Air Force's Joe Scott was left holding an empty bag after last season, when top scorer Rytis Petraitis (15.7 ppg) transferred to Cal. The only thing close to a go-to threat on the current Falcs roster is G Ethan Taylor, scoring at 13.6 ppg, with no other DD scorers. Taylor has lately wavered under that burden, and the last four Force losses have been by 21 points or more as well. Normally wouldn't rate UNLV a margin team but the Rebs buried the Falcs 77-52 at Clune Arena on February 11, and UNLV also won three straight minus G Dedan Thomas down the stretch before a loss at New Mexico last Friday that was closer than the 81-67 scoreline suggests. Play UNLV (MWC).

The Rebs won one meeting with lowly Air Force by 19 and the other by 25. They out-scored them in the paint 72-44 in those two games. UNLV is very tough on the three-point ball, so playing from behind vs them is a problem. UNLV has won 6 of its last 8 and covered 5 of 8 - all by multiple possessions. Air Force is 4-15 ATS in last 19 and 2-10 ATS in last 12, failing to cover 8 of those games by 4 points or more. The Runnin' Rebels were +1 in Mountain West games and AF was -17. They have the worst defense and second-worst offense in the conference.