CFP first-round game winner and score predictions | Before The Snap
Before The Snap asked college football writers from around the USA TODAY Network — Tyler Nettuno, Mitchell Northam, James Williams and Blake Toppmeyer — for their CFP first-round game predictions.
UNLV put a cap on what’s, officially, the school’s winningest season at the Division I level Wednesday night by defeating Cal 24-13 in the Art of Sport LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium.
The No. 24 Rebels finish the season 11-3 with their first bowl win in 24 years, matching the 1984 UNLV squad’s win total – though the 1984 team’s victories were eventually vacated, meaning this year’s Rebels stand alone in the NCAA’s eyes. UNLV won 12 games in 1974, when it was a Division II program.
UNLV only lost to two teams this year – Syracuse and Boise State on two occasions, including in the Mountain West title game. That success, in part, helped former coach Barry Odom get the Purdue job. UNLV will begin a new era in 2025 under Dan Mullen, the former coach at Florida and Mississippi State. (Mullen did not coach Wednesday’s game, though he did drop by the ESPN booth; interim coach Del Alexander handled bowl preparations.)
For Cal, Wednesday’s setback finished off a second consecutive 6-7 season. The Golden Bears were down to their fourth quarterback by the time their first season in the ACC officially ended.
Fernando Mendoza, Cal’s starter for the majority of the season, entered the transfer portal. Backup Chandler Rogers was injured and couldn’t go Wednesday. CJ Harris got the start but was eventually knocked out of the game, forcing Cal to turn to freshman EJ Caminong.
Offense was in generally short supply on both sides: Cal finished with 348 yards; UNLV had 291.
Jacob De Jesus’ 38-yard punt return in the fourth quarter put UNLV in position to add a critical field goal. The UNLV offense wasn’t able to do anything after De Jesus’ return — the Rebels actually lost yards on the ensuing drive — but Caden Chittenden knocked home a 48-yard field goal to give UNLV a 24-13 lead with 6:01 to go in the game.
We have points!
The seventh possession of the third quarter — coming after the teams combined for six punts — ended in disaster for Cal. Quarterback EJ Caminong’s backwards pass could not be corralled and UNLV pounced on the loose ball for the fumble recovery.
One play later, Kylin James took the ball and ran 23 yards into the end zone.
Caminong, a freshman, appeared to be in the game due to an injury to CJ Harris. ESPN showed Harris slowly walking to the locker room, a towel over his head.
The third quarter ends with the Rebels holding an eight-point lead.
The most exciting play of the first half came from special teams. UNLV punter Marshall Nichols’ push pass to Cameron Oliver gained 52 yards on a fourth-and-7 and set up a Rebels touchdown one play later.
UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams and the Rebels take the lead into the locker room. Williams completed 4 of 11 passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns.
Kicker Ryan Coe made a 30-yard field goal for Cal to cut UNLV’s lead to 14-13 with 1:50 left in the second quarter. Coe appears to have taken over the kicking duties after Derek Morris missed a 41-yard attempt on the previous scoring opportunity.
Cal missed an opportunity to cut into UNLV’s lead after Derek Morris missed a 41-yard field goal attempt. UNLV leads Cal 14-10 with 8:56 left in the second quarter.
UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams finds Jacob De Jesus for the 9-yard touchdown. The score capped off a six-play, 75-yard drive. Chittenden’s extra point is good. UNLV leads Cal 14-10 with 13:17 left in the second quarter.
Josiah Martin rushes 29 yards for the touchdown. Derek Morris’ extra point attempt was good. Cal leads UNLV 10-7 with 19 seconds left in the first quarter.
UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams found Kayden McGee for a 49-yard touchdown on third-and-10. Caden Chittenden’s extra point attempt was good and the Rebels moved ahead of the Golden Bears 7-3 with 5:04 left in the first quarter.
Kicker Derek Morris had a successful 43-yard field goal attempt to give the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead against the Rebels with 7:45 left in the first quarter.
CJ Harris will serve as the starting quarterback for the Golden Bears tonight. Chandler Rogers will not play due to injury. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza started most of the season but entered the transfer portal after the regular season.
Harris was the 2022 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl MVP.
UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III is not suited up and will not play tonight.
When is the Art of Sport LA Bowl between Cal and UNLV?
The kickoff for the Art of Sport L.A. Bowl game between the California Golden Bears and the UNLV Rebels at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, is Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET.
How to watch Cal and UNLV in the Art of Sport LA Bowl
The Art of Sport L.A. Bowl game between the California Golden Bears and the UNLV Rebels will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Live streaming is available on Fubo, which has a free trial.
Watch the California Golden Bears and the UNLV Rebels in the LA Bowl with a free Fubo trial
The UNLV Rebels are the favorites to defeat the California Golden Bears in the Art of Sport LA Bowl, according to the BetMGM college football odds on Wednesday.
- Spread: UNLV (-3.5)
- Moneyline: UNLV (-165); California (+135)
- Over/under: 46.5
Wednesday’s Art of Sport L.A. Bowl marks the second time that the California Golden Bears and the UNLV Rebels have faced off.
Cal is 1-0 in the series, beating UNLV 20-14 in a Sept. 10, 2022 game at Berkeley, California.
USA TODAY: Most pick UNLV
- Scooby Axon: UNLV
- Jordan Mendoza: UNLV
- Paul Myerberg: UNLV
- Erick Smith: Cal
- Eddie Timanus: UNLV
- Dan Wolken: UNLV
College Football News: UNLV ‘playing with house money’
Pete Fiutak writes “This one is all about watching to make sure the top Rebels stick around. If so, the defense should dominate a banged up and pieced together Bear line that should be without a few starting parts.”
Sports Illustrated: Cal ML (-130)
Reed Wallach writes “Given the looming uncertainty for UNLV along the sidelines and on the field, I’m going with the more trustworthy product in Cal to win the LA Bowl.”
College Football Network: UNLV over Cal
James Fragoza writes, “While the Rebels face coaching uncertainties, their talent edge and high-powered playmakers should give them the upper hand.”
Picks and Parlays: Running with the Rebels
David Anicetti writes, “UNLV will win this matchup with a superior offense that scores an average of 36.2 points per game while its defense holds opponents to 21.9 points per game. California scores 26.1 per game but allows 22.2 per game.”
Here are USA TODAY Sports’ expert picks for all of the college football bowl games.
The 2023 bowl season ushered in the era of Gronk as it pertains to the LA Bowl. Former NFL star tight end Rob Gronkowski signed a multiyear agreement to take on the mantle of the game’s host, replacing Jimmy Kimmel.
“Jimmy was a fantastic host and brought a lot of elements to the game. But it’s my turn now, and I’m going to turn it up, that’s for sure,” Gronkowski said at the time.
Cal vs. UNLV all-time record
Wednesday’s Art of Sport L.A. Bowl marks the second time that the California Golden Bears and the UNLV Rebels have faced off in their respective programs’ histories.
Cal is 1-0 in the series, beating UNLV, 20-14, in a Sept. 10, 2022 game at Berkeley, California.
The first round of the College Football Playoff will begin with one game on Friday, Dec. 19 and conclude with three games scheduled for Dec. 20.
All times Eastern
FRIDAY, DEC. 20
SATURDAY, DEC. 21
CFP quarterfinals schedule
The four quarterfinal games will be played on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, with one game on Dec. 31 and three on Jan. 1. All games will be televised by ESPN.
All times Eastern
TUESDAY, DEC. 31
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs. Penn State/SMU winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1
- Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona State vs. Texas/Clemson winner, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
- Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. Ohio State/Tennessee winner, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
- Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. Notre Dame/Indiana winner, 8:45 p.m. (ESPN)
CFP semifinals schedule
The semifinal games will be played on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10. Both games will be televised by ESPN.
All times Eastern
THURSDAY, JAN. 9
- Orange Bowl: Fiesta Bowl winner vs. Sugar Bowl winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
FRIDAY, JAN. 10
- Cotton Bowl: Peach Bowl winner vs. Rose Bowl winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
CFP national championship game schedule
MONDAY, JAN. 20
- Game: Orange Bowl winner vs. Cotton Bowl winner
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN
- Oregon (Big Ten champion, No. 1 seed)*
- Georgia (SEC champion, No. 2 seed)*
- Texas (No. 5 seed)
- Penn State (No. 6 seed)
- Notre Dame (No. 7 seed)
- Ohio State (No. 8 seed)
- Tennessee (No. 9 seed)
- Indiana (No. 10 seed)
- Boise State (MWC champion, No. 3 seed)*
- SMU (No. 11 seed)
- Alabama
- Arizona State (Big 12 champion, No. 4 seed)*
- Miami
- Mississippi
- South Carolina
- Clemson (ACC champion, No. 12 seed)**
*first-round bye; **automatic bid
The 12 participating teams in the College Football Playoff bracket are the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee, and the next seven highest-ranked teams.
The four highest-ranked conference champions are seeded one through four and received a first-round bye. The fifth conference champion is seeded where it was ranked among the top 12 teams, or at No. 12 if it is outside the top 12 in the CFP rankings. Non-conference champions ranked in the top four will be seeded beginning at No. 5.
“Because of this,” the CFP warns on its website, “the seeding, 1 through 12, could look different than the final rankings.”
For the first round, the higher-ranked team in each pairing (5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9) will serve as host on campus. The winners advance to the quarterfinals and match up with the corresponding top-four conference champion based on seeding. Quarterfinal games will played at the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The semifinals – played at the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl Classic – will take place Jan. 9-10.
The two semifinal winners will play for the national championship Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. — Mark Giannotto
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