California vs UNLV Picks and Prediction – 12/19/2024

The California Bears play the No. 24 ranked UNLV Rebels on Wednesday, December 18 in the LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium in Englewood, California. California finished the regular season 6-6 overall and 2-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Golden Bears lost to SMU 38-6 in the final game of the regular season. California lost two of its final three games of the season. Keep up to date with all the college football action, with our expert college football picks.

During the regular season, California quarterback Fernando Mendoza had 3,004 yards passing with 16 touchdowns and 6 interceptions but was sacked 41 times. Jaivian Thomas was the leading rusher for Cal with 598 yards and seven touchdowns while the leading receiver was Nyziah Hunter with 578 yards and five touchdown receptions. The California defense made 32 quarterback sacks and intercepted 17 passes.

The UNLV Rebels finished the regular season 10-3 overall and 6-1 in the Mountain West Conference. UNLV finished second in the conference to Boise State and was defeated by the Broncos 21-7 in the conference Championship Game. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for UNLV. The Rebels won six of the final eight games of the regular season, which included the conference Championship Game.

UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 1,845 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions during the regular season. The leading rusher was Jai’Den Thomas with 846 yards and seven touchdowns, while the leading receiver was Ricky White III with 1,041 yards and 11 touchdown receptions. The UNLV defense had 37 quarterback sacks and 17 interceptions. 

Surprisingly California is favored in this matchup with UNLV and part of that is likely that California is in a Power Four conference and UNLV is in a Group of Five conference. Nevertheless, UNLV will win this matchup with a superior offense that scores an average of 36.2 points per game while its defense holds opponents to 21.9 points per game. California scores 26.1 per game but allows 22.2 per game. Final Score Prediction, UNLV Rebels win and cover ATS 30-24.