Gophers at UNLV pick against the spread

Minnesota(-9.5) at UNLV
How can Vegas favor the Gophers by 9.5 points against any team on the road? I know UNLV sucks. But, the Gophers are just as terrible. And they are on the road.
For some reason, people think the Gophs will be decent this year. What is that Based upon? The win over an Illinois team in the last week of the season, which had quit on it's coach? The awesome new recruits? The Gopher's lost their top WR and their two leading tacklers from last seasons team. And they did not replace them. This game reeks of a typical Gophers let-down in a supposed easy non-conference game.
Pick: UNLV 31- Gophers 24.