In the Mountain West Conference, multiple squads are vying for supremacy all over the place and upsets are becoming a weekly occurrence. Tuesday night will be no exception as the UNLV Rebels travel to Logan, Utah for a showdown with the 14-4 Aggies. Elsewhere in the mountains, Wyoming rolls to Air Force and is looking to get things back on track after starting conference play 0-5. In the former contest, they are coming off a tough week with back-to-back losses, including a thrilling overtime loss to Colorado State at home. Meanwhile, the Falcons are winners of two straight on the road.
In this article, SBS will be highlighting what to look for from each squad, predictions for both matchups, and also some thoughts about NCAA basketball betting.
| NCAA Basketball Week 11 Games | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNLV at Utah State | Utah State ML | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Wyoming at Air Force | Air Force ML | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Team Spotlight: UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
Losers of their last four of five games, the Rebels have been on hard times since the start of Mountain West conference play. However, it must be noted that two of their losses have been in overtime, and one was on the road at San Jose State, 75-72. Moreover, the Rebels were able to dispatch MW conference powerhouse New Mexico, 84-77 at The Pit which is one of the most daunting arenas on the west coast. UNLV has been paced this season by guard E.J. Harkless who has been averaging 17.3 points per game on 39.0% shooting. In fact, the three-guard rotation of Harkless, Luis Rodriguez, and Keshon Gilbert has been the core of the Rebel attack.
Team Spotlight: Utah State Aggies
Currently the fifth-ranked team in the conference, Utah State features one of the most explosive offenses in the country and is primed for a postseason run should things fall their way. With an overall record of 14-4, this should be one of the best conference matchups of the evening. Moreover, this is also a great opportunity for the Aggies to bounce back after losing to Nevada, 85-70 in front of a raucous crowd at Lawlor Events Center last week. Similar to the Rebels, Utah State features some strong and effective guard play with the likes of Steven Ainsworth (15.6 ppg on 49.4% shooting) and Max Shulga (4.4 assists per game) leading the charge.
Prediction: This will be a close battle, in fact, a lot closer than many people think but Utah State will win here given their strong home-court advantage.
Team Spotlight: Wyoming Cowboys
A squad that has been having some growing pains this season, the Cowboys are searching for their first conference win Tuesday evening. With an overall record of 5-12, Wyoming has had some disappointing results this season but should not be overlooked as they charge into battle against the Falcons. Guard Noah Reynolds is the leading scorer for the Cowboys at 14.2 ppg, while his backcourt mate, Hunter Maldonado, leads the way with 3.3 apg. Though Wyoming still is looking for its first conference win, it has played tough at home against opponents with a one-point loss to New Mexico on New Year’s Eve along with a five-point defeat at the hands of San Diego State.
Team Spotlight: Air Force Falcons
Facing Wyoming will be the plucky Falcons who have had a surge as of late with back-to-back wins over the likes of Fresno State and Colorado State. With both games being close contests (a three-point margin over the Bulldogs and an overtime win versus the Rams), the Falcons have shown they can battle to the final whistle. Jake Heidbreder will be one to watch here as the guard has been extremely effective in shooting the ball (47.5% field goal shooting). Moreover, the Falcons as a whole are great at assisting shots, averaging around 16 total assists per game.
Prediction: Similar to the contest above, the homecourt Air Force squad will win out here, but it should be close given the high volatility in the Mountain West.
Once you are all set squaring away your latest round of NCAA basketball bets, SBS of course has your back with a multitude of different gaming resources. For even more information on wagering on the sport, our NCAAB betting sites guide has your back on all kinds of betting markets on college basketball. Moreover, if you are perhaps unsure which payment routes are the best for you, do not worry as the SBS payment methods breakdown has a ton of options. For instance, this includes options from traditional banking routes to crypto as well. On a final note, for those on the go, the SBS best betting apps rundown is a must-read resource. Here, you can find out why you should bet using your mobile device and some more insider mobile betting tips.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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