San Jose State Spartans vs. UNLV Runnin' Rebels: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/14/2023

by Chuck Sommers

Tuesday, Feb 14, 2023
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Venue: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
Where to watch: TBD

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: UNLV -7
FanDuel: UNLV -6.5
BetMGM: UNLV -7.5
Caesars: UNLV -7

Season record
San Jose State: 15-10 (6-6 Mountain West)
UNLV: 16-9 (5-8 Mountain West)

February is here and the college basketball season is taking full shape. Conference races still to be determined, the top 25 completely in shambles for what seems like every week, and there's bound to be an upset what seems like every single week. But as the season continues to progress with what seems like exciting action every week, you know our champion handicappers continue to put the work in each and every week to not only make money for them, but to ensure you get money in your pocket. All you need to do is look at the last 30 days. Scott Rickenbach has reeled in a net profit of $14,000 with a 24-9-0 run on the college hardwood. Team Del Genio has killed it with a 13-1-0 run at +$11,900. Will Rogers (28-15-0) and Matt Fargo (40-27-0) have also seen five figures over the last 30 days with college basketball. Surely, you want to get on this winning as well. All you need to do is go to bigal.com, check out our Best Bets page and make sure you are following along on the action. March will be here before you know it! Take advantage of our best best plays and find out what our champion handicappers are doing at bigal.com!

San Jose State - UNLV preview, prediction and analysis


Recent form
San Jose State: won 69-64 vs. Utah State
UNLV: lost 82-71 at No. 25 San Diego State

If there is going to be any last ditch effort for the UNLV Rebels to make any noise in the Mountain West Conference, he is going to have to start now on Tuesday against the San Jose State Spartans. And not that I have any lack of faith in my hometown college team to actually pull off a victory here, but given how the last two games have unfolded for UNLV, I don't really have much confidence in how they will respond despite being seven point favorites at home.
 
UNLV lost for the second time in its last three games after losing 82-71 to the San Diego State Spartans on Saturday. The game will say that UNLV lost by 11 but the game was never close to begin with. It was just another case where the rebels just we're outmatched and outcoached by a team that is far superior than them. And it's not like the schedule is going to get any better period they still have to play Boise State and they still have to play Nevada in Reno. This is going to be an ugly stretch to the end and if this team can somehow reach 20 victories it will be considered a major success.
 
As expected, UNLV struggled heavily shooting the ball against San Diego State. Not only were they held to 40.7% overall from the floor but UNLV shot just 27.3% from 3 point range. If not for the fact that EJ Harkless scored a game high 24 points, it would have been completely disastrous offensively for the rebels. This is a team that is struggling to find any sort of consistency outside of Harkless and there does not seem to be any hope insight for this team to pull off a magical run because the depth is not there.
 
Not that I am hating anything that's going on with coach Kevin Krueger running this program but at the very least he is putting together something that is making this season at least memorable. And while I would venture to guess that UNLV is still on the come up with this renaissance under Kruger, I would not fully put it past them that they could be a contending team in the next few years.
 
But the fact that they are returning home to face San Jose State, with the Spartans coming off a 69-64 upset victory over Utah State over the weekend, I wouldn't be shocked in the least if San Jose State found a way to keep this game close enough to where they could shock UNLV. Don't forget. UNLV lost the first matchup of the year back on December 28th to open conference play, 75-72 in overtime. Harkless had 20 points in that game and the rebels have not been the same since that game. Remembered the days when they were challenging for a top spot in the Mountain West and a top 25 spot? Seems like forever ago.
 
Prediction
 
The fact that it is at home gives me belief that UNLV will make the most of this game and find a way to bounce back. They have still won four of their last six since losing four in a row so the confidence is still somewhat there. But they cannot afford to look too far ahead with Boise State on the horizon on Sunday. UNLV 77, San Jose State 67

Betting trends


San Jose State is 8-4 ATS in conference play this season.

San Jose State is 12-2 ATS after playing the last game as an underdog this season.

UNLV is 16-24 ATS at home the last 3 seasons.

UNLV is 9-1 ATS on Tuesday the last 3 seasons.

Projected starting lineup


San Jose State:
PG: Alvaro Cardenas Torre
SG: Omari Moore
SF: Trey Anderson
PF: Sage Tolbert III
C: Ibrahima Diallo

UNLV:
PG: E.J. Harkless
SG: Justin Webster
SF: Keshon Gilbert
PF: Elijah Parquet
C: Victor Iwuakor

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this San Jose State Spartans - UNLV Runnin' Rebels prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily college basketball projections and previews.

Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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