California vs. UNLV Prediction, Pick Against the Spread, Latest Odds for Art of Sport LA Bowl
The California Golden Bears will meet the UNLV Rebels on Wednesday night in the Art of Sport LA Bowl. Matt McCuen previews and gives his pick on whether he feels California or UNLV will cover the spread.
Matt McCuen - December 18, 2024, 6:37 AM EST
4 minCalifornia vs. UNLV Prediction, Pick Against the Spread, Latest Odds
The California Golden Bears and UNLV Rebels face off on Wednesday night in the Art of Sport LA Bowl from Inglewood, California.
Despite California finishing their season with a record of 6-6, it was a solid enough year for a bowl-game opportunity after picking up a hard-fought 24-21 win over Stanford to earn eligibility. This is now the second consecutive year that Cal has reached a bowl game, with the Golden Bears making but losing in the 2023 Independence Bowl.
The last time California won a bowl game was in 2019, when the team defeated Illinois 35-20 in the Red Box Bowl, making tonight an important one for the program.
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California vs. UNLV Odds
California vs. UNLV Date, Time, and Where To Watch
- Date: December 18, 2024
- Time: 9:00 pm ET
- Where To Watch: ESPN
California vs. UNLV Prediction
Cal sophomore QB Fernando Mendoza leads the team with 3,004 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions. However, the Golden Bears will have to attempt the upset with Mendoza, as he's entered the transfer portal and will be inactive tonight.
Senior QB Charlie Rogers will start tonight and be supported Oakland native RB Jaivan Thomas, who's dashed for 598 yards and seven touchdowns, and WR Nyziah Hunter, who has racked up 578 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Contrary to California, UNLV had a winning 2024 campaign, posting a record of 10-3. That strong record has earned the Rebels a ranking of 24th in the nation.
This makes for back-to-back winning seasons for UNLV, as the program went 9-5 in 2023. Like the Golden Bears, the Rebels will be looking to change their bowl fortunes from '23 to '24 after they competed in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in a losing effort a year ago.
Suffering an even worse drought than California, UNLV has not won a bowl game since the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl. Last year's Guaranteed Rate Bowl and tonight's LA Bowl have been the Rebels' only bowl appearances since 2001.
UNLV reached the Mountain West Championship game this year, but lost 21-7 to Boise State.
QB Hajj-Malik Williams leads the team with 1,845 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Additionally, the signal-caller has rushed for 824 yards and nine touchdowns.
Williams' top weapons are RB Jai’Den Thomas, who leads the ground game with 846 yards and seven touchdowns, and WR Ricky White III, who has collected 1,041 yards and 11 touchdowns.
California vs. UNLV Pick
- Pick: UNLV -3 (-110) (Get oddschecker+ right now for just $9.99 per month. Don't miss out on this December deal! )
The Rebels will have more of their important pieces on the field tonight, which will be the big difference maker in this one.
Without its starting QB, the California offense will have difficulty moving the football.
As mentioned, UNLV has not won a bowl game since 2000, and tonight's game will mean a lot to this program.
