Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Kansas Jayhawks vs. UNLV Rebels
Neither Kansas nor UNLV have deep histories of winning football, and both programs will be looking to end bowl droughts that span over a decade on Tuesday when they meet in Phoenix for the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. The Jayhawks – which last won a bowl game in 2008 – made it to the Liberty Bowl just a season ago, but lost in a ridiculous shootout to Arkansas. For the Rebels, this is just the second postseason appearance in 23 years, and the last win for the program came in 2000. There is no question that both teams will be locked in and motivated to end their respective run of futility.
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Both teams were respectable teams at the window for bettors, but UNLV comes into this game as one of the best teams in the country against the number. The Rebels finished the regular season 10-3 ATS, but the market caught up with them as they dropped their last two games both SU and ATS. The reason for those losses for UNLV were poor quarterback and a shoddy run defense, the latter of which will likely come into play in this game against Kansas.
Boise State and San Josè State decimated UNLV’s front with strong rushing attacks. The Rebels gave up a combined 534 yards on the ground and 5.9 yards per attempt in the final two games of the season. On the season UNLV ranked 33rd in opponent EPA via the run, but their schedule was one of the easier ones in the country. Against quality opponents the Rebels’ 3-3-5 front struggled to contain efficient rushing attacks, and they get another one here in the Jayhawks.