UNLV Rebels (15-8) vs. Wyoming Cowboys (7-15)
Week 14 of the 2022-23 NCAA men’s basketball season is in full swing on Wednesday, February 8, when the San UNLV Rebels take on the Wyoming Cowboys in this Mountain West Conference clash at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyoming.
This will be the second and final meeting between the teams. The Rebels defeated the Cowboys on January 24, 86-72, as they were favored by 5.0 in the game with the total set at 139.5. The home team has won the last four meetings between these clubs. UNLV is favored by 2.5 points with the total set at 145.5.
Rebels Three-Game Winning Streak Snapped by Bulldogs
The UNLV Rebels (15-8, 12-10-0 ATS) saw their three-game winning streak come to an end when they lost to the Fresno State Bulldogs on Friday, 82-79. The team now heads to the road for three of their next four games where they are 3-3 this season. UNLV is 4-2 ATS in their last six games and has gone over in four of their last five.
The Rebels held a six-point lead heading into the half, as they shot 48.1% from the floor, including hitting 13 of 14 free-throw attempts. However, the Bulldogs rallied in the second half, hitting 17 free throws and shooting 52.2%, including 4-7 from three-point range. EJ Harkless led the team with 27 points and Keshon Gilbert added 19. Harkless had 28 in the win over Wyoming, including going 11-11 from the free-throw line.
KESHON GILBERT!!🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Hn2NqRojGh
— UNLV Men's Basketball (@TheRunninRebels) February 4, 2023
The Rebels are 86th in shots per game (72.0). UNLV is 98th in points per 100 possessions (109.0) and 79th in points allowed per 100 possessions (100). That has earned them the 82nd ranking in the KenPom rating. The team is averaging 76.4 points per game, 72nd overall, and is hitting 35.6% of their three-point attempts, 106th. In the conference they have been slightly better, hitting 35.9% of their three-point attempts, and are averaging eight three-pointers made per 22.3 attempts in the MWC.
Wyoming Falls to Spartans
The Wyoming Cowboys (7-15, 7-13-1) fell to the San Jose State Spartans on Saturday, 84-64. The Spartans are 2-8 SU in their last 10 and are 4-6 ATS in the same stretch of games. Wyoming is 6-5 at home.
Wyoming trailed by 11 at the half, despite shooting a solid 40.0%. However, San Jose State shot 58.3% in the first half and hit 56.6% of their attempts overall. This has been a trouble spot for the team, as conference opponents are hitting 47.5% of their shots, including 38.1% from three-point range against the Cowboys. Hunter Maldonado had 34 points in the loss, hitting 13 of 19 shots, and Jeremiah Oden had 12.
The tough finish 😤 @therealhunter24 pic.twitter.com/wiOk3QVZ9X
— Wyoming Cowboy Basketball (@wyo_mbb) February 5, 2023
Wyoming is 300th in shot attempts per game (67.6). The Cowboys are averaging 108.9 points per 100 possessions (99th), while allowing 108.9 points per 100 possessions (257th). That puts them at 164th in the Kenpom ranking. Wyoming is averaging 70.5 points per game, but has not been as good in the MWC, averaging 68.7 points per game on 45.8% shooting.
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
This is a game that the Rebels easily dominated the first time these teams met and they come in as a 2.5-point favorite. However, the home team has not only won the last four meetings between these teams, but has also been the ATS winner in each of the last four. UNLV had a run where they lost five of six games, but looks like they have righted the ship. That was a tough loss against Fresno State, but there is a reason why Wyoming is in the bottom of the standings in the conference.
The Cowboys simply do not have enough firepower to keep up with the Rebels. They are averaging six points fewer per game while allowing three points more per contest. The numbers are even worse in the conference, where they have a point differential of -6.6.
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Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
While these teams combine for 158 points the last time they met, they battled to reach 120 in both meetings last season. Wyoming understands that their pathway to victory is a low-scoring affair where they limit the number of attempts that the Rebels are able to take.
While the teams are combining to average 147 points per game, the numbers have not been as good in the conference, as they are combining to average about 143. The trends support going over, as Wyoming has gone over in eight of their last nine games and UNLV has gone over in 16 of their last 21. However, buck the trend here. Look for a total of around 140.