Rebels running out of prime chances to pad win total

What happens during two of the next three weeks means everything and almost nothing to UNLV's football program.

Whether the Rebels find success probably will have little overall impact on what has become a highly disappointing season.

But any glimmer of hope had better come during two of the next three weeks, because the Rebels' chances for winning decline dramatically after that.

UNLV (1-5, 0-1 Mountain West Conference) plays Colorado State (3-4, 1-1) at 3 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium, and visits New Mexico (0-7, 0-2) on Nov. 12.

Between those games, the Rebels host Boise State on Nov. 5, and they finish their schedule at Air Force, against San Diego State and at Texas Christian. They figure to be substantial underdogs in those four.

UNLV is a 2½-point underdog to Colorado State, and its betting line against New Mexico also figures to be slim.

Bobby Hauck, who follows the coach's credo of not wanting to look beyond the next opponent, at least acknowledged the similar spots in which his team and Colorado State find themselves.

"Certainly, we've got to have some urgency about ... getting a win this weekend," Hauck said Monday. "In Fort Collins (Colo.), if they've got their press conference going on right now, they're probably saying the same thing. They've got to take a look at us and feel like they've got a good chance to beat us.

"If they're watching what's transpired to date, I'm sure CSU feels pretty good about their chances this weekend."

The Rams opened 3-1, but the victories came against New Mexico, Northern Colorado and Utah State, teams with a combined 2-20 record. Colorado State lost to Colorado, San Jose State and Texas-El Paso (combined 8-14) and also was routed at home by Boise State, 63-13.

If UNLV beats the Rams, pressure figures to intensify on Rams coach Steve Fairchild, who is 16-28 in four seasons.

Hauck feels some heat, too, but he is in his second season of a five-year contract and has the support of athletic director Jim Livengood. Barring something unforeseen, Hauck will return next year.

So in that regard, whether UNLV finishes 1-11, 2-10 or 3-9 makes little long-term difference. But for a team that in the past month has suffered humiliating losses to Southern Utah (41-16), UNR (37-0) and Wyoming (41-14), the Rebels need hope wherever they can find it.

"Obviously, it would set the tone for the rest of the season," tight end Anthony Vidal said. "It would really give us a good morale boost. It's the start of basically a whole other season. We've got a six-game stretch, so we can really get the ball rolling against Colorado State."

■ NOTE -- Junior Sean Reilly will start at quarterback for UNLV, but Hauck said sophomore Caleb Herring also will play. How playing time will be divided will be determined today or Wednesday.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.