Northern Arizona Lumberjacks vs. Arizona Wildcats Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 7th 2024

Preview and Prediction

Arizona's 20th-ranked team will be seeking a stronger defensive performance as they face off against FCS opponent Northern Arizona in Tucson, Arizona on Saturday night.

The Wildcats (1-0) were victorious in their debut under head coach Brent Brennan, defeating New Mexico 61-39. Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan had a standout game, setting a school record with 304 receiving yards and four touchdowns, earning him the title of Associated Press national player of the week.

However, the defense struggled with one-on-one tackling and containing the run, particularly against athletic quarterback Devon Dampier.

"Credit goes to New Mexico and (Dampier)," said Brennan, acknowledging the 30 first downs allowed by his team. "But there are also areas where we can improve, such as our containment and rush lines. Our defensive staff is working hard to clean up these issues and we will be ready for this weekend's game."

NAU (1-0) had an easy win in their first game under new coach Brian Wright, dominating Lincoln (Calif.) with a score of 66-6. The Lumberjacks rushed for 235 yards and quarterback Ty Pennington, who won the starting position over Angel Flores, completed 7 of 9 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown. Pennington also ran for 34 yards and a score.

Wright, who previously coached at Pittsburg State with a record of 33-8 in four seasons, said, "We have put in a lot of work and it's exciting to be out there with this group and competing. We did some good things, but there were also some sloppy moments as expected in the first game. We have a lot to work on, but we are 1-0."

Arizona's McMillan and quarterback Noah Fifita, who have been friends and teammates since high school, showed their chemistry in the first game against New Mexico. Fifita completed 19 of 31 passes for 422 yards, while running backs Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Quali Conley combined for 196 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

The Wildcats have a strong offensive lineup, but Brennan acknowledges that they still need to prove themselves when it comes to developing other receiving options. In the first game, no other receiver caught more than one pass, but this was not an issue against New Mexico, who mainly focused on defending McMillan with single coverage.

"To be as effective as we want to be, we need to distribute the ball more," said Brennan.

"Noah and our offensive staff are aware of this. It's just a matter of him going through his progressions and making the right decisions. The opportunities were there for T-Mac on Saturday night, so he took advantage of them."

Last season, Arizona and NAU faced off in the opener, with the Wildcats winning 38-3 in Tucson. The series dates back to 1931, with Arizona leading 16-2. However, most of the games have taken place since 2002, with the teams typically playing every other year.

In 2021, the Lumberjacks pulled off a major upset with a 21-19 victory, contributing to a 20-game losing streak for the Wildcats.

PREDICTION

Northern Arizona Lumberjacks

13

52

Arizona Wildcats

Northern Arizona Lumberjacks vs. Arizona Wildcats Recap SEP 7TH 2024