Gildan New Mexico Bowl 2012: Nevada vs. Arizona preview, game time, TV, odds, draft prospects

The FBS bowl season kicks off Saturday with Arizona facing Nevada. Both teams are 7-5.

Game time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Odds: Arizona -9

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What it means

Not a whole lot, really, other than the bowl season is officially underway.

2013 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch

This is not a game full of top-end draft prospects, which each school has had a fair share of in the past (Colin Kaepernick went to Nevada, and Nick Foles went to Arizona), but there are a couple of interesting names to watch on each team.

Arizona prospects to watch: QB Matt Scott and WR Dan Buckner

Dan Buckner looks like a day three draft pick. He’s a big -odied receiver (listed at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds) who has solid production this year. He has 741 yards receiving and five touchdowns. Buckner originally played for Texas before he was arrested and transferred to Arizona. He can get down the field once he gets going but it takes him awhile to pick up speed and he has pretty good hands. He’ll probably be selected on the back end of day three, but has a shot to make a roster.

Nevada Wolfpack prospects to watch: Safety Duke Williams, WR Brendon Wimberly, and RB Stefphon Jefferson (JR).

RB Stefphon Jefferson is the best player in this game. Jefferson has rushed for more than 1,700 yards this year with 22 touchdowns. Jefferson has good size at 5-11, 210 pounds and good speed. Jefferson is probably best known for racking up touchdowns against Hawaii this year (seven total), which got him a momentary Heisman candidate buzz. Jefferson looks like a late day two prospect (round three), or early day three (round 4), prior to the pre-draft process, but if he shows better than anticipated speed he could certainly move higher. The Wolfpack play the Pistol offense and you can see Jefferson’s game vs. California on Youtube.

(Draft analysis provided by Jesse Bartolis of Big Blue View)