The UCLA Bruins (+21) are traveling east to face their in-conference counterpart No. 8 Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The game is scheduled to get underway at 8:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to FOX.
Betting Preview: UCLA Bruins vs. Utah Utes
UCLA is the noticeable underdog here and is currently receiving three touchdowns by oddsmakers. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 53.5 points. There will likely be some good live betting opportunities for this match.
The opening line was -21 while the over/under has not changed after it was set initially at 53.5.
Each of these teams has rewarded gamblers this season as the Bruins have gained 5.2 units and the Utes are ahead 3.3 units.
The Bruins are 4-5 straight up (SU), including 4-2 SU against Pac-12 opponents. The Utes are 8-1 SU overall and are also 5-1 SU in conference play.
The Bruins hope to keep things rolling following a 31-14 win over Colorado on November 2. Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed 21-of-28 passes for 226 yards, two scores and one interception. Joshua Kelley (126 yards on 23 rush attempts, two TDs) and the signal-caller Thompson-Robinson (38 yards on 11 carries) led the running attack in the win. Devin Asiasi (four receptions, 45 yards, one TD) and Kazmeir Allen (four catches, 29 yards) handled the receiving duties.
The Utah Utes are coming off of a 33-28 win over Washington. The defensive secondary allowed the Huskies to air it out for 316 yards and four touchdowns. Hunter Bryant was a bright spot in the defeat for Washington, recording 105 yards and two touchdowns on six catches. For Utah, Tyler Huntley completed 19-of-24 passes for 284 yards and one touchdown. Zack Moss (100 rushing yards on 27 attempts, one TD) mounted the ground attack in the win as Moss (five receptions, 41 yards, one TD) and Demari Simpkins (four catches, 31 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
UCLA has run the ball on 56.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Utah has a rush percentage of 65.1 percent. The Bruins have produced 170.8 rush yards/game (including 217.2 per game versus Pac-12 opponents) and have 15 scores via handoffs this year. The Utes are averaging 207.8 rush yards per game (198.7 in conference) and have 23 total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Utes could hold an edge in terms of efficiency in the ground game. Their running backs has generated 4.8 yards per carry while the defense has allowed a YPC of 2.4 to opponents. The Bruins have ran for 4.1 yards per carry while allowing 4.0 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Bruins offensive scheme has averaged 235.7 yards in the air overall (260.8 per game versus conference opposition) and has 18 passing TDs so far. The Utes have recorded 238.7 pass yards per game (251 in the Pac-12) and have 12 total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, UCLA has allowed 137.2 rush yards and 294.3 pass yards per game. The Utah defense has allowed 190.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 56.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Utes are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.05 to opposing QBs, while the Bruins have given up a staggering 8.62 ANY/A.
Huntley likely has the advantage over Thompson-Robinson in this matchup. The Utes man under center has an adjusted net yards per pass attempt 10.80 for the season and 12.00 over his past two games while Thompson-Robinson’s ANY/A is 6.15 and 7.02 over the past two games.
These two teams met a year ago with the final outcome being a 41-10 victory for Utah.
UCLA Bruins vs. Utah Utes Free Pick
SU Winner: Utah, ATS Winner: UCLA, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The UCLA defensive unit has 21 sacks on the year while Utah has 18.
- Utah has lost eight fumbles this season while the UCLA offense has lost seven.
- The Bruins offense has created four pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Utes have put up 10 such plays.
- The UCLA defense has allowed eight pass plays of 40+ yards, while Utah has given up four such plays.
- The UCLA offense has created 12 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Utah has created 11 such runs.
- The Bruins defense has allowed nine rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Utes have given up two such runs.
- The O/U for Utah’s last game was set at 49. The over cashed in the team’s 33-28 triumph over Washington.
- In its last three matches, Utah is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three matches, UCLA is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for UCLA’s last game was set at 63.5. The under cashed in the team’s 31-14 triumph over Colorado.
- UCLA, as a team, has averaged 4.7 yards per carry over its past three outings and 4.0 over its last two.
- Utah has averaged 3.6 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.7 over its past two.
