COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Utah vs. UCLA (10/8 @ 3:30 PM EST.)
Line: Utah (-3.5)
Total: 64.5
Utah vs UCLA Breakdown and Betting Odds
Two ranked PAC-12 teams are set to collide this Saturday at Rose Bowl Stadium. The No. 18 UCLA Bruins (5-0) and the No. 11 Utah Utes (4-1) are set to kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Utes are 3.5 point favorites over the Bruins and the over/under is set at 64.5.
The past matchups between these two teams have been all Utah, with the Utes picking up a win in each of their last four meetings. These have all been dominating victories too, as the Utes have won by at least two scores in all of these matchups.
Utah Utes Overview
Utah is coming off a decisive 42-16 victory against Oregon State, in a sweat-free -10.5 point cover. Quarterback Cameron Rising threw for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns, while rushing for 73 yards and a touchdown of his own. Receiver Devaughn Vele had 7 receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown. Utah’s offense is looking stellar this year, having already scored 210 points in five games which is good enough for second in their conference. This offensive production is impressive considering the loss of their tight end Brant Kuithe, who went down with a season ending ACL tear in week four against Arizona State.
The Utes defense did their job, allowing only 16 points to an Oregon State team that is averaging 33.4 points per game on the season. Cornerback Clark Phillips III snagged an impressive 3 interceptions and safety R.J. Hubert was also able to grab one of his own.
Last week’s game was the fourth straight in a series of commanding wins for Utah. These come after a heartbreaking 26-29 loss to the Florida Gators in week one. Despite this, Utah has kept it rolling, covering their last four spreads, and winning each of these games by at least three scores.
UCLA Bruins Overview
UCLA heads into this week after a 40-32 upset win over the Washington Huskies, covering the +2.5 point spread. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for 315 yards and 3 touchdowns, while also rushing for 53 yards and a rushing touchdown. Receiver Jake Bobo had a breakout game with 6 receptions for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns, while running back Zach Charbonnet rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown of his own.
Despite their undefeated record, UCLA’s defense has left much to desire, giving up 2+ touchdowns in four out of their five games this season. A big reason for their success this season has been their offense, which is averaging 41 points and 506 yards of offense per game. However, they have yet to go up against a team at the caliber of Utah, so this Saturday should be a tough matchup for this Bruins team.
TakingVegas.com 1* Free Pick: Utes (-3.5)
We like the Utes -3.5 in this game. Utah is simply the better team on both ends of the ball. While the Bruins have the offensive talent to hang with the potent offense of Utah, and they’re defense is definitely an improvement over last year’s, we don’t think it will be enough to keep it close enough to cover.
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