Having failed to cover a big spread against UTEP last season, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels will try again on Monday night when those schools hit the hardwood at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso.
UNLV beat UTEP by a score of 65-54 at home last December but didn't manage to cover the big 17-point spread posted on the college basketball betting lines at the sportsbooks. That matchup was an UNDER result on the totals for OVER/UNDER bettors.
The Miners sport records of 3-4 and 0-6 ATS heading into this battle, while the Rebels have 8-1 and 4-4 ATS marks on the season. The OVER/UNDER records are 3-2 for the Miners and 2-3 for the Rebels.
View UNLV vs Texas El Paso Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
The visitors opened as 6-point favorites in this one at most sportsbooks tracked at Odds Shark, including Sportsbook. The total was set to open a bit later (check out Sportsbook for the latest situation).
Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new college basketball power rankings here, it's the No. 330-ranked Miners and the No. 8-rated Rebels in this matchup. Computer formulas aimed at predicting NCAAB scores point to a 84-59 win for the Rebels on Monday.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Texas El Paso's No. 335 nationally ranked offense (56.7 points per game) against a Rebels defense that sits as the No. 113 at 62.7 PPG. The Miners have been averaging 43.5% from the field, less than the Rebels have managed so far this season (43.8% on average).
Defensively, UNLV features the nation's No. 129-rated defense on the road, allowing 67.5 points per game. Texas El Paso, meanwhile, comes in at No. 327 nationally in scoring at home.
Last time out for UNLV, they were a 91-44 Sportsbook as they battled Laverne at home. UNLV cruised to victory on Thursday, running Laverne out of the gym and running up a 91-44 score at Thomas & Mack Center.
Texas El Paso was a 64-60 Sportsbook in its last match at home against Idaho. They failed to cover the 8-point spread as favorites. The Miners grabbed a 64-60 win over the Vandals on Saturday, behind a 17-point effort from Jalen Ragland at Haskins Center.
UNLV Rebels Trends:
When playing on Monday are 8-2
Before playing Northern Iowa are 0-1
After a win are 7-3
Texas El Paso Miners Trends:
When playing on Monday are 8-2
Before playing Oregon are 0-1
After a win are 5-5
A few Rebels at Miners trends to consider:
UNLV is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
UNLV is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Texas El Paso is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Texas El Paso is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Texas El Paso is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing UNLV
Texas El Paso is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Next up:
UNLV home to Northern Iowa, Wednesday, December 19
Texas El Paso home to Oregon, Wednesday, December 19
