The Shotgun/Throwdown: UNLV Pre-Game (10/8/10) Edition

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's nationally recognized best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.  We're being brought to you today by another tailgate staple, Coor's Light.

After what's seemed like an entire off-season worth of waiting, WVU finally takes the field again tomorrow against the Running Rebels of UNLV.  The time off has helped several Mountaineers heal.  But, has it helped Noel Devine enough to be effective?  Pre-game preparation for the fans begins here, inside.  If you have any tips, suggestions or requests for content that you think is worth sharing, you can send them to me by email or Twitter and don't forget to "Like" us (both the post and The Smoking Musket as a whole) on Facebook..  Enjoy the game, have a great weekend and make the jump...

Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Report for Friday - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Game Preview: WVU vs. UNLV - WVillustrated.com

Game Scout by the Sports Xchange - WVillustrated.com

Preview of West Virgnia and UNLV - EerSports

WVU-UNLV matchups - Charleston Daily Mail

5 things to pay attention to during West Virginia-UNLV - 'Eers to the Ground

Thursday Notebook - MSNsportsNET.Com

Senior slot receiver needs just 31 receptions to be school’s all-time leader in category - Daily Athenaeum
I knew Jock was close, but didn't realize that close

Colin Dunlap's West Virginia football chat transcript: 10.7.2010 - PPG

What to watch in the Big East: Week 6 - ESPN

WVU's Nicely was one of greats on offensive line - Charleston Daily Mail

News of Note:

WVU wants to use depth against UNLV - Charleston Daily Mail

WVU Not Looking Past UNLV... Or Is It? - WVillustrated.com
Good Lord, they better not be

WVU prepping against UNLV 'trap' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Mountaineers Ready For Rebels - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Mountaineers ready for UNLV Saturday - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Mountaineers Mostly Healed After Bye Week - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Urban ready to roll again - Charleston Gazette

Urban eager to make return - Times West Virginian

Tyler Urban: Ready To Hit The Field - WVMetroNews.com
Video

Quarterback Geno Smith - Mountaineer TV

JT Thomas: Getting Back On Track - WVMetroNews.com
Video

Pat Lazear: Healthy And Ready To Go - WVMetroNews.com
Video

Leonard glue on West Virginia's defense - PPG

WVU's speed is main concern for Hauck, UNLV - Charleston Daily Mail

Runnin’ Rebels begin their journey to Morgantown - Register-Herald

Rebels making first trek east since 2004 - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Getting to know UNLV - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Timmerman's limited time on the field is critical - Charleston Daily Mail

Musings of a Mountain Man - UNLV Week - WVillustrated.com

WVU kicks itself over LSU loss - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column - This is why I hate bye weeks....you're still talking about the last game 2 weeks later, whether a win or loss

From the Enemy Camp:

UNLV takes on yet another overmatched club in West Virginia - Mountain West Connection
Tongue firmly in cheek

UNLV WR Phillip Payne to serve suspension for disciplinary reasons - Las Vegas Sun
Another Twitter casualty

Take Five: A closer look at UNLV vs. West Virginia - Las Vegas Sun

Rebels hope to contain Devine, 26th-ranked Mountaineers - The Rebel Yell

UNLV SPOTLIGHT: First-year quarterback guides Rebels' next opponent - Las Vegas Review Journal
"West Virginia's Geno Smith exudes confidence"

Recruiting:

Recruits Visiting This Weekend - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Around the League (and Beyond):

Did you know?: Week 6 - ESPN

Wreh-Wilson an emerging star in secondary - Register Citizen

The sad, pathetic history of the Scarlet Knight - The UConn Blog
"Rutgers Hate Week marches on." - Now this is a UConn theme I can support

Rutgers Game Day: Will it be Tom Savage or Chas Dodd guiding the offense against Connecticut? - Star Ledger

Where Did All That Pass Rush Come From? - Voodoo Five
Relax, it was only Florida Atlantic

Subtropical Storm Otto: Good News/Bad News For Syracuse - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

Syracuse University receiver Van Chew grows into role as Orange's go-to target - Post Standard

Pitt Faces Familiar Foe In Notre Dame - Cardiac Hill

After staggering start, Bearcats want a run - Cincinnati Enquirer

Louisville football has been pounding it on the ground - Courier-Journal

College GameDay Kickoff: Week 6 preview - ESPN

McMurphy's Law: The Going for That Extra Extra Point Edition - NCAAFB FanHouse
The Fanhouse weekend preview

What's On Tap:

All times listed are Eastern

College Football TV Schedule: Week 6 - NCAAFB FanHouse

Connecticut Huskies vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights - ESPN
7:30 pm tonight from Piscataway on ESPN and ESPN3.  Huskies are giving 5.

Syracuse Orange vs. South Florida Bulls - ESPN
Noon Saturday from Ray Jay on SNY, MASN and ESPN3.  Bulls are giving 7.5.

Memphis Tigers vs. Louisville Cardinals - ESPN
2 pm Saturday from the Pizza Box on ESPN3.  Cards are giving 17.

Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish - ESPN
3:30 pm Saturday from South Bend on NBC.  Pitt is getting 6.

Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Cincinnati Bearcats - ESPN
7 pm Saturday from the Nip on ESPN3 and maybe SNY.  Cinci is giving 17.

And our main event:
UNLV Rebels vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
3:30 pm Saturday from Mountaineer Field on MASN, ESPN3 and maybe SNY.  WVU is giving 27.5.

Videos of Interest:

Tailgate Recipe of the Week:

Margarita Chicken Wings via http://www.myrecipes.com/

Tangy, a little salty, and not too sweet. Prep and Cook Time: 25 minutes, plus at least 3 hours to marinate.

Yield: Makes 20 pieces, serving 4 to 6

Ingredients

• 10  chicken wings (about 2 lbs.)
• Margarita Marinade
• Lime wedges

Preparation

1. Rinse wings, pat dry, and cut apart at joints. Put in a resealable plastic bag with marinade. Seal and refrigerate, turning occasionally, at least 3 hours and up to overnight. Remove wings; reserve marinade.

2. Preheat oven to 500°. Line a large baking pan with aluminum foil and coat lightly with oil. Arrange wings skin side up and brush with reserved marinade.

3. Bake wings until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Turn over, brush with marinade, and bake another 5 to 6 minutes. Turn once more, brush with marinade, and bake until skin is brown and glossy, 2 to 4 minutes. Serve warm, with lime wedges.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Let's just say that Christine O'Donnell wouldn't like this toy (Disclaimer: Not a political statement, it's a joke...lighten up):

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is a Hump Day regular.  She's a British model and actress who can be seen in the recent cinematic masterpiece Piranha 3-D.  Here's Kelly Brook (the pic leads to 5 pages of galleries).

Coor's Light image via 3.bp.blogspot.com