UNLV at Sam Houston CFB Betting Preview: 8-29-25

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UNLV vs. Sam Houston CFB Pick ATS
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UNLV at Sam Houston College Football Preview: August 29, 2025

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The 2025 college football season is heating up, and on Friday, August 29, the UNLV Rebels travel to Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas, for a non-conference showdown against the Sam Houston Bearkats. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 PM EST, with national broadcast details available via local listings.
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This early-season tilt features two programs navigating major roster overhauls, setting the stage for an unpredictable matchup between rebuilding squads.

Team Overviews

Sam Houston Bearkats (Conference USA):
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Fresh off a solid 2024 season, the Bearkats posted a 10-3 overall record and went 6-2 in CUSA, culminating in a 31-26 New Orleans Bowl triumph over Georgia Southern. They clinched bowl eligibility with a hard-fought 10-7 road victory at FIU on October 22, 2024, underscoring their quick FBS adjustment in year two.
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Their late-season form was particularly notable: a 5-2 mark in the final seven regular-season games, including wins over UTEP (42-24), FIU (10-7), Jacksonville State (35-28), Louisiana Tech (34-27), and Middle Tennessee (31-28), offset by setbacks against Western Kentucky (14-31) and Liberty (21-42).
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That closing stretch highlighted their resilience under pressure. For 2025, Sam Houston is dealing with extensive changes, including a slew of new players and a fresh head coach at the helm. However, they’ve already shaken off the rust with a Week 0 game, giving them valuable on-field reps to refine their approach heading into this matchup.
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UNLV Rebels (Mountain West Conference):
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UNLV turned heads in 2024 with an 11-3 record and a 6-1 MWC ledger, emerging as a Group of Five contender. Entering 2025, the Rebels are in transition mode under new head coach Dan Mullen, who brings SEC pedigree from stints at Florida and Mississippi State.
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With only one returning starter on each side of the ball, Mullen has aggressively rebuilt via the transfer portal, landing a host of Power 4 talent to bolster the roster. Like Sam Houston, UNLV has a Week 0 contest in the books, providing early-season experience as they integrate their revamped lineup.
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Key Storylines and Betting Insights

Both teams enter this game with the advantage of having already played in Week 0, allowing them to work out kinks and gain real-game momentum. That levels the playing field in terms of preparation, but UNLV appears to hold the edge in overall talent, thanks to Mullen’s portal hauls and his offensive expertise.
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If modeled off last year’s rosters, this could have been a 28-17 UNLV win, though the massive turnover on both sides adds uncertainty.
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The Rebels are listed as -13.5 favorites, with an over/under of 56.5, implying expectations of a decisive, potentially high-scoring affair. While UNLV’s superior coaching and depth make them the likely winners, laying double digits in a game rife with new faces is risky.
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This write up was done prior to each teams previous weeks games. We’ll monitor how they do and will update this article if need be. For now, this game is a total pass for us!
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