Some end-of-season chaos both ways though we wonder if the situation will be a bit more jumbled with Cal, as the Golden Bears hit Inglewood minus QB Fernando Mendoza (portal). Cal didn't close the season all that well, either, losing at home to Syracuse, forced to rally late to beat a subpar Stanford in the Big Game, then crushed at SMU in the finale. UNLV not without distractions too as HC Barry Odom has moved to Purdue (interim Del Alexander tonight), with ex-Florida and Mississippi State HC Dan Mullen taking over. But the Rebs have been dynamic with QB Hajj-Malik Williams (nearly 2700 total yards in nine starts), and the UNLV "Go Go" offense has plenty of sharp edges. Play UNLV (LA Bowl at Inglewood)

Barry Odom, the architect of the Rebels' turnaround, is off to Purdue, and offensive coordinator Brennan Marion is reportedly taking a head job as well. But UNLV strangely is the team in this game undergoing less upheaval. Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who will be coveted by Power Four teams, entered the transfer portal just a week before the bowl game. Backup Chandler Rogers is battling an injury, meaning Cal could be down to its third string quarterback. Whoever is under center will also be taking plays from a new playcaller since offensive coordinator Mike Bloesch was fired at the end of the season. I'll take UNLV.

College football having the transfer portal open during bowl season is about the most asinine thing in the history of the sport. So it's hard to know for sure who is and isn't playing in this LA Bowl matchup, but we know 100% that Cal starting QB Fernando Mendoza and the team's leading receiver and two offensive linemen are not. Perhaps its top RB as well. UNLV's QB is playing, but the Rebs lost their head coach and offensive coordinator. Welcome to bowl season, where you don't so much back one team as fade the other.

The Rebels have a new coach coming in next year and Cal has a new quarterback and a new receiver after Fernando Mendoza and Nyziah Hunter entered the transfer portal and will not play in this game. Cal was the favorite, and now UNLV is the favorite. Cal coach Justin Wilcox is still there and has two quarterbacks on his mind to take over the starting role. How they would do in the game against UNLV after 6-6 season is yet to be determined but I'm taking UNLV. I like quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams in his final game that ends his collegiate career. UNLV only lost a running back to the transfer portal that's it. UNLV to cover.

This game serves as a stark example of the transfer portal/coaching carousel challenge for bowls. UNLV coach Barry Odom immediately bolted for Purdue on the heels of a breakout season, and the program's leadership is uncertain. On the other side, Cal lost QB Fernando Mendoza to the portal. But the majority of a defense that allowed 21 or fewer points 5 times is healthy and expected to play. Moreover, a big chunk of Cal's roster is from Southern California, where this bowl is played. For these reasons, we will give the Bears a slight edge.