UNLV Rebels vs Colorado State Rams Prediction, Odds and Picks for Friday, 01/09/26

This is a fade of the Rebels because there are alarm bells going off everywhere. UNLV is also a team that sits 300th or worse in both rebounding and defense. That’s not a profile that travels well either and what transpired in Laramie speaks into that. The Rebels were embarrassed by the Cowboys in a 98-66 rout despite only taking back 4.5 points at the tip. UNLV just got blown out at Wyoming and is now back on the road again with a short turnaround to right the ship. This is not a good place for the Rebels, nor is it a good spot to get behind them.

The Rams, however, also haven’t inspired confidence. CSU has dropped 3 of its last 4 contests overall — most recently enduring a 10-point home loss to New Mexico earlier this week as a 1.5-point pooch. But losing to New Mexico, which is a March Madness contender, is nothing to scoff at. Falling to the Cowboys like UNLV did would ordinarily not be a black mark either. The issue is the fact that they got exposed on both sides of the court by Wyoming. UNLV’s recent dud in Laramie wasn’t just a bad shooting night — it illuminated ongoing issues with defensive communication and transition coverage. Those weaknesses are problematic against a Colorado State team that thrives on quick decision-making and punishing mistakes with efficient play. Asking UNLV to suddenly clean that up on the road is a tall order. From a situational standpoint, this is also a buy-low spot on CSU, but we have to like that position as this scenario is conducive for Colorado State to find its rhythm and get back on track. Recent uneven results may have cooled market enthusiasm on the Rams, but the underlying metrics haven’t cratered. Colorado State’s edges in this contest are still very apparent. Let’s spot the points.

UNLV vs Colorado State prediction: Colorado State -7 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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