Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Kansas vs UNLV Odds, and Picks (Dec 26)

• Kansas bounced back in their final game against Cincinnati, climbing to 8-4.
• UNLV lost to Boise State in the Mountain West title game, by a score of 44-20.
• These two teams last met on September 7, 2003, in a game Kansas won 46-24.

College football has made it to bowl game season! Let’s preview the 2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl between the Kansas Jayhawks and the UNLV Rebels. They both had a good year, and will aim to end it with a win.

How to Watch

• ESPN

Preview

Kansas had another solid season, finishing 8-4 on the year after going above .500 in Big-12 play. They cooled off a bit after a 4-0 start, but finished strong with a blowout win over Cincinnati. The Jayhawks have seen their program transform under 3rd-year head coach Lance Leipold. After going just 22-118 from 2010 to 2021, they’ve gone 14-11 in the past two years, and are fighting for their first bowl win since 2008.

UNLV also saw some historic success in head coach Barry Odom’s first season. They reached nine wins for the first time since 1984, and competed in their first Mountain West title game. The Rebels were unable to win the championship game against Boise State, but they still have a chance to claim their first bowl win since 2000 in this match. They’ll be without QB Jayden Maiava, who recently entered the transfer portal.

Prediction

This is a very interesting matchup because it takes place between two teams that have been among college football’s worst over the past 15 years, but are finally turning their programs around. Both teams would massively benefit from snapping their lengthy droughts without a bowl victory. UNLV enters as large underdogs after cooling off down the stretch. I see them keeping it close, but ultimately losing to Kansas.

NCAAF Picks:

• Kansas 37, UNLV 27 ()