Unranked UNLV and unranked Kansas both head to Kansas City to face each other at 7:00 PM ET on Friday night on ESPN. Keep reading for our UNLV vs. Kansas betting prediction.
Can the Jayhawks cover the 9-point spread as neutral-site favorites this weekend?
UNLV is 2-0 straight up this season and 2-0 against the spread. They’ve beaten Houston and Utah Tech and have yet to lose a game this season.
Kansas is 1-1 straight up this season and 0-2 against the spread. They defeated Lindenwood in Week 1 and lost to Illinois last weekend.
UNLV vs. Kansas Matchup & Betting Odds
107 UNLV Rebels (+9) vs. 108 Kansas Jayhawks (-9); o/u 57.5
7:00 p.m. ET, Friday, September 13, 2024
Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, KS
TV: ESPN
UNLV vs. Kansas Public Betting Prediction
As of this writing, our CFB Public Betting page shows that 84% of bets are on Kansas. That said, this page is updated frequently so make sure that you click on the link provided so that you’re getting the most updated information.
UNLV Rebels Game Notes
UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III had a monster game in his team’s 72-14 home win over Utah Tech last weekend. In that contest, the senior from Marietta, GA caught 5 passes for 111 yards and 3 touchdowns. White leads the Rebels in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns this season.
Rebels running back Greg Burrell also played well in his team’s home victory on Saturday afternoon. The 6’1” 205-pound freshman carried the ball 11 times for 101 yards and a touchdown. Burrell is second on the club in rushing with 117 yards in 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks Game Notes
Kansas offensive lineman David Abajian (knee) and tight end DeShawn Hanika (Achilles) will both miss Friday’s game against UNLV. Hanika caught 17 passes for 244 yards and 4 touchdowns as a member of Iowa State in 2022.
Jayhawks wide receivers Keaton Kubecka and Jarred Sample are both questionable for Friday’s contest with undisclosed injuries. Of Kansas’s top 6 wide receivers on the depth chart, 5 are seniors, including leading receiver Luke Grimm (15 catches, 151 yards, 2 touchdowns this season) who operates out of the slot most of the time.
UNLV vs. Kansas Betting Trends
UNLV is 6-1 ATS in non-conference games since the start of last season.
The Rebels are 8-2 ATS after a win since the start of last season.
Kansas is 2-4 ATS in non-conference games since the start of last season.
Kansas is 0-2 ATS this season.
UNLV vs. Kansas Betting Prediction
UNLV has the best ATS record in the nation since the start of last season at 12-4. The Rebels are 7-1 ATS combined in road and neutral-site games during that span. Friday’s game will be played in Kansas City, KS, so it’s technically not a home game for the Jayhawks. UNLV played Kansas last season on December 26th in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. The Jayhawks defeated the Rebels in that game 49-36.
I think this season will be different because UNLV’s defense is much improved. Through 2 games, UNLV is only allowing 10.5 points per game and 270 yards per game. Both figures rank in the top 30 nationally. The Rebels also have an average turnover margin of +1.0 per game this season. That number is tied for the 19th-best mark in the country. UNLV has already defeated one Big 12 team away from home this season in Houston, and I like the Rebels to play well again against Kansas on Friday night. I’m taking the Rebels and the points in this Kansas City showdown.