The UNLV Rebels will go into Ohio this Saturday looking to continue their unbeaten start when they face the winless Miami (OH) RedHawks. UNLV has shown offensive efficiency and is coming off a win against the UCLA Bruins that ended the coaching tenure of Deshaun Foster. Miami (OH) is 0-2 but will look to get into the win column in their first game against an opponent that isn’t from a power conference. Here, I break down this non-conference college football matchup and give you my UNLV vs Miami (OH) prediction.
Our UNLV vs Miami (OH) Pick
- Pick: Miami (OH) Moneyline
- Confidence: ★★★★★
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: UNLV Rebels vs Miami (OH) RedHawks
- Date & Time: Saturday, September 20, 2025, 12:00 PM ET
- Venue: Fred C. Yager Stadium, Oxford, OH
- Broadcast: ESPNU
UNLV vs Miami (OH) Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| UNLV −2.5 | UNLV −130 / Miami (OH) +110 | 50.5 |
Key Storylines
- Momentum vs Home-Field Advantage: UNLV enters at 3-0 after a big home win over UCLA, while Miami (OH) is 0-2. But Miami’s losses have come against Big Ten teams on the road. Getting back home gives them a chance to reset and perhaps defeat a team that is not from a power conference.
- Turnovers & Defensive Weaknesses: UNLV has a strong turnover margin early and has protected the ball well. But their defense has been vulnerable, allowing big plays through the air. Miami (OH) has struggled offensively against superior competition. But if their defense can force mistakes, they may get their first win of the season.
- Penalties & Discipline: Both teams have been fairly sloppy. UNLV leads the FBS in penalty yardage per game and Miami (OH) is not far behind. Mistakes in this game could swing field position and momentum.
Quarterback Play
- Anthony Colandrea (UNLV): Colandrea has been accurate with a 75.4% completion rate, six touchdown passes, one interception, and nearly 650 passing yards. He needs to avoid turnovers that could give Miami (OH) a lifeline in this contest.
- Dequan Finn (Miami (OH)): Finn has yet to throw a touchdown this season and has three interceptions. In fairness, he has faced two Big Ten defenses to begin this year and will likely look better in this game.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Recent Records: UNLV is 3-0 overall and 2-1 against the spread this season. Miami (OH) is 0-2 but has covered the spread once.
- Over/Under Trends: Miami (OH) is 1-1 in their totals to start the season. UNLV is 1-2 with their totals.
- Head-to-Head: This is the first meeting between these two programs, so there are no direct historical tendencies to draw upon.
UNLV vs Miami (OH) Model Projection
Score Projection: UNLV 24 – Miami (OH) 27
Win Probability: UNLV 49%, Miami (OH) 51%
Final Thoughts
UNLV looks like the better team on paper at this stage of the season. But it isn’t fair to compare the bodies of work for these teams at this stage. Miami (OH) has played two solid programs in the Big Ten, while UNLV’s win over a Big Ten team came against a program so unstable that they have fired their coach. I’ll take Miami (OH) to win outright as a home underdog here with the expectation that they look better now that they aren’t playing a Big Ten team.
