4 Takeaways: UNLV to face Ohio in the Frisco Bowl
The Rebels will face the Ohio Bobcats in the Frisco Bowl on December 23 in Frisco, Texas.
UNLV, which finished 10-2 in the regular season, lost to Boise State, 38-21, in the Mountain West Conference championship on Dec. 5.
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Ohio finished its campaign 8-4, including non-conference losses to Big 10 foes Rutgers and Ohio State. The Bobcats defeated Big 12 foe West Virginia, 17-10, in the second week of the season.
Here are four takeaways from the upcoming game:
OFFENSE: The Rebels should have the edge in this department, as they ranked 17th with 459.1 yards per game and 16th with 35.9 points per game. UNLV has the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Anthony Colandrea and No. 1 target Jaden Bradley, who had 869 receiving yards and averaged 16.1 yards per reception. The Bobcats dominated with their rushing attack, which ranked 9th in the nation (228.8 points per game), but relied heavily on it considering they have the 104th-ranked passing attack. UNLV’s balanced attack gives it the advantage.
DEFENSE: The Bobcats certainly have the upper hand over the Rebels in this department. Ohio has held six of its 12 opponents to 20 points or fewer and two other opponents to 21 or fewer. The ‘Cats entered the bowl season with the 58th stingiest defense holding teams to 358 yards per game. Conversely, the Rebels finished 120th nationally after allowing 424.5 yards per game and 93rd after being torched for 28.8 points per game. UNLV also ranks 120th with its red zone defense (89.5%).
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THE WHOLE CONFERENCE: While Colandrea won the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year award, he was joined by Jai’Den Thomas on the first team. Four other Rebels were named to the second team. Highlighted by two first-team nods, Ohio was recognized with nine players on All-Mid-American Conference teams and marked the fourth straight season that Ohio landed two or more Bobcats on the All-MAC first team. Graduate student offensive lineman Davion Weatherspoon and redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura both earned first-team offensive honors.
BETTING PERSPECTIVE: The Rebels were 7-6 ATS during the regular season and the Mountain West Championship. UNLV was 1-2 ATS as an underdog and 6-4 ATS when scoring points. Four of UNLV’s last five games have gone under. Ohio opened the season 6-3 against the spread, but failed to cover in its last three games. The ‘Cats were 3-1 as an underdog, while failing to cover five of eight as favorites. Ohio closed out the season with its final two games.
