Associated Press
Boise State head coach Leon Rice watches the action during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oregon in Boise, Idaho, on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. Boise State won 74-72.
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016 | 12:45 p.m.
The Rebel Room
Reno Woes
The Rebels have now lost four out of the last six to in-state rival UNR, which breaks Las Vegas Sun sports editor Ray Brewer's heart. Sun sports writers Case Keefer and Taylor Bern join Brewer to get into that 65-63 loss and discuss whether there will be any lasting effects in this big week at home against Boise State and San Diego State.
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Things are finally looking up for the Mountain West, and one team could take a giant wrecking ball to all of that goodwill this week: UNLV.
Entering league play, it seemed like there were only two scenarios that could get the league two teams in the NCAA Tournament: Two teams separate themselves and one of those wins the conference tournament, or one team goes nearly perfect in league play and any other team wins the tournament. Right now, that first scenario is playing out with both Boise State (15-5, 6-1) and San Diego State (15-6, 8-0) going on runs good enough to get their computer numbers up to a point that both are pegged as at least having legitimate at-large chances.
But starting tonight, both teams come through the Thomas & Mack Center to face a Rebels team that cares not about the league at large. UNLV (12-8, 3-4) has its own priorities, which include taking down the league’s top two teams this week.
It wouldn’t necessarily be a bad loss for either the Broncos or Aztecs, but any loss in a league that’s ranked 12th in RPI (one spot behind the Summit League) isn’t good, either.
The Rebels still have four total games against the two teams that are clearly the class of the league, so they could have as big a hand as anyone beyond that duo in how this race plays out. And if they win, and thus foil the Mountain West’s shot at two teams in the tournament, don’t expect the Rebels to apologize for it.
Here are tonight’s picks:
Lines are the best available at the time of publication on the chosen side in Las Vegas.
Air Force (plus-14) at New Mexico
6 p.m., Root Sports
• Each side has a sophomore point guard who’s questionable, but the only one I care about for these purposes is New Mexico’s Cullen Neal. If he plays, I would want the Falcons (10-10, 1-6), but I’m guessing the concussion he suffered 11 days ago will at least limit him, which is good for the Lobos (11-8, 4-2) because while he can score in bunches, the offense runs better (and with fewer turnovers) without him.
Pick: New Mexico
San Jose State (plus-12) at Colorado State
6 p.m., Mountain West Network
• This feels like another trap game, like last week’s Boise State loss, where my sudden love for backing the Spartans (6-14, 1-7) is going to backfire because the Rams in Mountain West play don’t seem like a team that should beat anyone by double digits. Still, I’d rather go down with San Jose State than take another risk on Colorado State (11-8, 3-3), which has been one of my worst ATS teams this season.
Pick: San Jose State
Boise State (plus-3.5) at UNLV
8 p.m., CBS Sports Network
• This feels like the perfect number for a meeting between two teams that rarely beat each other comfortably. There’s a really good chance that Boise State comes in and wins this game outright, but if UNLV wins, then the Rebels will do so by more than four points. Since I’m going with a UNLV straight-up victory, I’ll back the Rebels ATS, too.
Pick: UNLV
Last week: 4-5-1
Season: 63-75-5
Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.
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