UNLV Runnin' Rebels vs. San Diego State Aztecs: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/11/2023

by Chuck Sommers

Saturday, Feb 11, 2023
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Venue: Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA
Where to watch: FOX

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: San Diego State -9
FanDuel: San Diego State -9.5
BetMGM: San Diego State -9.5
Caesars: San Diego State -9

Season record
UNLV: 16-8 (5-7 Mountain West)
No. 25 San Diego State: 19-5 (10-2 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!

UNLV - San Diego State preview, prediction and analysis


Recent form
UNLV: won 69-59 at Wyoming
San Diego State: won 63-61 at Utah State

There was not a single part of me at any point whatsoever that wants to give the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels hope. I didn't want to give them hope when they were winning ten straight games to begin the season, I didn't even want to give them confidence when they went into New Mexico early in conference play and got their biggest win of the season outside of the victory over Dayton period now you are expecting me to watch you and LV go to San Diego State to Viejas Arena and have them win a basketball game.
 
Listen, I was at the parade in 1990 when UNLV won the national championship over Duke. For the longest time before the Vegas golden Knights were even a thing and before the Las Vegas Raiders were even a twinkle in anyone's eye, the only thing that anyone would ever talk about because it was the only side of sports that was able to be clung on to, was UNLV basketball. Jerry Tarkanian and this basketball team the national championship in 1990 is the only thing that they can go off of. So now when you're starting to see some semblance of success to the point where UNLV is actually considered a contender in the Mountain West Conference championship, the only thing that I can think of is that this is setting up for the verge of being a 20 win team that will not accept the postseason berth because they're going to get knocked out and probably the quarterfinals are God forbid the semifinals of the conference championship tournament.
 
Yes I know that was a long winded rant and yes I know that probably went well over your heads but let me tell you just the overarching thought of this team going into San Diego State and trying to win against the Aztecs is really something that you're not clinging to at the moment. There is no doubt in my mind that this team is much improved compared to the last number of years with coach Kevin Krueger running the show here. And when you have a performance like EJ Harkless performed earlier this week against Wyoming in which he put up 33 points, almost half of what UNLV scored in general, you have to feel pretty good about where your team is going into this week.
 
You will recall the last time San Diego State played UNLV back on New Year's Eve and San Diego State won by nine in a game that was never really that close. It was just a unmitigated defensive effort in the second-half by San Diego State not allowing the rebels to get back into the game period and that's exactly what's going to happen here again. it is going to be another situation where you and all B is going to try its best to stay in this game and try to put some sort of concrete effort in this game. Because if they don't win this game, any chance of a 20 win season is probably going down the drain because UNLV cannot get out of its own way when it still has to play Boise State Utah State and UNR to close the stretch of the season.
 
In short, don't really expect much here.
 
Prediction
 
Would it be cool as an alumni to see UNLV get this victory and put some fear into the hearts of the rest of this conference? Absolutely. Do I think it's going to happen because UNLV has no idea what to do when it gets a lead in a game? Probably not. San Diego State 75, UNLV 65

Betting trends


UNLV is 5-2 ATS on the road this season.

UNLV is 8-1 ATS after covering 2 of 3 this season.

San Diego State is 9-11 ATS as a favorite this season.

Projected starting lineup


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

San Diego State:
PG: Darrion Trammell
SG: LaMont Butler
SF: Matt Bradley
PF: Keshad Johnson
C: Nathan Mensah

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this UNLV Runnin' Rebels - San Diego State Aztecs 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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