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<p>UNLV and Houston are set to kick off their seasons in a week one non-conference matchup at TDECU Stadium in Houston. The game is scheduled for 7:00 ET on Saturday, August 31st, with FS1 handling the broadcast. Houston is the -2.5 point favorite at home, and the over/under line is currently 54.5 points. The money line odds are +108 for UNLV and -134 for Houston.</p><h3>UNLV REBELS VS HOUSTON COUGARS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: UNLV Rebels +2.5</p><p>This game will be played at TDECU Stadium at 7:00 ET on Saturday, August 31st.</p><h3>WHY BET THE UNLV REBELS:</h3><ul><li>We have the UNLV Rebels winning this one by a score of 27 to 25</li><li>Not only do we have the UNLV Rebels winning straight-up, we have them covering the spread at +2.5</li><li>We see this game finishing below the line of 54.5 points</li></ul><h3>Will The UNLV Rebels Pick Up A Win On The Road?</h3><p>Last season, the UNLV Rebels were 4-3 when favored and 5-2 as the underdog, finishing with a 9-5 overall record. They were strong on the road, going 4-2, and enter this season with a 52.5% chance of being bowl-eligible, according to our pre-season power rankings, which place them 86th in the nation.</p><p></p><p>Heading into the season, the Rebels have a 6.3% chance of winning the Mountain West title. In the futures market, they are at +540 to win the conference and +160 to make it to the Mountain West Championship game, giving them the 3rd best odds in the conference.</p><p>UNLV's offense was one of the most efficient units on third down last season, converting 49% of their opportunities, which ranked 6th in the country. The Rebels also ranked 13th in scoring, putting up 34.4 points per game. They were a run-heavy offense, averaging 173.9 rushing yards per game, which was 30th in the nation, and 239.1 passing yards per game. Their average of 38.1 rushing attempts per game was the 13th highest figure in college football last season.</p><p></p><p>Jai'Den Thomas, who rushed for 503 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, is the top returning running back for the Rebels. In the passing game, UNLV brought in quarterback Matthew Sluka from Holy Cross, who threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns last season. The Rebels are also looking to make an impact with the addition of transfer Michael Allen from NC State in the backfield.</p><p>UNLV's defense struggled last season, allowing 28.6 points per game. They were particularly weak against the run, giving up 164.4 rushing yards per game, which ranked 114th in the nation. In the passing game, the Rebels allowed 253.7 yards per game, ranking 148th. Opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 91.1 and completed 61.2% of their passes against UNLV.</p><h3>Will The Houston Cougars Win At Home Over The UNLV Rebels?</h3><p>Last season, Houston finished with a 4-8 overall record, going 3-4 at home and 1-4 on the road. They were the underdog in nine of their 12 games, going 3-6 as the less-favored team. Entering this season, Houston is ranked 78th in our pre-season power rankings, with a 22.3% chance of being bowl-eligible.</p><p></p><p>In the futures market, Houston is a +10700 long shot to win the Big 12, with a 0.3% chance according to our projections. Their implied odds to make it to the Big 12 Conference title game are 3%, with futures odds of +3750.</p><p>Donovan Smith, who threw for 2,800 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, returns as the top quarterback for the Houston Cougars. Smith finished the season with a passer rating of 90, but he also threw 13 interceptions. Houston's passing game averaged 241.5 yards per game, ranking 65th in the country, while the team's overall scoring average was 23.7 points per game (77th).</p><p></p><p>On the ground, the Cougars ranked 106th in rushing yards per game, with their top returning running back, Parker Jenkins, who rushed for 464 yards last season. Houston also added Zeon Chriss from Louisiana, who threw for 1,222 yards last season. In the receiving corps, Joseph Manjack IV, who had 577 yards receiving last season, returns, and the team added Devan Williams from Tulsa.</p><p>Opposing offenses found success on the ground against Houston last season, as the Cougars' defense allowed 170.1 rushing yards per game, ranking 125th in the nation. Overall, Houston gave up 31.5 points per game, placing them 73rd in the country. Their pass defense was slightly better, but still finished 153rd in passing yards allowed. Quarterbacks completed 69.5% of their passes against Houston last year.</p>

UNLV Rebels vs Houston Cougars Betting Pick & Prediction 8/31/24

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The final UFC event of 2020 is cause for celebration. What Dana White has achieved this year with the top mixed martial arts promotion on the planet has been nothing short of remarkable. White and UFC officials found a way to make it all work with no fans and with fight cards just about every weekend.

At some point, the financial ramifications of not having fans could come to a head, but that is likely why the UFC is making a lot of tough decisions at the end of the year to release aging fighters that are a financial drain relative to their returns in the Octagon. We’ve seen a lot of debut fighters and seen a lot of Dana White Contender Series contracts, so we have a new crop of combatants to follow in future years.

With that being said, quite a few veterans are on the main card for UFC on ESPN+ 41 at the UFC Apex. Also known as UFC Vegas 17 or UFC Fight Night 183, the main event will feature Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson against Geoff Neal. The card also includes Jose Aldo, Marlon Vera, Marlon Moraes, Rob Font, and Anthony Pettis among other experienced fighters.

All of the action will be on ESPN+ and we’ll break down all 14 fights on this year-end card with odds from <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline"><strong>BetOnline Sportsbook</strong></a>.
<h4><strong><u>Carlton</u></strong><strong><u> Minus (+260) vs. Rick Glenn (-310); Total: 2.5 (-225/185)</u></strong></h4>
Carlton Minus is actually a Plus here as the underdog for his lightweight fight against Rick Glenn. Glenn has not fought since November 30, 2018, so it has been a longtime since we’ve seen the once UFC regular in the cage. He fought three times in 2017 and twice in 2018 before this recent long layoff. Even with the long hiatus, Glenn is more than a $3 favorite against Minus, who lost his UFC debut on August 22 with a very uncompetitive showing against Matthew Semelsberger. Glenn should win, but who wants to lay that price?
<h4><strong><u>Cody Durden (+133) vs. Jimmy Flick (-153); Total: 1.5 (-130/100)</u></strong></h4>
The original date for Cody Durden vs. Jimmy Flick was a couple of weeks ago, but Durden had pink eye and couldn’t fight. The line is roughly about the same at this point. Durden fought to a draw in his UFC debut back on August 1 as a big underdog. Flick got a contract from a September DWCS performance. Flick’s ground game looks strong and Durden looked to be more of an upright fighter in the draw against Chris Gutierrez. Flick should get this one to the ground and get a tapout. You could take Flick by submission to cut down on the modest vig here.
<h4><strong><u>Jamie Pickett (+245) vs. Tafon Nchukwi (-285); Total: 1.5 (-115/-115)</u></strong></h4>
Cameroon native Tafon Nchukwi knocked out Al Matvao back on September 8 and that was enough to get him a UFC contract to take on Jamie Pickett. These are two knockout artists, as Pickett has nine career KO/TKO finishes and all four of Nchukwi’s fights have ended in that manner. Pickett, a two-time fighter on the DWCS, has never been knocked out in 15 professional fights. We’ll see if that streak comes to an end here. Based on the side and total for this fight, that seems like the most likely outcome. Pickett is the biggest fighter with more reach. The underdog might not be a bad option here in a fight likely to end quickly and violently.
<h4><strong><u>Aiemann Zahabi (+165) vs. Drako Rodriguez (-190); Total: 2.5 (-225/185)</u></strong></h4>
Remember Aiemann Zahabi? Frankly, you probably don’t. The 33-year-old Canadian debuted with a win over Reginaldo Vieira on February 19, 2017. It was Vieira’s last pro MMA fight. After that, Zahabi lost to Ricardo Ramos nine months later and then Vince Morales 18 months later. He’ll take on Drako Rodriguez here, one of many DWCS finds on the undercard. Rodriguez forced a submission of Mana Martinez back on September 8 to get his shot. The KOTC veteran lost to Tony Gravely in 2018 for his only career loss. Gravely is a veteran fighter and a full-time member of UFC now. That’s not bad. In other words, Rodriguez is probably underpriced here at -190 and this might be the best bet on the card.
<h4><strong><u>Deron Winn (+138) vs. Antonio Arroyo (-158); Total: 2.5 (-125/-105)</u></strong></h4>
When it comes to size mismatches, you won’t see many like this. Antonio Arroyo stands 6-foot-3 and Deron Winn is 5-foot-6. this will be a catchweight bout at 195 pounds with Arroyo a clear favorite. Winn beat 6-foot-1 Eric Spicely in his first UFC fight, but then lost to Darren Stewart and Gerald Meerschaert following a big step up in class. Arroyo is a step back down towards Winn’s level. This is only the second fight under contract for Arroyo, who was on DWCS twice and then lost to Andre Muniz back on November 16, 2019. Winn, while the shorter fighter that will have a tougher time getting inside, might be more of a live dog than people realize.
<h4><strong><u>Dalcha Lungiambula (+215) vs. Karl Roberson (-255); Total: 1.5 (-145/115)</u></strong></h4>
Karl Roberson and Dalcha Lungiambula were supposed to fight last week at UFC 256, but Roberson popped a positive COVID-19 test. The fight will now take place on this card. Roberson remains a big favorite, as bettors and oddsmakers seem unconcerned about any effects from the virus. One would think that it could hurt the cardio a bit, but this fight isn’t projected to go all that long anyway.
<h4><strong><u>Pannie Kianzad (+132) vs. Sijara Eubanks (-152); Total: 2.5 (-415/315)</u></strong></h4>
Could this be the last UFC fight for Sijara Eubanks? The 35-year-old is just 7-5 in her career with only two knockout wins. After starting out well in UFC, she’s lost three of her last five. Every UFC fight has gone to a decision. She’s just not an exciting fighter and the promotion is making lots of cuts. Pannie Kianzad has won two in a row since losing her first contract fight to Julia Avila. It would be wrong to say that this is a torch-passing fight, as Kianzad s a veteran of 19 fights to Eubanks’s 12, but she is the bigger fighter and the one trending up at 29. The underdog looks set up for success here.
<h4><strong><u>Alex </u></strong><strong><u>Morono (+195) vs. Anthony Pettis (-230); Total: 2.5 (-215/175)</u></strong></h4>
This is a weird matchup for Anthony Pettis. After fighting the likes of Donald Cerrone, Nate Diaz, and Stephen Thompson over his last four fights, he now faces Alex Morono. Morono had a nice win over Rhys McKee back on November 14, but he did go 15 minutes and doesn’t really seem like the type of fighter that would get matched up with Pettis. On the other hand, the 33-year-old Pettis needs a win pretty badly. Beating Cerrone is almost ceremonial at this point. Pettis should get it, but I can’t help but wonder if his UFC days are numbered.
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<h4><strong><u>Marcin Tybura (-102) vs. Greg Hardy (-118)</u></strong></h4>
No total was posted at time of writing for this heavyweight fight between Marcin Tybura and Greg Hardy. Tybura is 3-0 in 2020 after a really tough 2019. He’s gone the full 15 in each of his last three fights and seems to have really matured as a fighter with a different approach to his fights. Tybura turned 35 back on November 9, but he’s found a second wind to his career and his veteran knowhow could be tough for Greg Hardy.

Hardy lost to Alexander Volkov last November. His wins have predominantly been against fighters with a similar experience level that he can bully and push around. Tybura isn’t that kind of guy. Stylistically, this looks like a bad matchup for Hardy against a patient fighter willing to bide his time. This looks a lot like the Volkov fight on the surface. The main difference is that Tybura isn’t 6-foot-7, but he also has a better submission game.
<h4><strong>Pick: Marcin Tybura</strong></h4>
<h4><strong><u>Gillian Robertson (-110) vs. Taila Santos (-110); Total: 2.5 (-165/135)</u></strong></h4>
Gillian Robertson and Taila Santos have had to be flexible recently. Robertson was originally set to fight Andrea Lee last week, but that fight was canceled. Santos was fighting Montana De La Rosa two weeks ago, but a positive test from MDLR’s camp put that fight on hold. Now the two will fight each other.

Robertson beat Poliana Botelho back on October 17 for her fourth win in five fights. Since joining UFC, she’s really taken everything up a level and her only loss came against super-prospect Maycee Barber. Santos has also had quite a bit of success. Her only loss came a couple fights ago against Mara Romero Borella by controversial split decision. She beat Molly McCann back in July for her first fight in 17 months. To be honest, this fight is really close to call, but the -165 on over 2.5 seems light. Santos has never been finished and Robertson has gone deep into the third in her last two.
<h4><strong>Pick: Over 2.5</strong></h4>
<h4><strong><u>Rob Font (+130) vs. Marlon Moraes (-150); Total: 2.5 (-130/100)</u></strong></h4>
Rob Font hasn’t fought in over a year. The situation was similar last December, as Font went 358 days between fights. He beat Ricky Simon by unanimous decision. This will be his first fight since December 7, 2019 when he steps into the cage with Marlon Moraes. Moraes’s lone appearance in 2020 was a bad one, as Cory Sandhagen knocked him out on October 10.

The 32-year-old Moraes has struggled lately. He lost to flyweight turned bantamweight Henry Cejudo last June. Then he won a narrow split decision over Jose Aldo before the Sandhagen TKO. Font isn’t the most active of UFC fighters, but when he does get in the cage, he is a constant aggressor. In the smaller UFC Apex cage, Moraes may have issues with the length and the forward push of Font. This is a fight that looks ripe for an upset.
<h4><strong>Pick: Rob Font</strong></h4>
<h4><strong><u>Khaos Williams (+112) vs. Michel Pereira (-132); Total: 1.5 (-125/-105)</u></strong></h4>
This is probably the most interesting line of the card. Khaos Williams has two very, very impressive knockouts in 2020 over Alex Morono and Abdul Razak Alhassan. The optics and the hype would suggest that Williams is the play at plus money. Pereira has also lost two of his last three fights. The 27-year-old is 2-2 in the UFC, but really hasn’t faced anybody with the power of Williams.

This will be a really exciting fight, however long it lasts. The line would imply that Pereira is the right side, but I have a hard time convincing myself of that. It is worth noting that Williams did take a big jump to the UFC and Pereira is a different kind of matchup for him. Maybe the easier thing to do here is expect a quick finish.
<h4><strong>Pick: Under 1.5</strong></h4>
<h4><strong><u>Marlon Vera (+123) vs. Jose Aldo (-143); Total: 2.5 (-215/175)</u></strong></h4>
Jose Aldo needs a win to stop the bleeding. His most recent fight was a loss to Petr Yan for the vacant bantamweight title. That marked three losses in a row for Aldo, who was on at the top of the UFC mountain. He’ll take on Marlon Vera in this fight, a fight that was set up a little over a month ago.

Vera beat Sean O’Malley last time out, but O’Malley suffered an injury early in the fight was badly hampered by it. While that win buys some recognition, Vera really needs this win over Aldo, a fighter who seems to be on a downward trajectory. The price seems a little bit optimistic here on Aldo to return to form. It’s entirely possible that the abuse of his last three losses has simply taken a toll.
<h4><strong>Pick: Marlon Vera</strong></h4>
<h4><strong><u>Stephen Thompson (-101) vs. Geoff Neal (-119); Total: 4.5 (110/-140)</u></strong></h4>
This is a huge opportunity for Geoff Neal. The 30-year-old has seven wins in a row after his XKO loss to Kevin Holland and we’ve all seen where Holland’s career has gone since. Neal hasn’t fought since he knocked out Mike Perry back on December 14 because of some health scares. In fact, things got so tight financially for Neal that he had to go back to his waiter gig to make some money. You won’t find a fighter more motivated for an opportunity like this one.

Wonderboy Thompson should be plenty motivated, too. This is his first fight since November 2 of last year when he beat Vicente Luque to stop a two-fight losing streak. Thompson, now 37, is not the fighter or striker that he used to be. It’s a big reason why Neal is the favorite here in this fight and why he should be victorious in this bout.
<h4><strong>Pick: Geoff Neal</strong></h4>
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UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal Betting Odds, Picks, & Predictions

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