Colorado State Rams vs. UNLV Runnin' Rebels Prediction & Game Preview - 2/19/2022

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Venue: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV

Where to watch: CBS Sports Network

DraftKings: Colorado State -3.5

BetMGM: Colorado State -4.5

Caesars: Colorado State -4.5

Colorado State: 21-3 (11-3 Mountain West)

UNLV: 15-11 (7-6 Mountain West)

Colorado State: won five straight

UNLV: 3-2 in last five

Reports of the Colorado State Rams demise appeared to be premature. Since losing consecutive games at the end of January, Colorado State has reeled off five straight wins and all worries of them falling off the map when it comes to the Mountain West Conference appear to have been subdued.

Because right now Colorado State is playing some of its best basketball of the season at the right time. There's still some hurdles to clear at this point when it comes to who they need to pass in the standings, primarily the Wyoming Cowboys who they will see on Wednesday, but Colorado State has been able to correct the ship and sail in the proper direction with four regular season games to go.

Not only did the Rams real off five straight wins coming into Saturday's game, but they won three road games to do it. No I'm not saying defeating Nevada, Boise State, and New Mexico is the entire murderers row of the Mountain West Conference, but that win against Boise State on Sunday might have been their most impressive to this date.

To follow that up with a win at New Mexico was just as impressive especially given the situation where Wyoming is now ranked in the top 25. Colorado State won 83-68 on Thursday. David Roddy led Colorado State in scoring for the sixth straight game and for the seventh time in their last eight with a game high 31 points to go along with nine rebounds.

Don't get it twisted though with Colorado State. Even though Roddy is looking like a one man show out there, it is a collective effort with Colorado State. It might not show up on the stat sheet as much as many would like but when eight of your nine available players score in a game, and hold the opponent to just 44% shooting despite seven players only playing on the team, it’s still a very dangerous team.

Perhaps the one dangerous team to offset anything Colorado State can do might be UNLV. And if you have any doubts of that potential possibility, look no further than January 28th, the last time UNLV and Colorado State played in a game.

It was the night that Bryce Hamilton officially put his name on the map as one of the best players in the conference. Hamilton scored 45 points that night in Fort Collins to lead the rebels to a stunning 14 point victory against Colorado State.

Since that game though, UNLV has not been able to find any sense of consistency. The rebels have won four of their last six but have been a run of the mill team in the Mountain West having won only seven of a possible 13 games.

But there is a lot to like for this team under Kevin Krueger. The rebels are coming off a 3 point victory at Fresno State on Wednesday, with Hamilton leading the way with 17 points. There's no doubt who's getting the ball for you and I'll be with the game on the line, the only question left is who will be the one to take the big shots when needed?

When Hamilton goes 6 of 20 as he did on Wednesday, is there anyone on UNLV that can make the big shot? Royce Hamm might be that guy after going for 12 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes against the Bulldogs, and one would likely hope for it to be Jordan McCabe but he tends to be a streaky shooter after going just one of seven against the Bulldogs.

With the Mountain West Conference tournament in Las Vegas we can never really count out UNLV when it comes to trying to get back to the NCAA tournament. They have made tremendous strides under Kruger in his first year and any improvement will have been considered a success. But there is still maybe another year or two away from officially taking that next step.

Prediction

One great thing about UNLV having a solid first year under its new head coach is that fans have returned to the Thomas and Mack center more in force than they have the last few years. And you can't really blame the fans when the administration and the leadership has changed as many times as pairs of underwear over the last five years, but there is a sense that UNLV can be a very fun team, especially when they get to the conference tournament. I have no doubts that Colorado State will play a much better game against UNLV on their home floor as a way of revenge, but do not be shocked in the least if UNLV covers in this game period they are a strong team at home, they are able to play up to their competition, and we've seen over the last five or six games UNLV is not scared of any competition. I think ultimately Colorado State will win, but you and LV covering seems like a pretty good bet and I'm not going to go against Hamilton after what he did to Colorado State last time period but again, someone on you and I'll be needs to take the big shots because Colorado State will be sending double teams to Hamilton all night long. Colorado State by 5

Colorado State is 10-3 ATS as a road favorite.

UNLV is 9-17 ATS off a win against a conerence opponent

PG: Kendle Moore

SG: Isaiah Stevens

SF: John Tonje

PF: David Roddy

C: Dischon Thomas

PG: Jordan McCabe

SG: Mike Nuga

SF: Keshon Gilbert

PF: Bryce Hamtilton

C: Royce Hamm Jr.

Points: David Roddy -- 19.8

Rebounds: Davis D

Assists:

Points: Bryce Hamilton - -21.5

Rebounds: Royce Hamm -- 9.3

Assists: Jordan McCabe -- 4.9