Bowl season is in full swing, and Wednesday’s LA Bowl featuring the California Golden Bears and UNLV Rebels should be highly entertaining.
California is missing its quarterback and top receiver, but my California vs. UNLV prop picks focus on what the Golden Bears have left.
Read on as I explain my college football picks for Wednesday, December 18.
California vs UNLV props for the LA Bowl
Endries Over 32.5 rec yards (-115 at BetMGM)- Rogers Over 1.5 passing TDs (-115 at BetMGM)
- Ott Under 50.5 rush yards (-115 at BetMGM)
Picks made on 12-17.
Read full analysis of each pick.
California vs UNLV LA Bowl player props
Prop bet #1: Jack Endries Over 32.5 receiving yards
The California Golden Bears' passing game took a hit with quarterback Frank Mendoza and wide receiver Nyziah Hunter no longer with the team.
Losing those two hurt California, but the Golden Bears have some good pieces remaining for the offense to make something happen against the UNLV Rebels.
California reserve QB Chandler Rogers won’t have Hunter to throw to, but tight end Jack Endries caught the most passes (49) for 562 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Endries is a good route runner and dependable receiver, and he’ll be the go-to guy for Chandler.
Endries snagged 33 passing yards or more in five of his last six and meets a UNLV defense allowing 43 plays of over 10 yards and 33 plays of over 30+ yard receptions.
Prop bet #2: Chandler Rogers Over 1.5 passing touchdowns
Rogers is an experienced college quarterback. He's thrown 45 TD passes across his three-year career, but he’s barely played for California.
He’s been taking starter reps since November 30, and he should be good to go to sling a pair of scoring strikes against a leaky Rebels passing defense.
The Rebels’ passing defense has been brutal. They’ve been beaten for a gazillion long passing plays and 20 touchdown receptions this season, which should open the door for Rogers to shine.
Rogers may not have Hunter, but he has several Golden Bears teammates with 100+ receiving yards to throw to. He has the experience, and he’s up against a shaky UNLV passing defense he can beat through the air for a couple of scoring strikes.
Prop bet #3: Jayden Ott Under 50.5 rushing yards
The UNLV passing defense might be shaky, but their rushing defense isn’t.
That group led the Mountain West in rushing yards allowed (109.8) and ranked 18th nationally with a minuscule 3.45 yards per attempt.
The Golden Bears have capable rushers but don’t rely much on the ground game. They ranked 14th in the ACC in rushing yards per game, and they'll likely have more success throwing the ball than rushing it.
That’s why I’m playing the Under on Golden Bears running back Jayden Ott’s rushing yards total. He sees anywhere from 10-14 carries and only 2.9 rushing yards per attempt.
Ott is the No. 2 back in the Golden Bears backfield and has failed to clear 51+ rushing yards in five of his previous six. He likely won’t get enough rushing attempts because California may go to the air against the porous Rebels secondary.
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