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UNLV College Football Predictions 2009

Written June 30, 2009 by InfoPlays

2009 UNLV Football Predictions The UNLV Rebels have more talent spread throughout the team than at any time in the Mike Sanford 5-year era. Offensively, they have the weapons to keep up with the Mountain West’s Big Three in BYU, TCU and Utah. The Rebels should get off to a fast start, but then an October stretch that starts with a showdown at Nevada followed by meetings with BYU, Utah, New Mexico and TCU could be brutal. NCAA football odds at one of our featured books in Sportsbook.com offers reduced juice on Friday’s to give you an edge!

Offense: There have been years of frustration at UNLV offensively, which has led to an 11-36 record in Sanford’s tenure here. But that ended last season when Omar Clayton led the Rebels to a promising start, beating Iowa State and Arizona State in overtime. When his season ended due to injury in November, Mike Clausen showed that UNLV finally had the talent and depth at QB to go forward. Clayton is the perfect fit for Sanford’s spread offense that he brought over from the unbeaten 2004 Utah team. Clayton had a slight edge in the spring, but it’s a close battle heading into fall camp.

Senior receiver Ryan Wolfe is the Rebels’ career receptions and yards leader. He topped the 1,000-yard mark last season, the first time this had been done by a UNLV receiver since 1994. Phillip Payne figures to take some attention away from Wolfe after catching seven touchdowns a year ago. Their red zone play last season compared to the previous year was like night and day. In 2007, the Rebels finished last in the MWC in this area. Then in 2008, the Rebels tied Ohio State for the best in the country, converting 95 percent of their trips to the red zone by scoring 35 times on 37 trips inside the 20 with 29 touchdowns. Two All-MWC candidates in guard Joe Hawley and tackle Matt Murphy head a talented offensive line. UNLV figures to use a running back by committee approach, leaving the door open for top recruit Bradley Randle.

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Defense: The Rebels look to have a good foundation up front defensively, but success for this unit will ride on improvements in the secondary. UNLV had a shot at a .500 season heading into their season finale last year before getting torched by San Diego State freshman QB Ryan Lindley. The staff decided to recruit defensive backs heavily in the offseason as a result. Three junior college defensive backs competed in the spring, and another in Mike Grant arrives in the fall. Most jobs are open, with the exception of Terrance Lee who claimed the nickel position.

Sophomore Deante Purvis, who played on special teams last year, clocked a 4.31 40-yard dash, tops on the team. He’s battling for a cornerback spot, while former QB Travis Dixon in in the mix at safety. Linebacker is not an issue for the Rebels. They return Jason Beauchamp, the MWC tackles leader with 127 stops last year. Starr Fuimaono should dominate if he recovers fully healthy from knee surgery. Defensive tackle Malo Taumau leads the line. According to Stanford, he turned in the best spring performance of any defender. An impact junior college transfer could be end B.J. Bell, the younger brother of former defensive leader Beau Bell here at UNLV.

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