Vegas Play of the Day: Boise State vs. Houston in Las Vegas

By Taylor Bern

Monday, Dec. 22, 2014 | 11:30 a.m.

Here’s the latest installment of the Play of the Day, which uses odds from the South Point. Our three sports writers started with a $10,000 bankroll — fictional, of course.

Boise State minus-11 vs. Houston at the Orleans Arena: $440 to win $400

The Las Vegas Classic tips off today at the Orleans Arena with games throughout the next two days. The event is divided into two mini-tournaments, and the team I’m most interested to see out of all eight is the Mountain West’s Boise State.

The Broncos have played the last four games without senior Anthony Drmic (back), and it’s uncertain if he’ll play tonight. Drmic hurt his back on a fall on Nov. 19 and played in the next four games, but he clearly wasn’t healthy and during an easy stretch of the Broncos’ schedule, coach Leon Rice was able to get him some rest.

This event isn’t loaded — tomorrow Boise will play either Texas Tech or Loyola — but it is a step up, so we could see Drmic return. Even if he doesn’t, the Broncos should be able to get to Tuesday’s final just fine. Houston is coming off back-to-back home losses to Arkansas Pine Bluff and South Carolina State, which are rated 327th and 322nd, respectively, by kenpom.com.

Standings: Bern (59-51-1, $11,366), Keefer (53-60-2, $7,727), Brewer (52-57-3, $5,555)

Taylor Bern can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.