UNLV at Washington State

The Cougars were the best team in the Pac-10 from 2001-04, but getting back there has been a long and rough road. They field their best team in several years this season, and are a borderline Bowl team if things break right for them. They have 15 returning starters, third most in the Pac-10, and will certainly be more competitive at least. Their defense will be much better with six of their top seven tacklers returning. This is a team that is 5-32 in their last 37 games, and should at least equal that win total this season. UNLV was squashed by Wisconsin. They were down 51-3 before Wisconsin took the foot off the pedal. The Rebels were a dismal 2-11 a year ago and have to break-in a new QB, and that was against weaker competition than what they will face here. The Rebels lost their games by an average margin of 21.3 points per game a year ago, and that doesn't bode well for them here. They have not been good as a road dog of 10.5 or more, amassing just a 6-17-3 ATS mark in their last 26. The Cougars are on an up-tick at 7-2 ATS in their last nine games, showing a lot of value here. Washington State gets this one.