Jayhawks Face UNLV in Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Guaranteed Rate Bowl Spread Sees Kansas Favored By Double-Digits
The Guaranteed Rate Bowl kicks off this upcoming December, 23rd. We’ve got the latest updates on lines, injuries, departures and weather right here
UNLV may be the sentimental favorite in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. But the Rebels certainly aren’t the betting favorite. The Kansas Jayhawks opened as 11.5-point favorites and the line soon moved to 12.5 points. Kansas has seen another push in the betting and the point spread is now up to 13.
The moneyline has flattened out a little bit, with Kansas opening -490 and dropping down to -480 shortly afterwards. The moneyline is now holding at Jayhawks -460, so there’s been a little bit of movement, but not too much.
The total has shown some movement. The over/under opened at 64.5 and despite several brief half-point jumps, is again at 64.5, now to 67.
There have been no recent transfer portal entries or player opt-outs in the game.
This is the first time the football team has taken the field since the Dec. 6 shooting at UNLV that took the lives of three business professors. Expect the team to follow suit of the basketball team with “UNLV Strong” patches on their uniforms. Both coaches and players say they want to honor the victims against Kansas, so emotions will be high for the contest.
Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-50s at kickoff with no chance of rain and very little wind.
Now, check out the rest of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl preview, originally published on December 8.
The Kansas Jayhawks and the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels are scheduled to square off in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl the day after Christmas. Both teams were among the doormats of college football just two years ago. Kansas was 2-10 in 2021, while UNLV was 2-9. The Guaranteed Rate Bowl has been around since 1989 and has undergone a number of name changes. The Guaranteed Rate Bowl spread shows Kansas is favored by 12.5 points over UNLV and the total on the game is 65. The Jayhawks are -425 on the moneyline. The Jayhawks opened as 11-point favorites and the opening total was 64.5, so Kansas is getting some early play.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl Information
Kansas Jayhawks vs UNLV 
Day/Time:
Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
Stream: ESPN
Jayhawks Overcome QB Injury
The Kansas Jayhawks have had a memorable season that includes a win over Oklahoma. The last time Kansas had beaten the Sooners in an NCAA football game was 1997. Kansas hadn’t posted a winning record since 2008, so they don’t happen often for the Jayhawks. This year, the team is doing it without quarterback Jalon Daniels, who was injured early in the NCAAF season. Jason Bean stepped into the starting quarterback role and has thrived after a bit of a slow start.
Bean is helped by a running game that averages 211.5 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry. The passing game is decent. Kansas completes 64% of its passes and throws for 222.7 yards per game. The Jayhawks average 9.4 yards per pass attempt against teams allowing 7.4 yards. So the passing game is doing its job.
On defense, the Jayhawks are allowing 25.8 points to teams averaging 28.2. Kansas is average against the run and a little better against the pass. The Jayhawks allow teams to complete a higher percentage of passes, but for less yardage than they average.
Kansas finished the regular season with a 7-5 record against the college football betting lines. Kansas was just 3-4 ATS as a favorite, failing to cover the spread twice at the beginning of the year as massive favorites over Nevada and Missouri State. The Jayhawks went 6-6 in totals this season.
Departures & Injuries
The Jayhawks have done well here, with seldom-played tight end Will Huggins entering the transfer portal. Cornerback Cobee Bryant has been rumored to be entering the transfer portal. But so far, nothing has happened. Starting right tackle Bryce Cabeldue missed Kansas’ final game of the season.
Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has taken the same position at Penn State.
Rebels on 2-Game Losing Skid
UNLV will try a third time for a 10th win, something that has officially never happened. (The Rebels were 11-2 in 1984, but the NCAA later vacated all wins and changed the team’s record to 0-13.) But the Guaranteed Rate Bowl spread of UNLV +12.5 suggests the Rebels are going to have a tough time.
But the Rebels thrived as an underdog this season, at least against the spread. UNLV was 2-3 straight-up, but 4-1 ATS when made the underdog. Overall, the Rebels have posted a 10-3 record against the spread this season. UNLV has gone 8-5 in totals.
The Rebels average 34.3 points per game against college football teams that allow an average of 28.1 points per game. UNLV can run or pass the ball, but runs the ball about 10 more times per game. The Rebels averaged 181.1 yards per game on the ground and 235.1 yards through the air. UNLV averaged 8.3 yards per pass attempt, so has been pretty solid in that regard.
The defense isn’t a strong suit of the Rebels, who allowed 27 points per game to teams averaging 25.7 points. UNLV allowed 4.4 yards per carry to teams averaging 4.4 yards. But the Rebels did allow 8.4 yards per pass to team averaging 7.4 yards per pass attempt.
Departures & Injuries
The Rebels have a couple of secondary players banged up, with starting safety Jett Elad missing the Mountain West championship game. But UNLV is doing a good job keeping its players, with no impactful transfer portal departures so far.
Winning Team Will Break Lengthy Streak
The NCAA bowl game scores show it’s been quite a while since either of these teams has won a bowl game. Kansas last won a bowl game in 2008. It was this very same game when it was known as the Insight Bowl. UNLV’s last bowl victory came in 2000 when it won the Las Vegas Bowl.
Kansas has played a much tougher schedule than UNLV, so in areas where the teams posted comparable numbers, the Jayhawks should get the edge simply due to the fact their numbers were created against better teams.
Kansas should be able to run the football a little bit. The Jayhawks need the passing game to be working to compliment the run. That’s when Kansas is at its best and the Guaranteed Rate Bowl spread of Kansas -12.5 means the Jayhawks will have to be playing well to cover the number.
For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
