Steve Merril
ONLY PLAY FOR THUSDAY
NCAA Basketball
(3% play) FRESNO STATE -3 (vs. UNLV) - 9:00 pm ET (CBSSN) #786
UNLV comes into tonight’s game against Fresno State on a back-to-back set after beating Air Force in triple-overtime last night. The Rebels won that game 108-104 despite three walk-ons playing the majority of the third overtime. UNLV had three guys play 54 minutes or more with four guys playing 41 minutes or more. The Rebels had seven guys play 17 minutes or more overall, including two guys on the second unit. Those extended minutes will have an impact on tonight’s game, especially since UNLV is playing on back-to-back nights with a depleted roster. The Rebels are without four key members of their team due to injuries and eligibility issues, and they survived last night with three players who have seen very limited court time this season. UNLV is an extremely shorthanded team, and this is simply a terrible situational and scheduling spot for the Rebels.
Fresno State has already beaten UNLV twice this season, and we expect more of the same tonight. The Bulldogs and Rebels played in two close games, but UNLV played with a fully healthy roster in those games. They still couldn’t beat Fresno State, and now with a depleted team, it’s highly unlikely UNLV will be able to beat the Bulldogs tonight. Fresno State is on a 6-game winning streak, and they are 8-1 SU over their last nine games with their lone loss coming in overtime. The Bulldogs are in excellent current form, especially on the offensive end of the court. Fresno State has averaged 80.8 points per game on 47.6% shooting from the field and 34.5% shooting from three-point land over their last five games. Fresno State is catching UNLV at the perfect time, so we’ll lay the points with the Bulldogs in this game on Thursday night.
Play FRESNO STATE (-) as a 3% play.
-------------------
NBA
No NBA plays or opinions for Thursday.