Last season, UNLV was one of the top teams in the Group of Five. The Rebels made it to the Mountain West Championship, losing to Boise State, and then beat Cal in the LA Bowl to close out the season.
But after an 11-3 record in 2024, Barry Odom is gone and Dan Mullen has taken over. Following a major roster overhaul, it’s not clear how UNLV will perform this season.
But the Rebels start the year with one of their easiest games on the schedule. This could give them the opportunity to solidify an identity and show fans that they don’t intend on going anywhere.
Idaho State vs. UNLV Betting Odds
UNLV is a -27.5 college football betting odds favorite against Idaho State at BetMGM, with the Over/Under being 65.5.
Idaho State vs. UNLV On TV
The matchup between Idaho State and UNLV will be televised on the Mountain West Network.
The game will kick off at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 23. The contest is taking place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Idaho State vs. UNLV Prediction
I predict UNLV will win but Idaho State will cover the spread at +27.5. I also project the game will go Under 65.5 total points.
At the end of the day, UNLV has more talent and is playing at home. Idaho State also isn’t exactly an FCS powerhouse. The Bengals haven’t had a winning season since 2018, as they’ve gone 15-48 since then.
But I could also see this game being closer than some may anticipate early on. Idaho State was capable of putting up some points last season, and this is a new-look UNLV team that may take a quarter or two to settle in.
I think UNLV will win, and I also expect this game to ultimately be one-sided. But it also wouldn’t surprise me if the Bengals kept the lead to within two touchdowns going into halftime.
I expect UNLV will be 1-0 after Week 0. But I also think the Rebels will identify some weak spots before traveling to take on Sam Houston later this month and then hosting UCLA a week later.
