By Dan Behringer for LVSportsBiz.com
But the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels came away with their first cover of the season on Wednesday.
They played the Davidson Wildcats in the Maui Invitational and rewarded bettors by covering 6.5 points. Yes, they lost, 77-73. But a cover is a cover and always pays at the window.
In fact, guard Bryce Hamilton scored 11 points in the final 1:30, including a layup and a free throw to narrow the gap to 75-73 as the clock wound down. But Davidson made two free throws to seal the win.
Two days earlier, the Runnin’ Rebels pushed in their game against SEC stalwart Alabama. They lost 86-74 in a game that saw the Crimson Tide favored by 12.
That left UNLV at 1-2-1 ATS going into their game Saturday vs. the Kansas State Wildcats. And winless. As in 0-4.
Not an enviable spot, really, for second-year coach T.J. Otzelberger.
“The players really wanted to win and were highly disappointed in that locker room,” Otzelberger said after the Davidson defeat. “I know we’re getting better. I feel with each night out, there has been improvement.”
So with Runnin’ Rebels looking for their first win of the season Saturday, Kansas State was -3 with the total at 135.6.
And 40 minutes later, they had it. An outright win. A victory. Something to give cheerleaders something to actually, well, cheer about. Not to mention fans and bettors.
UNLV had a 31-30 lead at halftime and limited the Wildcats to 28 second-half points in enroute to a 68-58 win. For the true speculator, UNLV was +135 on the money line at William Hill. The total came in under.
David Jenkins Jr., a transfer from South Dakota State, where Otzelberger last coached, scored 17 of his season-high 25 points in the second half, including seven of 13 from 3-point range.
“We’re a new team, we’re still building our team chemistry and camaraderie,” Jenkins told reporters after the game. “This win tonight was something to build on. We’re obviously happy, but we know we’re not satisfied.”
A push, a cover, then an outright win? What does that bode for a home game against Eastern Washington on Wednesday? Could it be actual momentum before the start of conference play on Dec. 20 vs. Wyoming?
We shall see.
Meanwhile, with last Friday’s game vs. Boise State canceled because of COVID-19 issues, the football Rebels are +21.5 with a total of 58.5 vs. Hawaii on Saturday. On the gridiron, UNLV is still 0-5 although they did earn a push against St. Jose State way back on Nov. 14.
Elsewhere:
— The Las Vegas Raiders redeemed themselves to fans and money line bettors with a stunning last-second win over the winless New York Jets, 31-28. A touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Henry Ruggs III with five seconds left at MetLife Stadium was the margin of victory. The total cruised past 48.5.
Still, bettors who played the Jets at anywhere from +7.5 to +9 were the ones cashing tickets. Money line bettors on the Jets as high as +300 had to be disappointed.
Though perhaps not as chagrined as Jets coach Adam Gase.
“Our players work way too hard to go through this (crap),” he told reporters after the game.
The Raiders (7-5) are +2.5 at home at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday when the Colts come to Las Vegas. The total is 50.5.
— Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno is the main event at UFC 256 at the Apex facility in southwest Las Vegas on Saturday. Figueiredo, who is defending his flyweight title, is about -325. Moreno is generally +250, according to Covers.com.
— AP’s No. 1-rated college football team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, covered -29 at LSU on Saturday in a 55-14 win on the road. The total went over 64.5. A parlay on the favorite and the over for one of the most popular teams in the country paid bettors? It’s been known to happen. The Tide are -31.5, and the total is 68.5 at Arkansas on Saturday.
— William Hill has the Pittsburgh Steelers at +300 to finish the season undefeated at 16-0. “No” on that prop bet is -380. The Jets are +140 to finish the season at the opposite end, 0-16, according to a post at Casino.org.