Barry Odom has made significant changes to the UNLV football program, leading to a remarkable turnaround. Hired as head coach prior to last season, Odom stepped in after the Rebels ended a streak of nine consecutive losing seasons under three different coaches. Last year, Odom guided UNLV to a 9-5 record, and this season, the team is off to a perfect 4-0 start, making history by breaking into the AP Top 25 for the first time, currently ranked No. 25. They will face Syracuse, who has a record of 3-1, in a non-conference matchup on Friday. Syracuse comes into the game after a dominant 42-14 victory over Holy Cross, although they are 1-3 against the spread this season.
Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET on Friday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Rebels opened as 4-point favorites and have since moved to 6-point favorites, according to the latest UNLV vs. Syracuse odds. The over/under for the game sits at 55.5 points, an increase from the opening line. Before placing any bets on the game, it’s essential for fans to check the college football predictions and betting insights from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model, which simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times, has successfully generated over $2,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated spread picks since its launch. Notably, it went a perfect 6-0 on its top-rated college football picks in Week 5.
As the model focuses on Syracuse versus UNLV, its predictions and picks have been released, and fans can access those insights. Here are the current betting odds for the matchup:
UNLV vs. Syracuse spread: Rebels -6
UNLV vs. Syracuse over/under: 55.5 points
UNLV vs. Syracuse money line: Rebels -223, Orange +181
Syracuse has been successful against the spread, recording a 9-5-1 mark after a win since the 2022 season, while UNLV boasts a 4-0 record against the spread this season.
Syracuse has shown promise under first-year head coach Fran Brown with a current record of 3-1. Brown’s skill in recruiting from the transfer portal is evident with the addition of quarterback Kyle McCord, ranked as the 10th-best transfer by 247Sports after three seasons at Ohio State. McCord threw for an impressive 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 65.8% of his passes last season.
The Orange’s offense is centered around McCord, with a pass-heavy strategy making for a dynamic attack that averages 358 passing yards per game. McCord has thrown for at least 330 yards in each game this season and has three performances of four touchdown passes. Defensively, Syracuse allows just 5.8 yards per pass, ranked 18th nationally, and has recorded interceptions in three of their four games this year. With McCord’s leadership, Syracuse has a realistic chance to stay competitive against UNLV, potentially covering the spread or even achieving an upset.
On the other side, UNLV is eager to maintain momentum following their first ranking in program history. The team has faced off-field challenges with quarterback Matthew Sluka opting to redshirt over an NIL dispute, yet they proved resourceful in a decisive 59-14 win against Fresno State, with quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams throwing for 182 yards and three touchdowns, alongside rushing for 119 yards.
Senior wide receiver Ricky White III has been a key contributor, leading the team with 20 catches for 253 yards and five touchdowns. UNLV’s defense has also shined, allowing only 14 points per game at home, with an average victory margin of 51.5 points.
As betting approaches, SportsLine’s model suggests leaning towards the Under for the total points, projecting around 54 points combined. The model identifies a strong possibility for one side of the spread to succeed over 50% of the time.
For those interested in the outcome of UNLV vs. Syracuse and the model’s insights on the spread, additional information is available on SportsLine.