2014-15 Football Previews – (Mountain West) – Rebels
Just a few months ago, it looked as if head coach Bobby Hauck would have quite the task ahead of him during the 2014 college football season. Despite seeing improvements in 2013, this group could have dealt with motivation issues this upcoming year.
Nevada
- Mountain West Conference 2014-15 College Football Previews:
- Head Coach: Bobby Hauck
- 2013 Record: 7-6
- UNLV Gambling Odds to win BCS Championship: OFF
- UNLV Gambling Odds to win Mountain West Mountain Division: OFF
- UNLV Gambling Odds to win Mountain West Conference: 30-1
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Why is that exactly? Credit a postseason ban for that one.
Fortunately for Hauck and his crew, the ban was successfully appealed, and the UNLV Rebels are once again eligible to compete in bowl games, as well as the Mountain West Championship.
Team Strengths:
This team’s biggest strength is its offensive line. UNLV has a physical group of players with excellent size up front, and above all else, it is experienced, as most of the cogs from last year’s group, including Brett Boyko, are coming back in 2014.
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Entering 2014, the Rebels have to replace both tackles on defense, but they have a solid group with a lot of talent still on board. Sonny Sanitoa, Siuea Vaesau and Jordan Sparkman lead the way.
The secondary could prove to be a bit inconsistent this season, but it made strides last year. The group returns three starters from 2013, and while it may not be the most talented group in the country, continuity should pay dividends in 2014.
Team Weaknesses:
This group has significant pieces to replace on the offensive side of the ball. For starters: Caleb Herring. He began the year as a backup receiver, but around the halfway point of the season, he took over behind center, breaking school records and leading the team to its first bowl and and its first winnings season in 13 years.
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Replacing him will be no easy task, but the group does have experience on its side. Nick Sherry, who originally owned the role last year, is back and more motivated than ever to prove his value. Unfortunately, he failed to do that last season, lending nervous optimism to the coaching staff.
Also missing in the backfield is Tim Cornett. He was the school’s all-time leading rusher and the second-best in conference history, and the team will look to make up the difference by starting its first player back there not named Cornett in four years.
UNLV’s defense has developed nicely with recruiting, but you can’t bank on improvements without seeing them first. This program allowed its opponents to score 31.8 points per game against them last season, which was 95th in the nation.
2014-15 UNLV Football Gambling Prediction: 7-6
UNLV has its work cut out for it right from the start of the year. Week 1 features this group going up against the Arizona Wildcats in a game that will nationally televised on ESPN.
Luckily for this group, the schedule gets easier after that, giving it a few easy wins early on to boost the record for the end of the year.
If sanctions were still in play, and a postseason appearance were out of the question, five wins wouldn’t be unreasonable for a projection at this juncture. However, motivation should no longer be a concern, and two of three extra victories should be expected.
2014 UNLV Schedule
- 2014 UNLV Schedule
- Fri, Aug 29 @ Arizona
- Sat, Sept 6 vs N Colorado
- Sat, Sept 13 vs N Illinois
- Sat, Sept 20 @ Houston
- Sat, Sept 27 @ San Diego State
- Sat, Oct 4 @ San Jose State
- Fri, Oct 10 vs Fresno State
- Sat, Oct 25 @ Utah State
- Sat, Nov 1 vs New Mexico
- Sat, Nov 8 vs Air Force
- Sat, Nov 15 @ BYU
- Sun, Nov 23 @ Hawaii
- Sat, Nov 29 vs Nevada
