Cal vs. UNLV Prediction: LA Bowl School Soccer Decide

Cal vs. UNLV:

Packages in a state of change come collectively at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California for the LA Bowl. The Cal Golden Bears and UNLV Rebels play within the second of a double-deck on Dec. 18. This streak has seen some wild ups and downs based mostly on two key developments because the finish of the common season.

First, Cal turned everybody’s favourite when former UNLV head coach Barry Odom took the identical job at Purdue. Then the streak swung wildly once more when Cal QB Fernando Mendoza introduced his intention to switch. Now, we’re within the ballpark the place the quantity began, with the sport determined in most markets.

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Los Angeles Bowl: Cal Golden Bears vs. UNLV Rebels (PK, 48)

Wednesday, December 18, at 9 p.m. ET

Cal opened -1.5 on this one at DraftKings earlier than Cal’s cash pushed the road to -4. Circa in Las Vegas opened Cal -3 and the road rose to -4.5 earlier than swinging once more when Mendoza posted about his transfer. He had 386 of the staff’s 425 go makes an attempt and threw for over 3,000 yards with a 16/6 TD/INT ratio. The query now’s whether or not or not CJ Harris or Chandler Rogers will get the chance to start out.

Each Rogers and Harris have expertise. Rogers began two years in the past at UL Monroe and final yr at North Texas, the place he posted a 44/12 TD/INT ratio with almost 5,800 receiving yards. Harris was Curtis Rourke’s backup at Ohio, so he did not play a lot, however he crammed in and was within the collegiate sport for some time. Rogers was injured on the finish of the common season, so who is aware of if he can play. Not a lot had been reported as of Monday afternoon.

Harris and freshman EJ Caminong have been seen getting many of the follow reps for the staff that fired OC Mike Bloesch. However the QB is not the one query mark. Main rusher Jaivian Thomas, who had 6.6 yards per carry and vastly outpaced Jadyn Ott, missed the regular-season finale towards SMU. Ott had simply 2.9 yards per carry after dashing for 1,305 yards final season. Main WR Nzyiah Hunter (40-578-5) can also be within the portal.

With some OL accidents and gate gamers, Cal’s offense is in a significant state of disarray. The robust half in regards to the handicap right here is that Justin Wilcox has a pointy defensive thoughts and Cal was twenty seventh in yards per play allowed at 5.00. As a first-year member of the ACC, with a depressing journey schedule and a variety of respectable offense, the Golden Bears have hung in there and allowed 5.33 YPP in convention play.

The ACC is clearly a greater league than the Mountain West, however UNLV had a top-30 offense in yards per sport. QB Al-Hajj Malik Williams continues to be round and the Rebels ought to get a lift from a very excellent recruit in Dan Mullen. WR coach Dale Alexander is the interim coach right here in what may even be the final sport for OC Brennan Marion, who can be on the transfer.

Williams posted a 17/5 TD/INT ratio and 1,845 yards after Matthew Sloka left this system after some miscommunication. Sluka was a stable runner (6.5 YPC), however a horrible passer (43.8% completion charge), so Williams was a extra official dual-threat QB. He’s the second finest ahead on the staff and was a extra expert passer. He and the offense are largely intact on this sport after a 21-7 loss to Boise State.

Whereas Odom, an amazing defensive thoughts, will not be there, 31-year-old Michael Shearer has completed a incredible job as a frontrunner and continues to be there, not less than for this sport. Outdoors of a 44-41 loss to Syracuse, the Rebels have carried out properly towards the most effective offenses they’ve confronted, together with a 23-20 win over Kansas earlier this yr.

UNLV hasn’t received a bowl sport since 2000. The gamers principally keep, and Mullen is a big recruit. I believe they’ve much more momentum as a program than Cal and a extra dedicated roster in that program.

Decide: UNLV PK