The Kansas Jayhawks and UNLV Rebels entered Week 3 of the college football season just outside the AP Top 25 rankings. Both teams will look to make an impression on voters during their national showdown on Friday night. This game serves as a rematch of their high-scoring clash at the 2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl, where Kansas secured a 49-36 victory. Currently, Kansas is 1-1 after a recent loss to Illinois, while UNLV boasts a 2-0 record with wins over Houston and FCS opponent Utah Tech.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Friday at Children’s Mercy Park in Lawrence, Kansas. The Jayhawks are favored by 9 points, with an over/under of 57.5, according to the latest SportsLine consensus. The line opened at -11, and the total initially stood at 60.5. Before finalizing any picks for UNLV vs. Kansas, it’s worth checking out SportsLine’s college football predictions and betting insights.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS game 10,000 times, generating a profit of over $2,000 for $100 bettors on its top-rated picks against the spread since its inception. It recently had a profitable 13-9 season on its top-rated spread picks, rewarding those who followed its advice.
Why Kansas Can Cover
Kansas started the season ranked No. 22 in the AP Top 25 and moved up to No. 19 after a win over Lindenwood. However, they fell out of the rankings following a 23-16 loss to Illinois. In that game, the Jayhawks outgained the Illini 319-272, but a 4-1 turnover differential proved costly.
Running back Devin Neal was a standout, rushing for over 100 yards in both games this season. Neal has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in each of the last two seasons and boasts 3,290 career rushing yards and 35 touchdowns. He contributed 71 yards and a touchdown against UNLV in their bowl meeting last season and is expected to be key for Kansas on Friday. Find out which team to pick here.
Why UNLV Can Cover
The Rebels had a nine-win season in Barry Odom’s first year as head coach, their best performance since their 1984 season, which was later vacated. Despite losing standout freshman quarterback Jayden Maiava to USC, top receiver Ricky White returns. White had seven catches for 97 yards and a touchdown against Kansas last season and finished the year with 88 catches for 1,483 yards and eight touchdowns.
Versatile playmaker Jacob De Jesus also returns for UNLV. In the previous meeting, he recorded eight catches for 98 yards and added 40 rushing yards with a touchdown on six carries. This season, De Jesus has already scored twice, helping UNLV secure comfortable wins over Houston and Utah Tech. The Rebels have covered the spread in their last seven road games, while the Jayhawks are just 2-4 ATS in their last six games as favorites. Find out which team to pick here.
How to Make Kansas vs. UNLV Picks
SportsLine’s model is projecting a total score of 64 points, leaning toward the Over. It also indicates that one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. To see which side to bet on, check out the model’s pick exclusively at SportsLine.
Who will win UNLV vs. Kansas, and which side of the spread is most likely to hit? Visit SportsLine now to see the advanced computer model’s selection, which has generated over $2,000 in profit on its college football picks since its inception.
