In a remarkable turnaround, Barry Odom has swiftly revitalized the UNLV football program since his appointment as head coach. Prior to Odom’s arrival, the Rebels endured nine consecutive losing seasons under the stewardship of three different coaches. However, in just his first year at the helm, Odom orchestrated a commendable 9-5 record, and this season, UNLV stands undefeated at 4-0, earning a spot in the AP Top 25 for the first time in the school’s history.
This week, the 25th-ranked Rebels are set to face Syracuse (3-1) in a non-conference showdown on Friday evening. Syracuse is coming off a convincing 42-14 victory against Holy Cross, although they’ve struggled against the spread, holding a record of 1-3 this season. Kickoff is slated for 9 p.m. ET at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Initially opening as 4-point favorites, UNLV has since moved to a 6-point lead in the latest betting odds, with the over/under line set at 55.5 points, reflecting a slight increase from the opening line.
Before making any decisions on the Syracuse vs UNLV matchup, it’s crucial to consult the college football predictions and betting insights from the SportsLine Projection Model. This sophisticated model simulates each FBS college football game a staggering 10,000 times and has previously delivered impressive results, boasting a profit exceeding $2,000 for $100 bettors on its top-rated spread picks. Last week, it was particularly noteworthy, finishing a flawless 6-0 on its top-rated college football picks. For those who have consistently followed the model, the rewards have been significant.
Currently, the model has focused its analysis on the upcoming contest between Syracuse vs UNLV, revealing its sought-after picks and predictions. For detailed insights, visit SportsLine. Here’s a breakdown of the betting odds for the match:
- UNLV vs. Syracuse Spread: Rebels -6
- UNLV vs. Syracuse Over/Under: 55.5 points
- UNLV vs. Syracuse Money Line: Rebels -223, Orange +181
Syracuse, under first-year head coach Fran Brown, has commenced the season with a robust 3-1 record. Brown has adeptly harnessed talent from the transfer portal, highlighted by the addition of quarterback Kyle McCord, ranked as the 10th-best prospect in the portal according to 247Sports. After three productive years at Ohio State, McCord accumulated 3,170 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, completing 65.8% of his attempts, helping the Buckeyes secure their first 11 victories before faltering against Michigan.
The Orange have embraced a McCord-centric offensive strategy, emphasizing the aerial attack with a passing rate of 63.8%, the third highest in college football. They currently rank third in the nation for passing yards per game, averaging 358, with McCord consistently surpassing 330 yards and achieving three four-touchdown games. Defensively, Syracuse has limited opponents to a mere 5.8 yards per pass, placing them 18th nationally, and has recorded at least one interception in three of their four games. With McCord at the helm, Syracuse is poised to maintain offensive momentum against UNLV, enhancing their chances of either covering the spread or potentially securing an outright victory.
Conversely, UNLV is reveling in its inaugural appearance in the AP Top 25 and aims to transcend recent off-field distractions, particularly regarding quarterback Matthew Sluka’s redshirt status due to an NIL dispute. The Rebels demonstrated their mettle without Sluka last week, as Hajj-Malik Williams excelled, completing 13 of 16 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 119 yards and a score in a dominant 59-14 win over Fresno State. This performance marked UNLV’s highest scoring output against an FBS team since 2016.
Senior wide receiver Ricky White III is a pivotal figure in UNLV’s offense, leading the team with 20 receptions for 253 yards and five touchdowns. Notably, he accounted for 10 catches, 127 yards, and two touchdowns in the previous game, making up over half of the team’s total receptions this season. Defensively, the Rebels have showcased their prowess, allowing each opponent to score no more than 14 points at home this season, with an impressive average margin of victory of 51.5 points.
For those contemplating their wagers, the SportsLine model is leaning towards the Under for the total points, projecting a combined score of 54. This analysis also indicates that one side of the spread is likely to succeed over 50% of the time.
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