UNLV vs. Nevada picks and best bets for Week 9

The Fremont Cannon is on the line in Reno. Can the Rebels pull the massive upset over their hated rival?

By Collin Sherwin@CollinSherwin Oct 29, 2021, 4:00am PDT

UNLV Athletics operations staff members take the Fremont Cannon trophy from the field to the Nevada Wolf Pack locker room late in the team’s game against the UNLV Rebels at Sam Boyd Stadium on November 29, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nevada won the trophy with a 49-27 victory.

The battle for the Fremont Cannon is here, as the Nevada Wolfpack host the UNLV Rebels on Friday, October 29th in a Mountain West Conference showdown.

When both these teams are competitive, this is quietly one of the best rivalry games west of the Mississippi River. But UNLV just hasn’t been able to hold up their end as of late, which is part of the reason why Tony Sanchez got fired and Marcus Arroyo is now the head coach.

But can the Rebels make enough noise in a lost season to give their in-state rivals a scare?

Here’s all the data you’ll want, and a pick for the game!

SP+ Rankings

UNLV: 121 overall, 106 offense, 119 defense
Nevada: 72 overall, 59 offense, 78 defense

Injury update

UNLV

QB Doug Brumfield - Questionable (knee)
RB Jayvaun Wilson - Questionable (undisclosed)
WR Kyle Williams - Questionable (hamstring)
WR Tyleek Collins - Questionable (undisclosed)

Nevada

No injuries reported

ATS/Total

Against The Spread

UNLV: 5-2 ATS
Nevada: 5-2 ATS

Total

UNLV: Over 3-4
Nevada: Over 5-2

Returning/Overall Talent from 247Sports

UNLV: 92 overall, 95 offense, 84 defense
Nevada: 105 overall, 99 offense, 117 defense

Current lines at DraftKings Sportsbook

Spread: Nevada -20
Total: 58.5
Moneyline: Nevada -1375, UNLV +800

Opening line: Nevada -20
Opening total: 59.5

Weather

59 degrees, partly cloudy, 6 MPH wind, 3% chance of rain

The Pick

UNLV +20

Without Doug Brumfield, UNLV hasn’t shown any ability to move the ball consistently. Also they can’t stop a nosebleed. But this is the rivalry game where the fits and starts for the Rebels this season can start to put something closer to a 60 minute game together under Marcus Arroyo. They’re not going to win, but they can hang around enough to keep the Fremont Cannon in question in the second half. Rebels to cover, Wolfpack to win.

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