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California vs. UNLV Prediction & Picks: LA Bowl Odds

Brenden Schaeffer

Last Updated: December 17, 2024 2:27 PM EST • 3 min 5 sec read.

With a line that's been moving all over the map amid coaching changes and key opt-outs, UNLV seems to be settling in as a slight favorite ahead of Wednesday night’s LA Bowl.

Our California vs. UNLV prediction for the LA Bowl is among the college bowl game predictions we're offering. The Rebels are the right side to back, as their quarterback and defensive identity should remain intact for this matchup.

California and UNLV (-1.5) face off in the LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN).

Our college football bowl game opt-out tracker has you covered with the latest opt-out news and the impact on the college bowl game odds.

California vs. UNLV prediction & best pick: LA Bowl

College football picks based on the odds from our best college football betting sites. Odds subject to change.

  • Against the spread pick: UNLV -1.5 () vs. California ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • My best pick: Hajj-Malik Williams anytime touchdown scorer () ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

California vs. UNLV ATS prediction

UNLV to cover the spread: -1.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -115 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 53.49%

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UNLV will be without head coach Barry Odom after he accepted the Purdue job. But Odom's protege Mike Scherer should keep the defense intact against a Cal offense that will be searching for answers after its starting quarterback entered the transfer portal.

Cal’s attrition outweighs UNLV’s coaching departure

Francisco Mendoza was a 3,000-plus-yard passer for the 15th-ranked passing offense in the FBS, but now the state of Cal's offense is less certain after his departure into the portal. The Golden Bears produced only 254 yards of total offense while failing to score a touchdown in a 38-6 loss against SMU on Nov. 30 with Chandler Rogers and CJ Harris splitting the quarterback duties.

UNLV stayed afloat after the early-season transfer of QB Matthew Sluka, with the offense arguably getting more dynamic behind dual-threat Hajj-Malik Williams. While the portal hasn't overly impacted Cal's defense, a unit that ranked 82nd in pass defense could struggle to contain Williams on this stage.

California vs. UNLV best pick

Our NEW college football player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Hajj-Malik Williams anytime touchdown scorer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: +100 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 50.00%

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Though Cal boasts a run defense ranking 14th in the nation in yards per game, we’ve seen mobile quarterbacks like Payton Thorne and Cam Ward find paydirt against the Golden Bears' unit.

As the centerpiece of the offense for our ATS pick, we like Hajj-Malik Williams to get it done in the LA Bowl.

Better than a coin flip?

With BetMGM’s odds at +100, the implied probability of Williams sprinting into the end zone is right at 50%. That makes his anytime touchdown scorer prop a valuable one in our eyes, as Williams has scored at least one rushing touchdown in seven of his 11 games played this season (63.63%).

Cal has allowed 18 rushing touchdowns to only 15 passing touchdowns on the season, and Williams leads the Rebels with nine rushing scores on the year.

California vs. UNLV odds

See all of this week's college football odds and NCAAF scores.

California vs. UNLV live odds

California vs. UNLV opening odds:

  • California: -2.5 (-110)
  • UNLV: +2.5 (-110)

California vs. UNLV injuries

LA Bowl game info

  • When: Wednesday, Dec. 18
  • Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
  • Where: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
  • How to watch: ESPN
  • Weather: Indoors
  • Favorite: UNLV -1.5 (-115 via FanDuel)

College football betting odds pages

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Written By:
Brenden Schaeffer
Brenden has covered the St. Louis Cardinals as a credentialed baseball writer for KMOV-TV since 2016. His sports writing has appeared in outlets including the Austin American-Statesman and Columbia Daily Tribune. Since 2021, Brenden has co-hosted 'The Big Show' during the afternoon drive for KTGR, the ESPN radio affiliate in Columbia, MO. He has appeared on radio stations around the country, including KMOX, and hosts a daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast. In the sports betting content space, Brenden has covered the NFL, college football, NBA, and college basketball for outlets including SBR since 2019. For his football handicapping, Brenden looks to target NFL player prop markets as well as sharp underdog lines in college football. Brenden looks to reference FanDuel for his sports betting articles because of its consistently competitive odds on parlays. FanDuel's boost offerings are also customer-friendly, and its odds on the NFL Same Game Parlay articles he's written for SBR have historically been consistently competitive compared to other books.