– Last Updated on June 8, 2018 7:51 am
2017 Football Preview – Mountain West – Rebels
Looking for 2017 UNLV Rebels predictions? The Rebels went 4-8 last season. Head coach Gary Sanchez is looking for his team to get better. In his first two seasons at UNLV, he has improved the teams record by one game. With a new contract extension through 2021 and a newly renovated Sam Boyd Stadium, the Rebels are eyeing a bowl game this year.
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- 2017-18 College Football Preview – UNLV Rebels
- Head Coach: Gary Sanchez
- 2015 Record: 4-8
- UNLV Rebels Odds to win the 2017 FBS Championship: +10000
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The time is now for this UNLV Rebels team to win. Can Gary Sanchez deliver?
2017 UNLV Rebels Predictions: Team Strengths
Pro Caliber Wideout: Senior leader and best offensive player Devonte Boyd returns for his final season. Despite missing the last few games of the year, Boyd had 45 catches, 746 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
The Rebels are expecting Boyd to shine brighter this year and produce more yards and touchdowns than last season. Boyd has pro speed and hands. Look for him to be a All Mountain West selection this year.
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Redshirt Freshman, Armani Rogers has one year of experience under his belt. Rogers will have to compete for the starting job against Kurt Palandech and Johnny Stanton. The word is Rogers has a slight edge to be the starter. His combination of speed and passing should give him the the starting job.
Things might get interesting to see who gets the job at the start of the season.
Kurt Palandech only completed 50% of his passes last season for 647 yards. Those stats will not get you a bowl bid in the Mountain West. Johnny Stanton’s numbers weren’t much better. He started the first four games last season, completing 46.7% of his throws for 667 years, six touchdowns and six interceptions.
It looks like the two will be battling it out for a back up position at the start of camp.
Two Headed Monster: Running Backs Lexington Thomas and Charles Williams look to provide a solid backfield again this season. The one two punch was overlooked and under rated last season because of the teams poor record.
Lexington Thomas, a Junior from Houston, took the majority of the carries last year; earning his spot as the teams number one back. Thomas had 205 carries for 1,148 yards and 11 TDs last season.
Sophomore Charles Williams is considered the second best offensive player on the UNLV offense behind QB Armani Rogers. Williams had 141 carries, 763 yards and three touchdowns in 2016.
2017 UNLV Rebels Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Stopping the Run: UNLV had a terrible run defense last season. The defense allowed 200 or more rushing yards in five of their last seven games last year.
Including a game against Boise State where the defense allowed 318 rushing yards and four rushing touch downs. In the final two games of the year, UNLV allowed a combined 584 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns!
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The Rebels will have to get more production from defensive line. With three starters on the line coming back, they can only get better (we hope). Nose Tackle Mike Hughes and Defensive Tackle Jason Fao will be key returns to the D-line this year.
The UNLV secondary was suspect last season, and could be the same, if not worse this season. Cornerback Darius Mouton is the only returning starter on a weak defensive secondary.
Mouton is clearly the best player on the UNLV defense. He is the teams returning leading tackler with 51 tackles, one interception and on fumble return for a touchdown in 2016.
Mouton will be joined in the secondary with Junior Tim Hough. Hough was not a starter last season but is highly touted by the defense this season ranking number three among the top five players on the Rebels defense.
UNLV Rebels Prediction: 5-7
Are The Rebels are going to better than last season?
UNLV is returning a solid ground attack in running backs Williams and Thomas. The ground attack will be the vocal point of the offense again this season.
As for the schedule, UNLV does not play many big name opponents, except for the Ohio Buckeyes on September 23rd.
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The key for UNLV to getting better than 4-8, is the play at Quarterback. Coach Sanchez should be fully aware that establishing a number one at the beginning of the year is a must.
They tried the two quarterback system last year, and we see where it got them.
2017 UNLV Rebel Schedule
- 9/2/17 9p.m. Howard
- 9/9/17 9p.m.@Idaho
- 9/16/17 Open Date
- 9/23/17 TBD @Ohio State
- 9/30/17 TBD San Jose State
- 10/7/17 TBD San Diego State
- 10/14/17 TBD @Air Force
- 10/21/17 Utah State
- 10/28/17 TBD @Fresno State
- 11/4/17 TBD Hawaii
- 11/10/17 TBD BYU
- 11/17/17 TBD @New Mexico
- 11/25/17 TBD @Nevada
What do you think about our 2017 UNLV Rebel predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2017!
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