UNLV vs. Houston Predictions & Bets Week 1 NCAA College Football 8/31/24 | Hitting The Books

all right UNLV in Houston uh Houston one and a half Point home favorites 54 and a half the total money's poured in on UNLV most of the summer uh and it's a rebuilding Houston team I don't deny that uh Dana hogerson left this team in a complete and utter disaster and shambles uh and now Willie Fritz who's a great another great hire he's going to turn it around make no mistake about it look what he did at two lane amazing coaching job by Willie Fritz at two lane but it might it might take time it might for as great a coach as he is Donovan Smith is going to be the quarterback it looks like again for Houston this year you know kind of up and down he was last year I think they bring in Zeon Chris transfer from uh I think it was LaFayette or one of the Louisiana schools to backham up no actually I think he might have been with uh Jack no I think it was with uh Arkansas State no it was U Lafayette so I was right initially he backs up Donovan Smith so they do have some decent depth there Parker Jennings returns running back uh one starter on the o line only back uh that's a bit concerning but again the offense was disappointing last year defense was horrid last year only two starters back they gave up 31.5 points per game um it's not an easy game UNLV Barry Odum one of the coaching jobs of the year last year not only to get you in forget bowling I mean you're in contention to win the conference that's an unbelievable job by Barry Odum have you it's been a long time since UNLV had a season like that last year uh there's no question there was a quarterback battle going on at UNLV Matthew sluka and high Malik Williams for the uh quarterback spot believe it's going to go to sluka uh from the looks at things last I checked as far as the starting uh job um you know you've got three starters back on the o line defense did it wasn't great but it's definitely better than it has been in previously for UNLV and they do have six starters at back and their leading tackler which helps you know their schedule is manageable uh at times this year um this is a winnable game for UNLV and because look second year with odm more continuity I think Fritz is a great higher but is it going to be great right away year one game one that's a big question mark um I get why unlv's taken money at they probably win this game but there's something about betting against this kind of a coach like Willie Fritz I can't get behind it I just can't they probably UNLV has every opportunity to win this game and they're probably in a better position to be good now than Houston but I don't know I'm such a big Willie Fritz guy Conor Mack I can't take you in LP so what do you think here Rebels cougars this this could be good this would be a a big win for UNLV I still have the question marks though a little bit with the quarterback you know and how how this early on maybe in this game and this is game maybe to to bet live and a lot of these where we're seeing these quarter backs and what's going to go on and shake out where weak ones you don't need to go out and put a bunch of money and a bunch of bets maybe uh see a little some stuff before it happens but other than that the defense UNLV returned seven starters that was good B but don't break there though the turnovers this was UNLV but fourth in the country 27 last year I don't know that that regresses and goes the other way the next year I that is key and that was a big part you know because they still gave up you know plenty of yards and stuff but that really helped out but I I think the defense is still uh solid I but they could get into a few shootouts Thomas the running back's really good uh he had 12 touchdowns at back and of course Ricky White the uh the receiver he could be one of the top in you know in the country for the rebels so the offense I think will be will be good Houston we got Donovan Smith I know we're going to kind of get out of him I I think he's going to be fine move the ball but what are we going to get back with this whole retooled you know Houston team from the shambles like you know here in week one I don't know you know I think they'll run the ball heavy Houston will uh and I still don't love their defense you know at all uh so unov should have some success over can we get an over here I I know it's week one this is one I'm just going to but I I'm Le to have do this over what you think I would too now mava and Brumfield the two quarterbacks from last year are gone for UNLV but yeah you know we'll see what happens with sluka Malik and high Malik Williams here uh for the uh whoever gets the job but and that goes to the live thing but like if it starts out a little bit slow and we've seen these second halfs where the points have gone you know shot out a little bit in these week ones yeah and how much will this defense I guess they're going with 3 four that I was uh going through with Houston yeah we'll see if it if it'll work