Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson
Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Vai Taua capped a 17-point comeback in just over a quarter to give the Wolf Pack a 35-31 win over Louisiana Tech -- guaranteeing a WAC bowl game.
Kaepernick threw three touchdowns in the second half -- two to Marko Mitchell and one for Mike McCoy -- before Taua capped the comeback on a 22-yard rush with three minutes and 15 seconds remaining to take the 35-31 lead.
Nevada responded to coach Chris Ault's challenge that the Wolf Pack would not go to a bowl if it finished 6-6. The win gives the Wolf Pack a 7-5 record.
Although Louisiana Tech lost, it's probably the best situation for the Bulldogs because the WAC can now send them to the Independence Bowl, which is a mere 60 miles from their campus, if Hawaii wins one of its final two games.
So, here's how I see the WAC bowls likely shaking out (with a Hawaii win):
Boise State: Poinsettia
Fresno State: New Mexico
Hawaii: Hawaii
Nevada: Humanitarian: Nevada
Louisiana Tech: Independence
ADDING...
San Jose State: Emerald Bowl
Obviously, if Hawaii doesn't get its seventh win, Louisiana Tech might have to stay in the WAC tie-ins. Hawaii has games against Washington State (tonight) and Cincinnati remaining.
Boise State's dominance over Fresno State on Friday was probably all the WAC needed to pitch the Broncos for the Poinsettia Bowl to likely face TCU. And honestly, I know Boise State is bummed about probably not getting a BCS bowl (nothing is decided yet and BSU could still get a BCS bowl), but a game against TCU is a much better matchup than it would have seen in the Orange Bowl.
Watson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Missouri Tigers and the Big 12 Conference for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She also covered college football recruiting for the Dallas Morning News.
