Michigan Wolverines vs. UNLV Rebels Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Nov. 20, 2021

Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Michigan Wolverines (2-1) look to rebound in the Roman Main Event Basketball Tournament against the UNLV Runnin' Rebels (3-0) on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 12:30 a.m. ET, 30 minutes after the conclusion of Wichita State-Arizona. The game can be viewed on ESPN2.

Score Prediction

Michigan 79, UNLV 62

Best Bets

Michigan Wolverines vs. UNLV Rebels Predictions

The Wolverines are still smarting after a stunning 67-65 victory by Seton Hall at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Tuesday. Michigan had three players in double digits, including G Devante Jones, who dropped in 11 points with 12 rebounds, three assists and a steal in his 33 minutes. Of course, Jones was also responsible for three turnovers, too. But the undoing of the Wolverines was poor shooting from the perimeter, hitting just 3-of-15 (20%), while hitting 26-of-62 (42%) from the field overall.

The Runnin' Rebels aren't quite back to the halcyon days of Jerry Tarkanian and the times they challenged for national titles, but Kevin Kruger is building something special in Las Vegas. The 38-year-old has UNLV off to a 3-0 SU start, slowing it down and using a methodical offensive style similar to what you'll see from Wichita State in the first game in this tournament. UNLV is also playing sturdy defense, shutting down the opposition to date.

Michigan Wolverines vs. UNLV Rebels Betting Odds

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Michigan Wolverines vs. UNLV Rebels Betting Resources

• Matchup: Big 10 vs. Mountain West
• Date: Saturday, November 20, 2021
• Venue: T-Mobile Arena
• Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
• TV-Time: ESPN2 - 12:30 a.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

Michigan Wolverines Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 2-1
• ATS: 1-2
• O/U: 1-2

Michigan got off to a hot start on offense, rolling past Buffalo 88-76, although the Bulls were able to hang on for the cover at +13.5. That is the only OVER result to date for the Wolverines. On a neutral floor, the Wolverines were able to push past Prairie View A&M, who is almost as bad on the hardwood than they are on the football field. Michigan won that one 77-49, covering a 23.5-point number at the St. Elizabeths East Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington D.C. While the game itself wasn't a very good one, it was good practice playing on a neutral floor, preparing them for the experience at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas.

Perhaps the Wolverines were looking ahead a little to the weekend, as they slipped up late against Seton Hall at home in a rematch of the 1989 NCAA National Championship Game. The Pirates picked up their first-ever win over a Top 5 team on the road. The Wolverines blew an eight-point lead with 7:09 to play, and missed game-tying free throws were the nail in the coffin, not very becoming of a team with national championship aspirations. Michigan got sloppy on defense, and had turnovers that they normally do not make. This is still a young team, and they have plenty of time to get back on track before the conference schedule. This will be another test against UNLV, and this now has a lot more importance.

UNLV Rebels Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 3-0
• ATS: 0-3
• O/U: 0-3

The Runnin' Rebels are looking to make a statement that they're back, but are they? This team has won three in a row, sure, but UNLV is also 0-3 ATS, barely scraping by North Dakota State Monday night. In fact, while UNLV has three victories in three games, the average margin of victory is just 3.7 points per game, and two of the contest have been one-score games. While winning close games builds character, they need to do much more to take down a team like Michigan. This will be a giant step up in competition for the upstart Rebs.

While UNLV won against North Dakota State last time out, the Runnin' Rebels were a dismal 4-for-19 (21%) from behind the arc, while hitting just 8-for-13 from the free-throw stripe, good for 62%. That simply will not do against the Wolverines, and they will likely need a perfect game. And trust me, all Michigan has probably been doing in practice is working on free throws and passing drills after falling apart in the latter stages against the Pirates.

UNLV went 1-4 SU/2-2-1 ATS in four neutral-site affairs last season, and they're 1-9 SU/2-7-1 ATS across the past 10 neutral-site games dating back to a win Dec. 15, 2018 against BYU in overtime at T-Mobile Arena, the very same floor this game will be played.

Michigan is looking to bounce back after a stunning SU/ATS loss to Seton Hall. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Michigan Wolverines

• Record: 2-1
• VI Ranking: 2
• PS/G: 76.7
• PA/G: 64.0
• ORtg: 39.7
• DRtg: 31.0

Inside the Stats - UNLV Rebels

• Record: 3-0
• VI Ranking: 128
• PS/G: 61.0
• PA/G: 57.3
• ORtg: 38.3
• DRtg: 35.0

Key Players to Watch

• MICH: Hunter Dickinson - C (18.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 BPG)
• MICH: Devante Jones - G (9.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.3 SPG)
• UNLV: Bryce Hamilton - G (17.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.0 APG)
• UNLV: Donovan Williams - F (11.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.0 APG)

Michigan Wolverines vs. UNLV Rebels Betting Conclusion

Experience matters, and the Wolverines have a lot of it. The Runnin' Rebels used to have it, and Kruger is looking to bring it back to UNLV. But the Rebs have work to do. A 3-0 SU start is nice, but they have barely scraped by the teams they have faced. Yes, a win is a win, but we'll find out just how far UNLV is from being a legitimate contender in this one.

The worst thing that happened to UNLV was Michigan's loss to Seton Hall, too, as the Wolverines come in angry like hornets after frittering away a lead at home and collapsing against the Pirates in embarrassing fashion. Head coach Juwan Howard will use that as a teachable moment, and you can expect Michigan to throttle UNLV in front of the hometown fans at T-Mobile Arena. There is no one in red and white who will be able to match up with Hunter Dickinson down low, either. Look for him to have a particularly strong game, and likely double-double.

Michigan Wolverines vs. UNLV Rebels Betting Trends

• Michigan is 27-5 SU in the past 32 neutral-site games.
• Michigan is 23-8-1 ATS in the past 32 neutral-site games.
• The UNDER is 19-11-2 in the past 32 neutral-site games for Michigan.
• UNLV is 2-7-1 ATS in the past 10 neutral-site games.

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