College Football Week 1 Picks: UNLV Runnin' Rebels vs. Arizona Wildcats

The UNLV Runnin' Rebels are 8-3 against the spread in their last 11 games, which is important to consider when making your Week 1 college football picks, as they take on the Arizona Wildcats in Tucson, Arizona.

Sports bettors will find that the Runnin' Rebels are 24-point road underdogs in the NCAA football odds, with no betting total available in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this nonconference matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.

Gambling stats via Sports Book Review 

UNLV Runnin' Rebels

USA TODAY Sports

The UNLV Runnin' Rebels are aiming for back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1983-84, but they'll have to replace quarterback Caleb Herring and running back Tim Cornett.

College football handicappers will want to keep an eye on wide receiver Devante Davis, who established a school record with 14 touchdown catches last year.

It's important to point out that the program has dropped 13 of its last 14 road openers, including the last six by an average of 23 points. 

Arizona Wildcats

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Arizona has won both all-time meetings against UNLV, including a 58-13 blowout victory as 14-point road favorites last season—running for 397 yards on 69 carries in that affair.

The Wildcats will begin life without Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and career rushing leader Ka'Deem Carey. In fact, the squad returns just 134 yards on the ground from 2013.

Over the last two seasons, the squad has compiled a 5-6 against-the-spread record as home favorites under head coach Rich Rodriguez. 

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the UNLV Runnin' Rebels as one of their Week 1 college football picks, as they've gone 4-0-1 against the spread in their last five Friday affairs.

Pick: UNLV Runnin' Rebels +24

Follow on Twitter: @JeffGrantSports