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Wednesday’s LA Bowl in Inglewood, Calif., features the Cal Golden Bears (6-6) and UNLV Rebels (10-3). The opening kickoff at SoFi Stadium will be at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the Cal vs. UNLV odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
Cal clocked a midseason, 4-game losing streak (Sept. 21-Oct. 19), but the Golden Bears have rallied to go 3-2 since. They last played Nov. 30, losing at SMU 38-6. The Bears, who were 12½-point underdogs in that one, enter this bowl game on a 3-game losing streak against the spread (ATS).
UNLV, which is No. 24 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, is looking to win an 11th game for just the second time in its history and the first since 1984. The Rebels were the Mountain West Conference regular-season runner-up, and the squad last played Dec. 6 when, as a 4-point underdog, it was felled by Boise State in the MWC title game, 21-7. The Rebels are 2-4 ATS in their last half-dozen games.
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Cal vs. UNLV odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated Tuesday at 8:58 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Cal -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | UNLV -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Cal -1 (-105) | UNLV +1 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 47.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Cal vs. UNLV picks and predictions
Prediction
UNLV 31, Cal 24
Moneyline
UNLV coach Barry Odom has moved on (taking the Purdue job), but for the most part Cal is the more affected roster when it comes to transfer-portal lineup changes. That includes Bears starting QB Fernando Mendoza entering the portal. Cal, which may also be without backup QB Chandler Rogers after he was injured in the regular-season finale, may well flip the script and be forced into being a run-first team. That’s not something the Bears have much experience with. Because UNLV is excellent in keeping offenses off schedule, the potential is there for a very slow start for Cal.
The Rebels also rank highly in causing havoc plays. So, that matchup is a big green checkmark in the UNLV column.
Nevada-Las Vegas has run for 200-plus yards in each of its last 5 games. The Rebels racked up over 5 yards per carry in 4 of those contests. They are a solid outright play in this one.
TAKE UNLV (-110).
Against the spread
No interest; PASS.
Over/Under
Expecting some turnover-fueled, short-field chances in this one. Mix in Cal usually playing at a brisk pace on offense and a good weather report, and the OVER 47.5 (-115) is the lean for this one.
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