The Utah State Aggies (15-1) travel to face off against the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (9-7) on Wednesday, January 15th. This game will be played at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas and televised on CBSS. Utah State is coming off a win in their previous game, while UNLV is looking to get back on track from a loss to the Colorado State. Tip-off is set for 11:00 ET.
Utah State Aggies vs UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
The Aggies Are Coming Off A Win
Utah State improved to 15-1 on the season with an 81-79 win over Boise State on Saturday. The Aggies were -4.5 favorites heading into the game, but they didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 160, surpassing the over/under line of 148.5.
After trailing 38-34 at halftime, Utah State turned things around by scoring 47 points in the second half while allowing 41.
The Runnin’ Rebels Are Coming Off A Win
UNLV’s season record dropped to 9-7 after an 84-62 loss to Colorado State on Saturday. The Runnin’ Rebels were +5.5 point underdogs going into the game and failed to cover the spread.
UNLV trailed 46-35 at halftime and struggled in the second half, scoring just 27 points while allowing 38. The game’s total points of 146 went over the pre-game line of 138.5.
Aggies Offense Breakdown
Utah State’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 81 points while shooting 61.2% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 73.5%, thanks in part to their 52.4% shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 11 of 21 attempts. Inside the arc, they connected on 67.9% of their two-point shots, going 19 for 28.
Tyson Degenhart and Ian Martinez both hit 5 threes, shooting 71.4% from deep. Degenhart finished with 22 points, while Martinez added 18. Alvaro Cardenas contributed 15 points and 8 assists, and the Aggies dished out 18 assists as a team. Their free-throw shooting was a weak spot, hitting just 10 of 22 attempts for 45.5%.
Runnin’ Rebels Offense Breakdown
In their latest game, UNLV managed just 62 points, shooting 41% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 45.9%. Their three-point shooting was a struggle, hitting only 29.4% (5/17), while they connected on 45.5% of their two-point attempts. At the free-throw line, the Runnin’ Rebels shot 63.6% (7/11) and grabbed 11 offensive rebounds, with a total of 11 assists as a team.
Rashaan Mbemba and Nique Clifford both scored 22 points, with Mbemba shooting 88.9% (8/9) from the field. Clifford hit 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, finishing with 7 assists. Jaden Henley and Dedan Thomas Jr. each added 19 points, with Thomas also contributing 6 assists. Jalen Lake connected on 3 of 6 three-point attempts, scoring 13 points, while Kyan Evans hit 3 of 5 from deep, finishing with 11 points.
Aggies Team Defense
Utah State’s defense had a tough outing, giving up 79 points on 61% shooting from the field. They struggled to contain the opposing team inside, allowing them to hit 67% of their two-point attempts.
From beyond the arc, Utah State’s defense allowed 11 threes on 52% shooting. They did catch a break at the free-throw line, where the opposing team shot just 45%, but they still gave up 10 points from there.
Runnin’ Rebels Team Defense
Utah State’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 79 points on 61% shooting from the field. The Aggies allowed 67% shooting on two-point attempts, with their opponents hitting 19 of 28 shots.
From beyond the arc, Utah State’s defense couldn’t contain the three-point shooting, as their opponents connected on 11 of 21 attempts, good for 52%. The Aggies did catch a break at the free-throw line, where their opponents shot just 45%, making 10 of 22 attempts.
Aggies vs Runnin’ Rebels Trends
- When looking at their past three road matchups, Utah State has an ATS record of 2-1 while averaging 73 per game. The team went 3-0 overall in these games.
- Through their last ten home contests, the Runnin’ Rebels offense has averaged 69 points per game while allowing an average of 72. UNLV posted an overall record of 4-6 while going 5-5 ATS.
- As the betting underdog, the Runnin’ Rebels have an ATS mark of just 1-2 in their last three games. UNLV posted a straight up mark of 0-3 in these matchups.
- The last ten games that Utah State was favored, they have an ATS mark of 2-8 while going 9-1 straight up.
Aggies vs Runnin’ Rebels Prediction
The Runnin’ Rebels come in as the underdog at +4.5, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.
As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 149.5 and our model has the Aggies and Runnin’ Rebels finishing with a combined 146 points. Our pick is to take the under.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:January 15, 2025 UNLV Runnin' Rebels, Utah State Aggies