55 predictions for UNLV’s 2022 football season

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 | 2 a.m.

Almost nothing is certain when it comes to UNLV football this season. Quarterback is a toss-up, the rushing attack is by committee and the defense is already dealing with multiple injuries, so any prognostication is bound to be precarious as the program pursues its first bowl berth since 2013.

In that spirit, here are 55 predictions for the Scarlet and Gray:

1. Who will be the team’s starting quarterback in the season opener? Doug Brumfield

2. How many quarterbacks will UNLV use against Idaho State? Two

3. How many quarterbacks will UNLV use all season? Three

4. Which quarterback will start the most games? Harrison Bailey

5. Who will lead UNLV in passing yards? Bailey. Brumfield will start on opening day. But when UNLV hits a rough patch one of Arroyo’s first moves will be to swap quarterbacks. Bailey will come in with a longer leash and end up leading the team in most passing statistics.

6. Who will lead UNLV in rushing yards? Aidan Robbins

7. How many defensive touchdowns will UNLV score? One

8. How many offensive touchdowns will UNLV score? 34

9. Where will UNLV’s offense finish in the Mountain West? Eighth in scoring (24.8 points per game). It may not seem like much, but that would represent significant progress for UNLV, as the Scarlet and Gray finished 10^th in the conference last year at 20.8 points.

10. Will UNLV allow a special teams touchdown? No

11. What will be UNLV’s lowest scoring game? Seven points against Notre Dame (Oct. 22)

12. Who will lead the team in tackles? Kyle Beaudry

13. How many times will a UNLV running back rush for 100 yards in a game? Twice, both by Robbins

14. How many passing plays of 20+ yards will UNLV allow? 18

15. Who will lead UNLV in receiving yards? Ricky White. The 6-foot-1 Michigan State transfer has sparkled in training camp, producing chunk gains at a consistent rate. White will produce regardless of who is throwing to him.

16. Where will UNLV’s defense finish in the Mountain West? 10^th in scoring (27.9 points per game)

17. What record will UNLV post in close games? 3-4. Close contests haunted the Scarlet and Gray last year, as they went 2-6 in games that were within one score at some point in the fourth quarter. Improved quarterback play will help get UNLV across the finish line more often this season.

18. How many home games will UNLV win? Three

19. What will be UNLV’s best win? Against UNR (Nov. 26). Winning the Fremont Cannon for the first time under Arroyo will be the highlight of the season.

20. What will be the worst loss? at San Diego State (Nov. 5)

21. Who will lead the team in touchdowns? Jeff Weimer

22. Will UNLV win its season opener against Idaho State? Yes

23. Will UNLV record more team rushing yards than Charles Williams gained individually last year? No. UNLV is shifting to a pass-first offensive attack this year, which will make it difficult to accumulate the 1,261 ground yards Williams racked up last year on his own.

24. How many opponents will UNLV hold scoreless in the first half? None

25. How many opponents will UNLV hold scoreless in the second half? One, UNR (Nov. 26)

26. How many times will UNLV score on its opening possession? Four times

27. What will be UNLV’s longest scoring drive? A 15-play, 90-yard touchdown drive against Idaho State

28. Which offensive player will record the longest play from scrimmage? Zyell Griffin, 75-yard reception. Steve Jenkins and Tyleek Collins both scored 80-yard touchdowns last year, but they are no longer on the team. Griffin nabbed a 55-yarder as a freshman and it’s not a stretch to envision him hauling in a long bomb at some point.

29. Will UNLV win consecutive games? Yes

30. Who will record UNLV’s first sack? Elijah Shelton

31. Which player will lead the team in sacks? Adam Plant, 5.5

32. How many interceptions will UNLV record? 10

33. Who will lead the team in interceptions? Johnathan Baldwin, three

34. Will UNLV have any players make the All-Mountain West first team? The Scarlet and Gray got shut out of the preseason All-MWC team, but Kyle Williams and Austin Ajiake vowed the list would look different after the season. They’re right. Look for Michigan State transfer White to snag one of the receiver spots.

35. Will UNLV score a touchdown on special teams? No

36. How many field goals will Daniel Gutierrez kick? Seventeen

37. Will UNLV win a game in walk-off fashion? Yes, at Hawaii (Nov. 19)

38. What will be UNLV’s highest scoring game of the year? 36 points, vs. New Mexico (Sept. 30)

39. Will UNLV football outscore the basketball team’s single-game high scorer this year? Yes. Last year, Bryce Hamilton poured in 42 points against Colorado State while the football team topped out at 33 points (and that took double overtime against Eastern Washington). The basketball team doesn’t appear to have a dominant scorer like Hamilton this season, but there are a couple guys capable of going for 30-plus. Let’s say Jackie Johnson tallies 31 at some point, while the football team gets 36 against New Mexico. Advantage, gridiron Scarlet and Gray.

40. Will a UNLV player win Mountain West Freshman of the Year for the third consecutive year? No

41. What will be the highest attendance game of the season? vs. UNR, Nov. 26

42. Will UNLV play in a bowl game? No

43. What will UNLV’s final record be? 4-8

44-55. Which games will UNLV win (and lose)?

Aug. 27 vs. Idaho State — Win (1-0)

Sept. 10 at Cal — Loss (1-1)

Sept. 17 vs. North Texas — Loss (1-2)

Sept. 24 at Utah State — Loss (1-3)

Sept. 30 vs. New Mexico — Win (2-3)

Oct. 7 at San Jose State — Loss (2-4)

Oct. 15 vs. Air Force — Loss (2-5)

Oct. 22 at Notre Dame — Loss (2-6)

Nov. 5 at San Diego State — Loss (2-7)

Nov. 11 vs. Fresno State — Loss (2-8)

Nov. 19 at Hawaii — Win (3-8)

Nov. 26 vs. UNR — Win (4-8)

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.