UNLV Rebels vs Ohio Bobcats Frisco Bowl Prediction & Preview - 12/23/2025
Updated July 9, 2026
The Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl on Tuesday night features a matchup between the UNLV Rebels and the Ohio Bobcats from the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco. UNLV got 10 wins this season and will try to bounce back from a conference title game loss here, while Ohio tries to end its season with a third straight win. Before kickoff from Texas, you will find my UNLV vs Ohio prediction right here.
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UNLV arrives in Frisco after completing a 10-win regular season under head coach Dan Mullen, who steered the Rebels to their third consecutive bowl appearance with a dynamic offense. Quarterback Anthony Colandrea, the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, spearheads an attack that averages nearly 36 points and ranks among the nation’s leaders in total yardage. While their defensive numbers aren't pretty, the Rebels have consistently generated enough explosive plays to stay competitive in high-scoring affairs.
Ohio’s journey to Frisco has been more turbulent. Head coach Brian Smith was dismissed late in the season following internal issues, leaving defensive coordinator John Hauser as interim head coach. Despite the off-field distractions, the Bobcats finished 8-4 and have a potent rushing attack led by Sieh Bangura. Bangura has eclipsed 1,200 yards on the ground with 14 rushing scores. Ohio’s defense is solid, limiting opponents to under 23 points per game, but questions remain about their ability to contain UNLV’s explosive skill position players.
At the helm for the Rebels is Anthony Colandrea, whose precision and mobility have been key to UNLV’s consistent scoring. Colandrea’s ability to read defenses and make plays both through the air and on the ground sets the tone for the Rebels. Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro has over 2,000 passing yards and significant contributions on the ground. Navarro’s rushing ability, combined with Sieh Bangura’s success on the ground, allows Ohio to control games and chip away at defenses.
Score Projection: UNLV 38 – Ohio 27
Win Probability: UNLV 64%, Ohio 36%
I am going to take the UNLV Rebels to win and cover the spread in the Frisco Bowl. The Rebels can move the ball against just about any defense and they should have their way with an Ohio team dealing with a ton of distractions. Look for UNLV to be sharper early and to win this game with some margin in Frisco.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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