Hinds’ injury forcing changes in UNLV lines

It’s possible quarterback Travis Dixon is about to emerge as a freshman phenom and rescue UNLV’s football season. But nobody is betting on it.

The forecast for the Rebels, already picked to finish last in the Mountain West Conference, has worsened with the realization that junior quarterback Rocky Hinds might not play this season.

Hinds left camp last week because of a lingering right knee injury, and after a ligament tear was revealed Tuesday, his return is questionable. Hinds’ absence has forced adjustments in UNLV betting lines.

The Las Vegas Hilton dropped the Rebels’ regular-season win total from 4 1/2 to 4 and boosted the money line for under-the-total wagers from minus-160 to minus-250.

“It gets to a point where you hear about a freshman quarterback and it’s one-way betting,” said Hilton sports book manager Ed Salmons, who made the line change to stop the onslaught of wagering against UNLV.

“It doesn’t sound like a good thing going to a freshman who hasn’t played. There’s definitely a lot of doom and gloom as far as the way people are looking at it. There’s a lot of naysayers about that football program.”

Two weeks ago, the Rebels were 9-point favorites in their Aug. 30 opener at Utah State. The line has dropped to 7.

The Hilton had posted UNLV as an 18 1/2-point home underdog to Wisconsin on Sept. 8, but without Hinds the number has been moved to 21. The Rebels are 7 1/2-point road underdogs to UNR on Sept. 29, up from 7.

The 6-foot-4-inch Hinds, a transfer from Southern California, was inconsistent while playing with the knee injury as a sophomore. Because of his potential, he recently was named to the Manning Award watch list as one of college football’s top 35 quarterbacks.

The 6-1 Dixon has decent credentials. He led Hamilton High School in Chandler, Ariz., to two Class 5A state championships. But the naysayers will be surprised if he can guide UNLV to more than two victories this season.