UNLV vs. Kansas: Prediction, Preview, Odds

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Kansas wide receiver Quentin Skinner is unable to catch a pass from quarterback Jalon Daniels as Illinois defensive back Torrie Cox Jr. defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Champaign, Ill.
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Chase Kiddy @chaseakiddy Sep 11, 2024, 4:03 PM
  • UNLV vs. Kansas kicks off Friday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
  • Kansas is a 7-point favorite despite its recent loss at Illinois.
  • UNLV already has one win against a Big 12 opponent this season.

The college football universe centers on the state of Kansas this Friday night, and it’s not just because of Arizona vs. Kansas State

UNLV’s high-stakes trip to Kansas presents an excellent opportunity in the college football odds market, as I’ll detail below. 

UNLV vs. Kansas Odds

  • Point Spread: Kansas -7
  • Moneyline: Kansas -275  |  UNLV +220
  • Over/Under: 58

UNLV vs. Kansas Prediction

I am predicting a UNLV +7 cover on Friday night.

Kansas has surged under the leadership of Lance Leipold, but the 2024 team appears to have a lot of obstacles. Much hay has already been made about how Kansas isn’t playing their home games at home. Each game – including this one – involves a 40-mile trek east to Kansas City. 

That doesn’t feel like a big deal to me, especially early in the season. 

A much bigger potential problem is the play of Jalon Daniels. The electric, but oft-injured, quarterback for the Jayhawks has looked pretty mortal so far this season. At Illinois, he completed barely 50% of his passes, threw three interceptions, and had a QBR of 32.4. 

That’s not great for a guy who was regularly appearing on the list of the best college football quarterbacks in the past.

UNLV looks the part of a real G5 playoff contender. Quarterback Matthew Sluka is effectively operating the offense at the FBS level after moving up from Holy Cross, and Barry Odom’s defense looks quite capable. 

The Rebels already have one Big 12 upset from their dominating win over Houston in Week 1. That win looks even more impressive after Houston played ranked Oklahoma tight the following week.

With UNLV getting a full touchdown in this game, I think the Rebels are a great bet to start the weekend.

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About the Author

Chase Kiddy

Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.