UNLV +13.5
Sat Mar 22 ’08 6:50p
UNLV has three advantages in their effort to hang tough against Kansas as double digit underdogs on Saturday. First, the Rebels handle the basketball extremely well. UNLV won’t succumb to the Jayhawks pressure, committing only nine turnovers per game in their last five contests; less than eleven per game (with an impressive 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio) for the entire season. Don’t expect many easy fast break opportunities for Kansas off bad turnovers.
Secondly, UNLV head coach Lon Kruger prepares his team as well as any coach in the country, an outstanding ATS performer as an underdog. Even when the Rebels are outclassed in the size department, like they are here, their defensive intensity keeps them in games against superior opposition. Quite simply, this team doesn’t give up many easy looks.
Lastly, UNLV does all the little things right. They are the better free throw shooting team in this matchup. They drain their open looks from three point land, swinging the ball extremely well from side to side of the court. The Rebels don’t beat themselves. In a game where all the pressure is on Kansas, a consistent underachiever during tournament time in the Bill Self era, expect the Rebels to play as if they have nothing to lose. We don’t need an outright upset or anything close to cash our ticket – a relatively competitive loss does the trick just fine. Take UNLV.

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