NFL Tickets
TV Schedule: Wednesday, Dec. 16, 10 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network
Arena: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
Line: UNLV (-4)
Since losing their opening game to Sacramento State, the Arizona State Sun Devils have lost just two of their last eight, including victories over the Creighton Bluejays, Belmont Bruins, North Carolina State Wolfpack and Texas A&M Aggies. Neither of their losses look that bad, as the Marquette Golden Eagles continue to solidly rack up wins and no one can blame a team for losing to the Kentucky Wildcats in Rupp Arena.
Arizona State’s 2016 NCAA tournament hopes, however, could come down to their next game on Wednesday night against the UNLV Rebels on the road.
At 8-2, UNLV continues to quietly win games against talented opposition and could enter conference play as the favorite to win the Mountain West Conference. With resume-boosting wins over the Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks, the Rebels could earn an at-large bid by simply avoiding bad losses in MWC play. The talent seems to always be there for UNLV; maybe this is the year the Rebels finally get it together.
That being said, this is a massive game for both teams. Barring conference tournament wins, both of these teams should finish the season around the NCAA tournament bubble. A win here might not seem like much now, but it could be the difference between a postseason with March Madness and a postseason in the NIT.
Arizona State are a better squad than most people realize, but so are the Rebels. UNLV wins this one at home and heads on the road to face the Arizona Wildcats in their biggest non-conference matchup of the season.
Prediction: UNLV 74, Arizona State 69
Taylor Sturm is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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