NCAA Tournament Picks: UNLV Runnin' Rebels vs. California Golden Bears

The underdog is 4-1 against the spread in the last five meetings between the California Golden Bears and UNLV Runnin' Rebels, which is important to consider when making your NCAA basketball picks Thursday as they prepare to meet at the HP Pavilion.

Sports bettors will find that the Golden Bears are three-point neutral-site underdogs in the college basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 131 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this second-round matchup in the 2013 NCAA basketball tournament from a betting perspective while offering up an against-the-spread pick along the way.

UNLV Runnin' Rebels

The UNLV Runnin' Rebels have won seven of their last 10 games, but they dropped a 63-56 decision to the New Mexico Lobos as two-point home favorites in the Mountain West Conference tournament final.

Sports bettors will find that the Runnin' Rebels are 7-15 against the spread in their last 22 games.

California Golden Bears

The California Golden Bears have dropped five of six all-time meetings with the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, including a 76-75 setback as 1.5-point home favorites Dec. 9.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Golden Bears are 0-4 against the spread as neutral-site underdogs of three points or less, with the UNDER going 3-1 in those contests.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the California Golden Bears as one of their sports betting picks Thursday, as I established the UNLV Runnin' Rebels as 2.5-point favorites in this matchup.

NCAA Basketball Pick: California Golden Bears +3

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