By the point-spread standards, Howard pulled off perhaps the biggest upset in modern college football history on Saturday night. The Bison, an FCS team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, entered as 45-point underdogs against UNLV and stunned the Rebels 43-40. UNLV paid Howard $600,000 for the appearance….which if you think about it, in the long run, is hilarious. Howard can say they got paid $600k to go to Nevada and pull off one of the biggest upsets in college football. For UNLV, they are probably livid that they just wasted that $600k right out the window. Check out the sideline reaction:
#ICYMI: Our Howard Football Team had a dynamic win against @unlvfootball last night. Congratulations 🎊 @HUBisonSports #MissionPossible pic.twitter.com/P7uvB19cO2
— Howard University (@HowardU) September 3, 2017
On the side, Las Vegas sportsbooks were not offering a money line on the game. But the Bison could be found as 600-1 long shots and even higher at some offshore books. So if you were feeling a little ballsy last night and bet on the Bison PLEASE let us know.
One funny fact is Howard’s win comes a day after the 10-year anniversary of Appalachian State’s upset of Michigan. No point spread was archived on the game between the Wolverines and the Mountaineers, who were playing in Division I-AA. Jeff Sherman, oddsmaker for the Westgate SuperBook, formerly the Las Vegas Hilton, told ESPN that he recalls having Michigan favored by “31-33” points over Appalachian State.
Since 2005, there have been 254 games featuring point spreads of 40 or more, according to sports betting database BetLabSports.com. Before Saturday, 40-plus-point favorites were 253-0. Howard was not the only massive FCS underdog to pull off a stunner on Saturday. As the Liberty, a 33-point road underdog outlasted Baylor 48-43.
Caylin Newton
Howard QB Caylin Newton, younger brother of Panthers star, Cam Newton accounted for 330 total yards and three TDs. It was also the debut for new Bison coach Mike London, talk about a debut eh? Newton had 21 carries for 190 yards and two scores and passed for 140 and a score. Believe it or not, that stat line looks exactly like his older brothers every game.
Howard soared off to a 21-9 lead when LB Devin Rollins took a 75-yard fumble recovery to the house midway through the second quarter. The Rebels responded fast by reeling off 24 consecutive points and led 33-21 after Charles Williams plunged in from a yard out with 6:45 left in the third.
Anthony Philyaw scored touchdown runs of 3 and 11 yards to put the Bison back up 34-33. Lexington Thomas scored for UNLV for a 40-36 lead, and Newton concluded the scoring with a 4-yard run with 7:34 left to play. It was only fitting for Newton to cap off the game with a QB keeper of his own. Probably took it out of his older brother’s playbook too. The win will live on with everyone on this Bison team forever!