Unlv Rebels vs California Golden Bears Picks and Predictions December 18th 2024

UNLV Rebels vs California Golden Bears December 18th 2024

ESPN will be covering the Art of Sport LA Bowl, where the California Golden Bears and UNLV Rebels are set to face off on Wednesday, December 18th. Kick-off is at 9:00 ET, with the game being played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood (neutral site). The Golden Bears are the -2.5-point favorites, and the over/under line is currently at 51.5 points. UNLV comes in with a 10-3 record, while California is 6-6 this season.

California vs. UNLV Key Information

• Teams: Golden Bears at Rebels
• Where: SoFi Stadium Inglewood
• Date: Wednesday, December 18th
• Betting Odds CAH -130 | UNLV +110 O/U 51.5

The Golden Bears Can Win If…

California enters Week 13 with a 6-6 record, going 3-3 at home and 2-3 on the road. They’ve been favored in six games this season, holding a 4-2 record as the favorite. Their average scoring margin is +3.9 points per game.

Against the spread, the Golden Bears are 6-5, with a 3-2 mark on the road and 3-3 at home. As the favorite, they’ve gone 3-3 ATS, while they are 3-2 ATS as the underdog.

Their over/under record is 3-6-2, with an average total of 48.2 points per game. The average over/under line for their games has been 52.2 points, and this week’s line is set at 51.5 points.

California’s offense is centered around their passing game, ranking 26th in passing attempts per game and 17th in completions. They are 29th in passing yards, averaging 266.3 yards per game, and 59th in scoring, with 26.1 points per game. We have them ranked 74th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 1.

Fernando Mendoza leads the team with 3,004 passing yards and a 68.7% completion rate. He has thrown 16 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, with a passer rating of 99. Jaivian Thomas is the leading rusher with 598 yards and 7 touchdowns, averaging 6 yards per carry. Nyziah Hunter has 578 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns.

California’s defense, ranked 29th nationally, has allowed 22.2 points per game this season. In their recent game against SMU, they gave up 38 points, including three passing touchdowns, while allowing 458 total yards, 304 of which came through the air.

Despite the rough outing, Cal’s defense has been strong against the run, ranking 22nd in the nation by allowing just 110.1 rushing yards per game. Opponents have averaged 234.2 passing yards per game against them, completing 56.9% of their throws.

• California has put together a record of 1-2 in their last three games (regular season). Their record against the spread in this stretch is 0-3 to go along with an over-under mark of 0-2-1.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the California Golden Bears have gone 4-6 straight up. In these contests, the team went just 5-5 against the spread, while going 3-5-2 on the over-under.

The Rebels Can Win If…

UNLV enters their Week 14 matchup against California with a 10-3 record. They’ve been strong on the road at 6-1, while going 3-1 at home. The Rebels are undefeated as the favorite this season, going 7-0, but have split their games as the underdog at 2-2.

Against the spread, UNLV is 6-5, with a +14.3 average scoring margin. They are 4-3 ATS as the favorite and 2-2 as the underdog this season.

The over/under line for this week is 51.5 points. UNLV’s games have averaged 58.2 points, with their over/under record at 4-7. Their average line has been 57.3 points, and they’ve exceeded it by an average of 1.5 points per game.

UNLV’s offense has been driven by their ground game, ranking 3rd in the nation with 255.9 rushing yards per game on 43.6 attempts, the 4th most in college football. They are averaging 36.2 points per game, placing them 13th nationally, and we have them ranked 51st in our offensive power rankings heading into week 1.

Jai’Den Thomas leads the rushing attack with 843 yards, 7 touchdowns, and an average of 5 yards per carry. Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams has thrown for 1,845 yards with 17 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 101. Ricky White III is the top receiver with 1,041 yards and 11 touchdowns on 79 catches.

UNLV’s defense has been a bright spot this season, ranking 38th nationally by allowing just 21.9 points per game. They’ve been particularly strong against the run, giving up only 110.6 rushing yards per game, which ranks 23rd in the country. Opponents have averaged 31.3 rushing attempts per game against UNLV, the 28th fewest in the nation.

In their recent game against Boise State, UNLV allowed 21 points and 376 total yards, including 218 rushing yards. Boise State also threw for 158 yards and one touchdown. UNLV’s defense faced 27 pass attempts in the game, allowing 18 completions.

• Through their last three games, the UNLV Rebels have a record of 2-1. Across these games, they have put together an ATS mark of 1-2 as well as an over-under record of 1-2.
• The UNLV Rebels have gone 5-5 over their last ten regular season games. Across these games, their ATS record was just 4-6, while posting an over-under record of 7-3.

The Lean

Our projections have the over/under line of 51.5 points being a bit low, with a final score of 28-26 in favor of UNLV. With the over/under line at 51.5 points, we recommend taking the over, as the combined score is expected to be 54 points.

UNLV comes into this game as +2.5 point underdogs, and we have them not only winning straight-up but also covering the spread.

Rebels Face LA Bowl in Coaching Transition

The No. 24 UNLV Rebels are navigating a whirlwind of change as they prepare to face the California Golden Bears in the LA Bowl on Wednesday in Inglewood, Calif. After losing head coach Barry Odom to Purdue just days after their Mountain West Championship defeat, UNLV quickly pivoted by hiring former Florida and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen.

Del Alexander, UNLV’s wide receivers coach and Los Angeles native, will serve as interim coach for the bowl game. Alexander is aiming to keep the team focused amidst the uncertainty.

“I’ve been around some great coaches,” Alexander said. “The influence from those experiences is what I’m using. Make sure the guys have fun and are locked in on the details.”

Despite the changes at the top, UNLV is pushing for an 11-win season, a feat that would mark one of the most successful campaigns in program history.

Cal Grappling with Departures

The Golden Bears (6-6) are also undergoing significant adjustments. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza and leading receiver Nyziah Hunter have entered the transfer portal, leaving Cal’s offense in flux. Additionally, the program parted ways with offensive coordinator Mike Bloesch, hiring former Auburn and Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin to revamp their offense.

Head coach Justin Wilcox confirmed that backup quarterbacks CJ Harris and EJ Caminong are splitting reps ahead of the bowl game while starter Chandler Rogers remains day-to-day with an injury.

“It’s going to be a collaborative effort in calling plays,” Wilcox said. “We’ve got some guys stepping up, and we’re preparing the best we can for Wednesday.”

Key Players to Watch

UNLV

• Hajj-Malik Williams (Quarterback): The sixth-year senior has been the heart of UNLV’s offense, combining for 17 passing touchdowns and 824 rushing yards this season. Williams will aim to cap his career on a high note.
• Jackson Woodard (Linebacker): The Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year is a key force on defense. Woodard, a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, will look to end his collegiate career with a standout performance.
• Ricky White (Wide Receiver): White has been UNLV’s go-to offensive weapon, setting a school record with 1,483 receiving yards this season. With NFL aspirations, the LA Bowl will be a prime stage for his skills.

Cal

• James White (Running Back): With a depleted quarterback room, Cal may lean on its running game. White has been a consistent contributor, especially in critical situations.
• CJ Harris and EJ Caminong (Quarterbacks): Both quarterbacks are vying for the starting role and will need to step up to fill the void left by Mendoza.
• Cal Defense: Despite a 6-6 record, the defense has been the team’s backbone. Watch for a strong effort from the defensive line to contain UNLV’s versatile offense.

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Storylines to Watch

Both teams have plenty at stake beyond the final score. For UNLV, a victory would solidify its remarkable turnaround and set the tone for incoming coach Dan Mullen. For Cal, the focus is on developing chemistry among new faces and building momentum for next season.

With star players like Ricky White and Jackson Woodard seeking to make lasting impressions, and with both programs adjusting to major changes, the LA Bowl is poised to deliver high drama on Wednesday.

Prediction: UNLV 31, Cal 24