute walk from the stadium.

There's also the West Stadium garage right next to the stadium that's mainly for season ticket holders and I believe is around $50 per game. You have to buy a pass ahead of time I believe.

[WolfPackBacker]

If any of you are also baseball fans, the Reno Aces (our AAA Diamondbacks affiliate) host a six-game series against Las Vegas that goes through Sunday afternoon. They've won six in a row, and a bunch of their players went on to be stars for the D-backs in their run to the World Series last year.

[Hoss]

For the Nevada fans who are joining us here: what do you consider your team's biggest strength and weakness?

[WolfPackBacker]

For the Nevada fans who are joining us here: what do you consider your team's biggest strength and weakness?

If a team that's gone 4-20 the last two years can consider anything a "strength," I'd go with the linebackers. Drue Watts was named a freshman All-American last season and will become a star here, if he sticks around. Tongiake Mateialona is the more experienced of the two starters in this week's depth chart, and another great contributor on defense. It's one of the few position groups with both proven depth and talent to lean on (as are the running backs, who also have great depth, but a little less proven talent).

The wide receivers, by contrast, have basically no returning production from the last two years and no proven depth. A trio of transfers (Cortez Braham Jr. from West Virginia, Marcus Bellon from UTEP, and Jaden Smith from Tarleton State) are going to be relied upon early and often, and the team can't afford any long-term injuries to any of them. That's when the depth behind them starts to get really dicey.

https://nevadasportsnet.com/newsletter- ... er-vs-smu#

[Nevada Wolf Pack Fan]

For the Nevada fans who are joining us here: what do you consider your team's biggest strength and weakness?

Packbacker summed it up pretty well, not a ton of proven returning talent.

How about SMU? On paper you guys had both a top 20 offense and defense. Doesn't appear to be too many weaknesses.

[Terry Webster]

For the Nevada fans who are joining us here: what do you consider your team's biggest strength and weakness?

Packbacker summed it up pretty well, not a ton of proven returning talent.

How about SMU? On paper you guys had both a top 20 offense and defense. Doesn't appear to be too many weaknesses.

Our defense is loaded and is going to win some games for us this year. I think that the biggest questions offensively we have is whether Stone can stay healthy, our depth at the offensive line and whether one of our receivers can step to be an alpha.

[ClassOf81]

I read a betting site that said Nevada's OL is terrible.
Go get 'em, D-line