The college basketball betting action continues with another loaded Saturday card, so we are taking a closer look at the Mountain West Conference battle from Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah, to get you the best UNLV vs. Utah State betting pick and odds. 

The Rebels and Aggies lock horns for the first time this season. Utah State has dominated UNLV lately, going 6-2 straight up and ATS over their last eight encounters, while the total has gone under six times in that span. The Aggies are firm favorites on Bovada Sportsbook this time around, so let’s see what the best move is.   

The Rebels aim for their third straight win   

The UNLV Rebels improved to 13-9 straight up and 8-13 ATS on the season following a 69-58 home win over the Nevada Wolf Pack this past Tuesday. It was their second consecutive SU and ATS victory, as the Rebels easily covered a 5-point spread.

UNLV dominated Nevada from start to finish, leading by as many as 16 points. The Rebels played excellent defense and held the Wolf Pack to only 34.5% shooting from the field and 17.6% from downtown. Senior guard Bryce Hamilton (20.8 PPG) and junior guard Donovan Williams (14.1 PPG) accounted for 17 points each, as this duo continues to lead the way for UNLV.

The Rebels are now sitting at the sixth spot of the MWC standings with a 5-4 record. They score 106.2 points per 100 possessions (105th in the country) and surrender 99.5 in a return (116th). UNLV is No. 116 in the NCAA NET Rankings and No. 103 in the KenPom rankings.

The Aggies hope to keep the good times rolling   

The Utah State Aggies (14-9; 12-10 ATS) are riding a four-game winning streak following a 78-62 home victory over the San Jose State Spartans. They failed to cover a massive 20-point spread, but the Aggies didn’t have too many problems outlasting the lowly Spartans.

Utah State outrebounded San Jose State 38-29. Furthermore, the Aggies committed only five turnovers while forcing 12 in a return. Senior forward Brandon Horvath (12.6 PPG) led the charge for Utah State with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, while another senior F Justin Bean (18.1 PPG, 9.9 RPG) posted an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double.

The Aggies improved to 5-5 in the conference play. They are No. 49 in the NCAA NET Rankings and No. 38 in the latest KenPom rankings. The Aggies tally 110.9 points per 100 possessions (47th in the nation) and allow 95.3 to their opponents (48th).

Trends:

UNLV:

  • 2-6 ATS in the last eight games against Utah State
  • 3-7 ATS in the last ten games played in February  

Utah State:

  • 5-1 ATS in the last six home games against UNLV 
  • 17-11 ATS in the last 28 outings at home

UNLV vs. Utah State Pick

The Aggies are a top-50 team in the country on both sides of the ball, so I’m expecting them to beat the Rebels and cover along the way. Utah State is a well-rounded team, and the Aggies’ depth should be a decisive factor.

Furthermore, the Rebels’ defense will struggle to deal with Justin Bean and Brandon Horvath. UNLV is not a bad defensive team, but the Rebels lack height and length to slow down the Aggies’ senior duo.

Pick: Take Utah State Aggies                  

The Total:

Neither of these two teams prefers to play at a fast pace. The Aggies average 67.4 possessions per 40 minutes, while the Rebels register 67.3. I’ve already mentioned that the under is 6-2 in their previous eight encounters, so riding this betting trend seems like a reasonable move.

The under is 6-2 in Utah State’s last eight games as well. The Aggies have allowed more than 62 points only once in their previous seven outings. On the other side, three of the Rebels’ last six contests have gone under the total.

Pick: Go under