Are you rooting for — and betting on — the wrong Las Vegas team?
Most recent headlines in the local press have been focused on the Las Vegas Raiders and coach Josh McDaniels’ play-calling. After squeaking by the Denver Broncos, 17-16, in Week 1, the Raiders have fallen on hard times.
They were blown out by the Buffalo Bills, 38-10 in Week 2, and then lost at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 23-18, on Sunday Night Football. McDaniels’ decision to go for a field goal deep in Steeler territory trailing 23-15 late in the game incurred the umbrage of sports savants from coast-to-coast.
Said McDaniels: “You’re going to need another possession anyway, you know what I mean?” he said. “So, it is not a lack of confidence. We went for it multiple times.”
The question mark is telling. Most people didn’t get his decision or what he meant.
So that leaves the Raiders at 1-2 on the young season with McDaniels repeating the same homilies he did in 2022 when the Raiders stumbled to a 1-4 start.
The Raiders were +3 vs. the Broncos in Week so that’s a cover. But they were never close to covering +7.5 vs. the Bills and failed to cover -3 vs. the Steelers. And their win over Denver in Week 1 looks less unimpressive after the Broncos were routed by the Miami Dolphins, 70-20, in Week 3.
They are +6 vs. the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.
While the Raiders are roiling fans and stirring up snarky comments on social media, the UNLV Rebels are quietly going about their business, winning games and covering for bettors.
Texas-El Paso was the latest victim. The Rebels, wearing all-white uniform, and a retro helmet decal inspired by a design worn from 1987-89, rolled over the Miners on Saturday with a convincing 45-28 victory. It was their first non-conference road win since beating Vanderbilt in Nashville in 2019. And since they closed at +2 ‘dogs, it was another win for bettors as well.
The Rebels, in fact, are a sterling 4-0 against-the-spread in their first four games. Their only loss is a 35-7 defeat on the road at Michigan, but they covered +38.5 in that game.
“Thrilled with the win on the road,” first-year coach Barry Odom said. “And to be 3-1 through the non-conference portion of the season, now it’s on to conference play.”
The Rebels next face Hawaii at 1 p.m. Saturday in the annual Ninth Island Showdown at Allegiant Stadium. The public seems to be catching on. After opening at -10, the Rebels are now -11 for the game.
The Raiders appear to be on a downward spiral. The prospects for the Rebels, who need only three more wins to be bowl-eligible, seem to be headed up.
The Rebels average around 15,000-16,000 attendance for home games at Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders regularly fill the publicly subsidized stadium, but many fans are from visiting teams. “This is Steeler Country” banners flashed prominently on the “Sunday Night Football” telecast.
Which team do you now wish to identify with? Which team merch would you be more likely to purchase and wear? And if it comes to that, where will you put your hard-earned cash at the betting counter this weekend?
