California vs. UNLV Betting Preview as One Team Missing Starting QB, Another Loses Coach

Top Trending: UNLV comes into their Friday night bowl game against California without their head coach while the Bears will be without their starting quarterback. SMU comes into their game against Penn State as a +8.5 dog

California vs. UNLV

The line on the California vs. UNLV game moved from a PICK'EM to UNLV -3.5.  Sagarin gives us a number of 3.03 with the line mostly being an underlay heading into Wednesday.

The Rebels (10-3) saw Barry Odom depart for the vacancy at Purdue on Dec. 8, less than 48 hours removed from a loss to Boise State in the Mountain West championship game with a spot in the College Football Playoff at stake.

The Golden Bears (6-6) won’t have Fernando Mendoza after the two-year starting quarterback announced last Wednesday he was entering the transfer portal, less than three weeks removed from leading a game-winning touchdown drive against rival Stanford and delivering an emotional postgame interview after retaining the Axe trophy and securing postseason eligibility.

Player Prop Bets

Hajj-Malik Williams (UNLV) Over/Under total passing yards: 175.5.

Hajj-Malik Williams (UNLV) Over/Under total rushing yards: 60.5.

Jai'Den Thomas (UNLV) Over/Under total rushing yards: 55.5.

Ricky White (UNLV) Over/Under total receiving yards 76.5.

Touchdowns

Ricky White (UNLV)
1+

-143

2+

+350

3+

+1900

Hajj-Malik Williams (UNLV)

1+

-143

2+

+350

3+

+1900

Jaydn Ott (California)

1+

-112

2+

+450

3+

+2400

Jai'Den Thomas (UNLV)

Unlv

1+

-112

2+

+450

3+

+2400

Jaivian Thomas (California)

1+

+120

2+

+600

3+

+3400

Jonathan Brady

California

1+

+170

2+

+900

3+

+6900

Ohio vs. Jacksonville State

The line on this game moved from Bobcats +3 to +4.5 but Sagarin suggests Ohio should be a favorite at -3 (3.18). 

Facts and Notes

• Ohio has outscored opponents by 11.7 points per game this season, and Jacksonville State has outscored opponents by 10.9 per game.
• With 19 forced turnovers (39th in college football) against 20 committed (99th in college football), Ohio has the 67th-ranked turnover margin in college football (minus 1).
• Jacksonville State ranks 18th-worst in passing yards per game (177.1), but it has been more effective on the other side of the ball, ranking 63rd in college football with 215.5 passing yards allowed per contest.

Player Prop Bets

Key Matchup

The Bobcats have the 13th-ranked rushing offense in the FBS (211.6 yards per game), and will be up against the 95th-ranked defense in that category, as the Gamecocks allow 170.2 per game.

Jacksonville State averages 177.1 passing yards per game (117th in the FBS). It play Ohio’s defense that ranks 41st, giving up 200.8 yards per game through the air.

Last Game

Ohio beat Miami (OH) 38-3. Parker Navarro passed for 235 yards on 20-of-27 attempts (74.1%) with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball 13 times for 67 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Anthony Tyus III carried the ball 27 times for 151 yards and scored one touchdown, adding two receptions for 22 yards. Coleman Owen had five receptions for 73 yards and one touchdown.

Jacksonville State beat Western Kentucky. Tyler Huff led the Gamecocks with 176 yards on 11-of-15 passing (73.3%) for two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball 23 times for 167 yards and one rushing touchdown. Tre Stewart carried the ball 27 times for 201 yards and scored three touchdowns, adding three receptions for 54 yards. Cam Vaughn recorded 91 yards on four catches with one touchdown.

Players to Watch

Ohio: Navarro has 2,169 passing yards (166.8 per game) while completing 65.9% of passes (176 for 267), with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has 936 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns (14th in CFB), averaging 72 per game. Tyus has 211 carries for 1,111 rushing yards (85.5 per game) and nine touchdowns. He also has 13 catches for 103 yards and one touchdown. Owen has 67 receptions to rank 12th in the country with 1,105 yards (85 per game) and has eight touchdowns.

Jacksonville State: Huff has 2,179 passing yards (167.6 per game) while completing 60.6% of passes (157 for 259), with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has 1,343 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, averaging 103.3 per game. Stewart has 264 carries and ranks fourth in college football with 1,601 rushing yards (123.2 per game) and 23 touchdowns (fourth in CFB). He also has 15 catches for 200 yards and one touchdown. Vaughn has 620 receiving yards (47.7 per game) on 39 catches with four touchdowns.

SMU vs. Penn State

Penn State has been a solid -8.5 favorite in this College Football Playoff game.

Transfer Portal Controversy

SMU coach Rhett Lashlee took a moment while preparing his team for its most successful season ever and an appearance in the College Football Playoff to address the ever-growing concern over the open transfer portal window.

His problem isn’t with players wanting to transfer. Rather, Lashlee’s issue, one shared with other coaches, is the timing for those with teams still playing, whether in the 12-team playoff like the Mustangs or in one of the many bowls into early January.

This comes as Penn State backup QB Beau Pribula is set to enter NCAA Transfer Portal, leaving the team ahead of the College Football Playoff

In a press conference on Tuesday, Lashlee didn't hold back his opinion on the timing of the small window to transfer as he said it puts athletes in a tough spot.

"It's terrible," Lashlee said. "I feel so awful for our kids and kids around the country. We talk about making a system that is all great for them, but we haven't. I mean that's part of your job as adults is to do what's best for young people, not what they want necessarily, and they don't want this."

“I hate it for our players. I told them ... I hate it that you guys, you get a chance to play in the College football Playoff, yet you are either forced to decide do I go in the portal or not. Or let’s call it like it is, people are bombarding our roster trying to pick people off our roster, and we’re trying to focus on the playoff.”

The Mustangs head coach suggests the window be only in the spring as that is the end of the "scholastic year," however, he didn't specify exactly when. 

Player Props

Drew Allar (Penn State) total passing yards was coming in at 224.5.

Kevin Jennings (SMU) total passing yards is listed at 227.5.

Clemson vs. Texas

This one featured a line of Longhorns -12.  This one did open at Texas -10.5.  Sagarin gives us a number of 11.72.  This line was accurate as of Thursday (-12).

Comparables

• Northwestern +10.5 to +12 Washington (Washington 11.49 On The Money) - Favorite covers.
• Titans +10 to +11.5 Lions (Fav 90% action - 11.23 On The Money) - Favorite covers.

Player Prop Bets

By  Tyrone Black Tyrone has been the trusted sports writer for Gambling911.com for more than 15 years.  An avid Knicks fan, Tyrone is originally from the Washington Heights section of Manhattan.