Pepperdine Waves vs UNLV Runnin’ Rebels Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Pepperdine vs UNLV NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Las Vegas.

Pepperdine vs UNLV Prediction

The Waves and Runnin' Rebels are set to face off at 10:00 ET on MWN. The Runnin' Rebels will host the game at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV. The over/under for this game is set at 147.5 points, and UNLV is favored by -17 against Pepperdine in a non-conference matchup.

Pepperdine vs. UNLV Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Pepperdine Waves at UNLV Runnin' Rebels
Where: Las Vegas at Thomas & Mack Center
Date: Wednesday, November 20th
Betting Odds UNLV -17, PEPP +835 | UNLV -1517 O/U 147.5

Waves Preview: Will Pepperdine Win on the Road?

Pepperdine Waves Recent Game

Pepperdine fell 80-62 to UC Irvine on Saturday, November 16th. The Waves were +16.5 point underdogs going into the game and didn’t cover the spread. The combined points for the game were 142, just under the O/U line of 143.5.

Pepperdine led 35-33 at halftime but struggled in the 2nd half, scoring only 27 points while allowing 47.

Waves Offense Breakdown

Pepperdine's offense struggled in their last game, putting up just 62 points with a field goal percentage of 38.3% and an effective field goal percentage of 43.3%. They hit only 25% from beyond the arc, going 5-for-20, but were solid at the free-throw line, converting 84.6% of their attempts.

Devin Tillis was a standout, hitting 10 of 12 shots, including 3-for-3 from three-point range, finishing with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Moe Odum contributed 8 assists, while Boubacar Coulibaly added 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

Waves Team Defense

Despite Pepperdine's defense giving up 80 points, they held their opponent to 40% shooting from the field, with 28 made baskets on 69 attempts. Inside the arc, the Waves limited their opponent to 40% shooting, as they went 18/44 on two-point attempts.

From beyond the arc, Pepperdine allowed a 40% shooting performance, with their opponent hitting 10 of 25 three-point attempts. The Waves also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 14 times, where they converted all their attempts. Pepperdine gave up 15 offensive rebounds in the game.

Runnin' Rebels Preview: Can UNLV Deliver Being Favored at Home?

UNLV picked up an 80-69 win over Omaha on Thursday, November 14th, in a home game. The Runnin' Rebels were favored by 17 points but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 149, just over the 146.5-point line.

UNLV led 35-29 at halftime and scored 45 points in the 2nd half while allowing 40. Though they got the win, the Rebels didn’t dominate as expected.

Runnin' Rebels Offense Breakdown

UNLV's offense put up 80 points in their last game, shooting 45.6% from the field. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 4 of 18 attempts for a 22.2% rate, but excelled at the free-throw line, connecting on 24 of 25 shots for a 96% success rate.

Ja'Sean Glover and Jeremiah Cherry each contributed 17 points, with Glover hitting 5 of 6 threes and Cherry shooting 7 of 8 overall. Jalen Hill also added 17 points, while Marquel Sutton chipped in 16.

Runnin' Rebels Team Defense

UNLV's defense gave up 69 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 45% from the field. Inside the arc, they allowed 56% shooting, as the other team went 22/39 on two-point attempts.

From three-point range, UNLV held their opponents to just 4/18 shooting, or 22%. However, they sent the other team to the line 25 times, where they converted 24 free throws, a 96% rate. UNLV also gave up 7 offensive rebounds.

Waves vs Runnin' Rebels Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Although Pepperdine has a straight up record of 3-7 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 3-7. The team averaged 72 points per game in these games.
When looking at their past three home matchups, UNLV has an ATS record of 1-2 while averaging 72 per game. The team went 1-2 overall in these games.
Going back to their previous ten games as the underdog, Pepperdine has an ATS mark of 3-7 while going 2-8 straight up.
Although the Runnin' Rebels have a strong straight up record in their last three games as the betting favorite, they have not done as well vs the spread going 1-2.