The UNLV Rebels (0-7, 0-3 MWC) and Nevada Wolfpack (5-2, 2-1) meet for a Friday 10 p.m. ET game at Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nev. Below, we look at the UNLV vs. Nevada odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
Rankings courtesy of the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
UNLV has been getting close. Including a 27-20 setback against San Jose State Oct. 21, the Rebels have lost four consecutive games by 8 points or less. They led the San Jose State 20-13 heading into the fourth quarter. How does a team ranked outside the top 110 on both sides of the ball play so many close games in a schedule that ranks above average? The Rebels rank in the top 30 in red-zone efficiency on both offense and defense.
The Wolfpack are coming off a close loss of their own, getting tripped up by Fresno State 34-32 in Week 8. The loss came after a three-game winning streak. Nevada suffered the loss despite compiling 523 yards of total offense. Nevada ranks third in the Mountain West Conference in total offense (459.3 yards per game).
UNLV at Nevada odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 9:53 p.m. ET.
- Money line: UNLV +750 (bet $100 to win $750) | Nevada -1400 (bet $1,400 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): UNLV +20.5 (-112) | Nevada -20.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 58.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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UNLV at Nevada odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Nevada 35, UNLV 21
Money line
Peg a slight lean on UNLV in this one. It’s more of a slight fade of the host Wolfpack against what is analytically a bottom-5 Rebels group.
The latter leads me to a partial-unit play just as a default guard against overplaying teams that habitually underperform. In this case, that’s a hold-my-nose-and-take-UNLV-and-the-points play. PASS ON THE MONEY LINE.
Against the spread
BACK UNLV +20.5 (-112).
The Rebels are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five games as road underdogs. The road team is 6-2 ATS in the last eight series meetings.
Nevada won last year’s game 37-19, but the contest was close heading into the fourth quarter.
A couple impressive offensive performances for the Wolfpack this fall involve some extraneous factors. Nevada beat Hawaii 34-17 in a game that saw the Wolfpack finish as a plus-5 in turnovers. UN beat New Mexico State, 55-28 in a contest that saw the Aggies pile up 108 yards in penalties.
Figure UNLV as staying within 14 fairly late. The odds of an ATS win after that are just north of the profit line.
Over/Under
The last 10 series games in Reno have seen the Under go 8-2.
The fade-the-Nevada offense has just enough pull here. BACK THE UNDER 58.5 (-115).
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