College football: Howard pulls off biggest point-spread upset with win over UNLV

Howard coach Mike London embraces defensive back Aaron Walker before the start of their game against UNLV on Saturday night.

By Staff and wire reports

Sept. 3, 2017 11:25 AM PT

Some are calling Howard’s 43-40 defeat of UNLV on Saturday night in Las Vegas the biggest upset in college football history, and by point-spread standards it appears to be true.

Caylin Newton (Cam Newton’s brother) accounted for 330 total offensive yards and three touchdowns to lead the 45-point underdog and FCS-member Bison to the season-opening win in the debut of coach Mike London.

Although no line was available on the game in Vegas, ESPN reported that some offshore books were giving 600-1 odds on Howard winning the game.

Associated Press reported that the previously biggest upset by point spread went to Stanford, which was declared a 40-point underdog against USC in 2007 and beat the Trojans 24-23 on a last-minute touchdown pass and point-after kick.

It also happens to be the weekend of the 10-year anniversary of perhaps the biggest upset in college football history when FCS school Appalachian State went to Ann Arbor and defeated Michigan 34-32. Although there were no odds archived for the game, one bookmaker told ESPN that the Wolverines were a 31- to 33-point favorite.

The Rebels started the game Saturday flagged for offside on the opening kickoff and at one point the officials stopped a play because UNLV’s cheerleaders were still on the field.

Howard opened a 21-9 lead when Devin Rollins returned a fumble 75 yards for a score. The Rebels responded by reeling off 24 consecutive points to take a 33-21 lead when Charles Williams plunged in from a yard out with 6:45 left in the third quarter.

Anthony Philyaw posted touchdown runs of three and 11 yards to put the Bison back in front 36-33. Lexington Thomas scored for UNLV for a 40-36 lead, and Newton concluded the scoring with a four-yard run with 7:34 left in the fourth quarter. Newton had 21 carries for 190 yards and two scores and passed for 140 and a touchdown.

Thomas rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns in 21 carries and Armani Rogers passed for 220 yards and a touchdown for UNLV.