California Golden Bears vs UNLV Rebels Point Spread Picks

Barry Odom couldn't wait to grab the big bucks Purdue was offering, and UNLV wide receivers coach Del Alexander will be the interim coach for the Rebels in the L.A. Bowl. The Rebels would have been in the College Football Playoff had they not lost the Mountain West championship game to Boise State. However, they still have plenty of motivation as they're playing in consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history and so far they have had relatively few opt-outs and transfers. UNLV is on a 10-3 ATS run as an underdog and California has lost six of its past nine games. The Golden Bears are 0-3 ATS their past three games and they have allowed an average of 32 points their past four games, including a 38-6 rout at SMU in their regular-season finale. The Rebels have a dynamic QB in Hajj-Malik Williams, who has thrown for 1,845 yards and 17 TDs with only five interceptions. Williams will be looking to redeem himself after a tough game against the Broncos. Take UNLV.

Not much to gain looking at the openers for both these teams. They were both easy wins vs an opponent they could control in every facet of the game. The Cal Bears not all that long ago were based on offense and out-scoring opponents. In the last four years, this team has become very defensive-oriented with a struggling offense. That has set a new benchmark for this team. Cal over the last four years has not had a season where both teams combined to average more than 46 total points scored. That has led to a 28-15 ATS mark to the under. UNLV in the past three years has never averaged better than 24 PPG. Those numbers have been achieved vs defenses that are not what they will see in this game, and for this one to get to nearly 50 total points is going to be a reach. Make the play on the UNDER.