If you’re compiling a list of non-playoff bowl games to watch, Kansas-UNLV meeting in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Tuesday night should be near the top.
The Jayhawks haven’t won a bowl game since winning the Insight Bowl in 2008. UNLV’s bowl winning drought extends even longer, with the Rebels’ last bowl win being the Las Vegas Bowl in 2000.
Despite stronger men’s basketball history and major recent struggles on the gridiron, both of these teams have turned their stories in positive directions.
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Major Improvement
Kansas went 8-4 this season, building off a decent six-win season in 2022. Head Coach Lance Leipold has worked wonders with Kansas’ program since taking over ahead of the 2021 season. The Jayhawks are competitive within the Big 12, and they’ve become a consistent Power Five team.
Kansas went 0-9 in 2020 before Leipold took the job. After a 2-10 season in his first year, Leipold has led the Jayhawks to a 14-11 mark in the subsequent two seasons, reaching a bowl in each season.
Leipold built Kansas into a respectable team, and quarterback Jalon Daniels is expected to return in 2024 after suffering an injury this year. Backup Jason Bean has served admirably in his place. The Jayhawks could be one of the Big 12’s best next season, especially with Oklahoma and Texas moving to the SEC.
As for UNLV, Barry Odom inherited a team that hadn’t made a bowl game since 2013. He brought the Rebels to a bowl in his first year as the head coach.
The Rebels grabbed notable wins over Vanderbilt, Wyoming, and Air Force this fall. They were among the best Mountain West teams all season, and they’ll aim for their second win over a Power Five team this season.
A victory would give UNLV 10 wins for the first time since winning 11 games in 1984, but those wins were vacated due to NCAA violations. Technically, this could be UNLV’s first 10-win season.
Plenty Of Scoring?
College football betting odds indicate fans should expect ample scoring Tuesday night. The total for the game is set at 67.5 points, which makes sense given each team’s offensive firepower.
UNLV ranks 22nd nationally in scoring offense, scoring 34.3 points per game. That’s the best mark of any program in the Mountain West, and redshirt freshman quarterback Jayden Maiava has been a star for the Rebels. He’s expected to return to the program in 2024, giving the Rebels a key building block.
Kansas’ offense is no slouch either, dropping 33.6 points per contest. The Jayhawks rank 27th nationally in scoring offense.
There’s plenty at stake Tuesday in Phoenix, and each offense puts up points in bunches. It’s hard to find many bowl games that check those boxes. If you’re looking for non-playoff bowls to watch, UNLV-Kansas should top your list.
Bennett Conlin is a college football contributor for HERO Sports, and he works full-time covering sports betting industry news and legislation for Sports Handle and US Bets.
