Jayhawks (8-4) vs. Rebels (9-4)
Kansas Jayhawks vs. UNLV Rebels 12/26/23 – On Tuesday, the Guaranteed Rate Bowl pits the Kansas Jayhawks against UNLV Rebels at Chase Field for a riveting battle that airs live on ESPN and draws many looking for top NCAAF bowl total picks. Kansas boasts an 8-4 record while UNLV has gone 9-4 throughout this season and stands out as an impressive opponent.
Jayhawks offensive prowess has been spearheaded by Running Back Devin Neal’s impressive campaign of 1,209 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns scored this season. Lawrence Arnold also played an instrumental role, amassing 650 receiving yards while scoring 3 touchdowns to help ensure Kansas Jayhawks strategic offensive success.
Conversely, UNLV Rebels boast their own noteworthy players. Running Back Vincent Davis Jr. has been especially impactful, rushing for 722 yards and 6 touchdowns this season alone. Wide Receiver Ricky White has also played an essential part in UNLV’s offensive scheme with 1,386 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns to his name; these contributions have greatly strengthened their offensive capabilities and enabled UNLV Rebels’ success this season.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. UNLV Rebels 12/26/23 Game Info
| When: | Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 9:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Chase Field |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Jason Bean QB vs. Jayden Maiava QB
Jason Bean has put together an impressive campaign guiding the high-octane Kansas offense in 2023. He ranks among the Big 12 leaders across several key passing categories including completion percentage, yards per attempt and quarterback rating. Bean has shown the ability to efficiently operate drive after drive thanks to his quick decision-making and solid accuracy throwing short and intermediate routes. He exhibits poise standing firm in the pocket to give deep patterns time to develop downfield as well. However, Bean has also made several costly mistakes trying to do too much which led to interceptions in the Jayhawks losses. He will need to avoid ill-advised throws against an opportunistic UNLV defense.
Jayden Maiava has orchestrated the UNLV attack to near perfection in his first year as a full-time starter, keying a substantial turnaround after a 2-10 season. He has displayed precision throwing to all levels of the field. Maiava also utilizes his athleticism as a major component of the offense, whether attacking the edges on scripted runs or scrambling to create off schedule. He processes information quickly to spread the ball around to his talented playmakers, showing the ability to manipulate defenses with his eyes as well. Maiava must continue improving his decision-making after some costly errors down the stretch however, as Kansas has the ball-hawking secondary to make him pay for any mistakes.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: Kansas Jayhawks -460, Total Odds: 67
The betting odds heavily favor the Kansas Jayhawks, reflecting their dominant season performance. The large point spread of -12.5 and a high total of 67 points suggest expectations of a high-scoring game, likely led by Kansas’ offense.
Kansas Jayhawks Betting Trends
Kansas has thrived against the spread recently, covering in four of their past five contests. The Jayhawks offense has caught fire down the stretch, clearing 30 points in three straight outings. Kansas also boasts an excellent 8-4 record straight up over their last 12 games. However, trends suggest fading the Jayhawks defense, especially with the over cashing in five of their previous seven December matchups.
UNLV Rebels Betting Trends
UNLV rode a scorching hot 10-3 ATS run during the middle stretch of their schedule. However, the Rebels have faded down the stretch, failing to cover in three of their last four outings. Still, UNLV owns an impressive 9-4 overall record this season, led by an offense averaging over 30 points per game. The Rebels also excel as underdogs, covering the spread in eight of their past nine instances. With explosive potential on both sides, UNLV games tend to turn into shootouts, with four of their last five contests eclipsing the betting total.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. UNLV Rebels 12/26/23 Betting Picks
Analyzing both teams’ strengths and recent trends, this game appears to lean towards Kansas, especially given their offensive firepower and consistent performance. However, UNLV’s strong record ATS, especially as underdogs, should not be underestimated.
In terms of picks, Kansas seems to be the safer bet, particularly given their offensive prowess. Prop bets on individual player performances, especially for key players like Neal and White, could be interesting. The over/under is a challenging bet, but given both teams’ offensive records, the game leaning towards a higher score seems plausible. For those looking for handicapper best expert picks, considering both teams’ strengths and recent performances is crucial for making informed decisions.
Free Pick and Prediction: Kansas Jayhawks 42, UNLV Rebels 30