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Game: Hawaii at UNLV Oct 12 2013 8:00PM
Prediction: over
Reason: My 10* MWC Total of the Year is on Hawaii/UNLV Over at 8:00 ET.
Bobby Hauck took over a struggling UNLV football program in 2010. Entering his fourth season at Las Vegas in 2013, Hauck’s teams were just 6-32, including an abysmal 0-20 mark on the road. There was some good news surrounding Rebel football as the 2013 season opened, as UNLV returned more starters than any program in the MWC, a total of nine both offensively and defensively. QB Nick Sherry would have easily set the MWC freshman record for passing yards if not for some injuries, as he finished with 2,544 yards, ranking him fourth in league history and seventh on the school's single-season list for any signal-caller, regardless of class. His 16 passing TDs were the most by any UNLV player since 2008. Both Devante Davis (61 catches) and Marcus Sullivan (55 catches) return plus so does the school's all-time leading rusher, Tim Cornett, who ran for 1,232 yards (5.1 YPC) and seven TDs a year ago.
UNLV opened the season at Minnesota and while the Rebels outgained the Gophers 419-320 in yards, the team's “road demons” won out. UNLV allowed a 98-yard KO return TD, a 51-yard blocked FG for a TD and an 89-yard INT return for a TD in a 51-23 loss. Make that 23 straight road losses and a 2-19-2 ATS mark. During the team's long road losing skein, UNLV has allowed a WHOPPING 43.4 PPG. The Rebels returned home in the season's second week and hosted Arizona. The Wildcats obliterated the Rebels, beating them 58-13 while running for 397 yards.
UNLV’ s season almost came apart the following Saturday at home vs Central Michigan, when the Rebels fell behind 21-0 but UNLV got on the board right before the end of the half and then outscored the Chippewas 24-0 in the second half for a 31-21 win. Herring, as senior QB pushed aside by Sherry last year and to open TY, went 24-of-28 for 266 yards (3 TDs) in that game and also led UNLV to a 38-7 home win over Western Illinois the following week (he was 14-of-20 for 140 yards with one TD, no INTs and 57 rushing yards), giving Hauck back-to-back wins at UNLV for the first time.
So that set the stage for UNLV taking its 23-game road losing streak to Las Cruces on Sep 28, where the Rebels last won on the road, 34-17 back on 10/24/09. UNLV ended its 23-game road losing streak at New Mexico, winning 56-42.The Rebels ran for 248 yards (6.7 YPC) and Herring completed 24-of-34 for 293 yards with four TDs and no INTs. However, the Rebels did allow 581 yards, including 497 on the ground (8.4 YPC). After a bye week, UNLV now hosts Hawaii, looking for a FOURTH straight win and all of a sudden, there is “bowl talk” in Las Vegas. Should UNLV beat Hawaii here at Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday, it will be the first four-game win streak for the school since 2000!
As for the Rainbow Warriors, 2013 has been a disaster so far, as Hawaii enter 0-5. Except for a desperate comeback bid against nationally-ranked Fresno State when it trailed by 39 points (42-3) but somehow managed to lose just 42-37, every other game has been decided by double figures. The latest of those defeats came last Saturday night against visiting San Jose State, which won 37-27. Hawaii is one of just nine FBS schools still seeking its first win of 23013. Considering Hawaii has lost its last NINE road games, this just may not be the Rainbow Warriors’ first win of 2013.
Hawaii has allowed 34.6 PPG in its 0-5 start to 2013 and during its nine-game road losing streak, Hawaii is allowing 40.2 PPG. Considering the Rebels are playing with as much confidence and better than anyone has seen in years, I don’t envision a scenario in which Hawaii will contain UNLV. On the other hand, Hawaii QB Sean Schroeder (a Duke transfer) has completed 17-of-27 for 321 yards (3 TDs / 1 INT) vs Fresno St and 28-of-50 for 342 yards (3 TDs / 0 INTs) vs San Jose St in Hawaii’s last two games, so don’t expect the Rainbow Warriors to “go quietly” in this contest.
The home team has won each of the last four years in this matchup, Hawaii 48-10 in 2012 and 59-21 in 2010, plus UNLV 40-20 in 2011 and 34-33 in 2009. The average game score the last four years checks in at 66.3 per and I’m Goin’ Over!
Good luck...Larry
Prediction: over
Reason: My 10* MWC Total of the Year is on Hawaii/UNLV Over at 8:00 ET.
Bobby Hauck took over a struggling UNLV football program in 2010. Entering his fourth season at Las Vegas in 2013, Hauck’s teams were just 6-32, including an abysmal 0-20 mark on the road. There was some good news surrounding Rebel football as the 2013 season opened, as UNLV returned more starters than any program in the MWC, a total of nine both offensively and defensively. QB Nick Sherry would have easily set the MWC freshman record for passing yards if not for some injuries, as he finished with 2,544 yards, ranking him fourth in league history and seventh on the school's single-season list for any signal-caller, regardless of class. His 16 passing TDs were the most by any UNLV player since 2008. Both Devante Davis (61 catches) and Marcus Sullivan (55 catches) return plus so does the school's all-time leading rusher, Tim Cornett, who ran for 1,232 yards (5.1 YPC) and seven TDs a year ago.
UNLV opened the season at Minnesota and while the Rebels outgained the Gophers 419-320 in yards, the team's “road demons” won out. UNLV allowed a 98-yard KO return TD, a 51-yard blocked FG for a TD and an 89-yard INT return for a TD in a 51-23 loss. Make that 23 straight road losses and a 2-19-2 ATS mark. During the team's long road losing skein, UNLV has allowed a WHOPPING 43.4 PPG. The Rebels returned home in the season's second week and hosted Arizona. The Wildcats obliterated the Rebels, beating them 58-13 while running for 397 yards.
UNLV’ s season almost came apart the following Saturday at home vs Central Michigan, when the Rebels fell behind 21-0 but UNLV got on the board right before the end of the half and then outscored the Chippewas 24-0 in the second half for a 31-21 win. Herring, as senior QB pushed aside by Sherry last year and to open TY, went 24-of-28 for 266 yards (3 TDs) in that game and also led UNLV to a 38-7 home win over Western Illinois the following week (he was 14-of-20 for 140 yards with one TD, no INTs and 57 rushing yards), giving Hauck back-to-back wins at UNLV for the first time.
So that set the stage for UNLV taking its 23-game road losing streak to Las Cruces on Sep 28, where the Rebels last won on the road, 34-17 back on 10/24/09. UNLV ended its 23-game road losing streak at New Mexico, winning 56-42.The Rebels ran for 248 yards (6.7 YPC) and Herring completed 24-of-34 for 293 yards with four TDs and no INTs. However, the Rebels did allow 581 yards, including 497 on the ground (8.4 YPC). After a bye week, UNLV now hosts Hawaii, looking for a FOURTH straight win and all of a sudden, there is “bowl talk” in Las Vegas. Should UNLV beat Hawaii here at Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday, it will be the first four-game win streak for the school since 2000!
As for the Rainbow Warriors, 2013 has been a disaster so far, as Hawaii enter 0-5. Except for a desperate comeback bid against nationally-ranked Fresno State when it trailed by 39 points (42-3) but somehow managed to lose just 42-37, every other game has been decided by double figures. The latest of those defeats came last Saturday night against visiting San Jose State, which won 37-27. Hawaii is one of just nine FBS schools still seeking its first win of 23013. Considering Hawaii has lost its last NINE road games, this just may not be the Rainbow Warriors’ first win of 2013.
Hawaii has allowed 34.6 PPG in its 0-5 start to 2013 and during its nine-game road losing streak, Hawaii is allowing 40.2 PPG. Considering the Rebels are playing with as much confidence and better than anyone has seen in years, I don’t envision a scenario in which Hawaii will contain UNLV. On the other hand, Hawaii QB Sean Schroeder (a Duke transfer) has completed 17-of-27 for 321 yards (3 TDs / 1 INT) vs Fresno St and 28-of-50 for 342 yards (3 TDs / 0 INTs) vs San Jose St in Hawaii’s last two games, so don’t expect the Rainbow Warriors to “go quietly” in this contest.
The home team has won each of the last four years in this matchup, Hawaii 48-10 in 2012 and 59-21 in 2010, plus UNLV 40-20 in 2011 and 34-33 in 2009. The average game score the last four years checks in at 66.3 per and I’m Goin’ Over!
Good luck...Larry
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