What happens when you open your college football season as a 45 point favorite?
If you're the UNLV Rebels, you lose that game.
At home.
To a team a full division below you.
So … how did that happen?
And what's next?
VSIN's Mitch Moss did not hold back.
"Give credit to Howard coming in here," he said. "It was David vs. Goliath, if you will, because they're an FCS team at a much lower level and they have been absolutely dreadful over the years. But you have to say that UNLV lost it.
"They were absolutely pathetic on all fronts. They had no business losing that game whatsoever. I don't know how you enter the season in the third year of the head coach and you just have no answers whatsoever for a team at a lower level," he continued.
"I get it. It was Cam Newton's little brother at quarterback [for Howard], so you don't have a lot to go with with that guy, but you couldn't get a stop. You couldn't get an adjustment against a really bad football program.
"You were embarrassed in week one! Out of the gates! Completely unacceptable. I would pin it more on UNLV losing than Howard winning."
Some commentators have called it the biggest upset in college football history. Moss doesn't necessarily see it that way, although according to the sportsbooks, it would be.
"To me, point spread-wise, yes it was," he said. "But perception-wise, no it wasn't. Part of that was because UNLV has had many, many bad losses over the years and they have been quite frankly a lousy program for the most part over the last 15 to 20 years. So perception-wise, it wasn't in my opinion," he said.
As for the future of head coach Tony Sanchez's job, Moss said Sanchez has been responsible for some big money donations, and the new athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois can't ignore that.
"I think Tony Sanchez is still safe, but if it plays out to where they're a two-win football team again this year, to me his seat has to be at least simmering to warm at that point," he said. "That would make 2018 a make-or-break year for the guy."
Up next, UNLV is on the road at Idaho and then they play Ohio State in Columbus. Moss thinks the humiliating loss against Howard could be just the thing the Rebels needed.
"If you've ever had a fire lit underneath you, it should be from that loss to be motivated to go on the road," he said.
While UNLV is licking its wounds from its first outing, the Wolfpack of UNR has something to celebrate. Even though they lost to Northwestern, it was a close game with a new head coach against a powerhouse from the Big Ten.
"No question that Nevada was in that game," he said. "They led for a little bit of it. They had a chance to win it, I thought, in the second half. They didn't but talk about a good way to start a new era."
Spend Mitch's Money
NFL Regular Season Week 1
49ers vs. Panthers
I think the 49ers are going to be improved this year. They're at home against Carolina. I'm still a little worried about Cam Newton's shoulder, coming off of the surgery. Don't know if he's 100 percent yet.
A cross country trip like that for the Panthers, they were down last year. They're going to be better than they were last year. I also think that is going to be the case for the 49ers. I like [Brian] Hoyer there [as quarterback] in this spot. I think their defense is going to be much improved with the new head coach there in Kyle Shanahan.
Give me the 49ers +5.5, or preferably, if you can find the +6. I'll take them here in week one.
Mitch Moss, VSIN
