The Arizona Wildcats (+7) are flying west to take on the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. ESPN2 will televise the action and kickoff for this Pac-12 matchup is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: UCLA Bruins vs. Arizona Wildcats
Arizona is getting picked as the underdog and is currently getting 7 points in this Pac-12 matchup. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline gamblers would currently need to lay down $300 to win $100 back on the Bruins (-300). The Wildcats are getting +220 moneyline odds. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 55 points, and if one side can create a bunch of points early, it’ll probably create a worthwhile live betting opportunity.
The game’s over/under has not moved after being set initially at 55. Having said that, the line opened at 1 and square bettors are hammering the Bruins.
The Wildcats are 3-4 against the spread (ATS) and are down 5.8 units so far. They’ve been a good under bet and have recorded an O/U mark of 0-6.
The Bruins have lost 7.2 units this season. The team is 3-3 ATS and has an O/U record of 2-4.
The Wildcats are 3-4 straight up (SU), including 2-2 SU against Pac-12 opponents. The Bruins are 1-5 SU overall and are also 1-2 SU in conference play.
When these two teams met last year, Arizona emerged victorious by a final score of 47-30.
The Wildcats lost to Utah 42-10 in a thumping where their defense allowed the Utes to eat up the clock by running for 230 yards on 46 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. On the offensive side of the ball, Rhett Rodriguez completed just 20-of-38 passes for 226 yards and one touchdown. J.J. Taylor (63 rushing yards on 14 attempts) led the ground attack while Shun Brown (eight receptions, 43 yards) and Cedric Peterson (four catches, 63 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
UCLA enters this one following a 37-7 win over California. Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed 13-of-15 passes for 141 yards. Joshua Kelley (157 rushing yards on 30 attempts, three TDs) led the running game while Caleb Wilson (five receptions, 92 yards) and Demetric Felton (two catches, 10 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Looking at offensive play-calling, each of these teams has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Arizona’s run the ball on 54.9 percent of its offensive possessions while UCLA has a rush percentage of 55.9. The Wildcats have produced 183.3 rush yards per game (including 184.0 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have 10 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Bruins are logging 150.0 rush yards per game (169.3 in conference) and have nine total rushing TDs.
The Wildcats offensive scheme has averaged 243.9 yards in the air overall (192.8 per game against conference opposition) and has 12 passing TDs so far. The Bruins have put up 186.3 pass yards per contest (184 against Pac-12 competition) and have five total pass scores.
Defensively, Arizona has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 202.0 yards and pass for 235.9 yards per game. The UCLA D has given up 233.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 176.7 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Wildcats have given up an ANY/A of 6.68 to opposing QBs, while the Bruins are allowing an ANY/A of 6.34.
Offensively, Rodriguez has amassed 275 passing yards on the year. He’s connected on 58 percent of his 45 attempts with one passing scores and has yet to throw an interception. He’s got a 5.98 adjusted net yards per pass attempt.
On the other sideline, Dorian Thompson-Robinson has completed 71-of-125 passes for 801 yards, three TDs and two INTs. Thompson-Robinson’s ANY/A stands at 4.76 for the year and 7.11 across his last two games.
Arizona Wildcats at UCLA Bruins Free Pick
SU Winner: UCLA, ATS Winner: UCLA, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- The O/U for Arizona’s last game was set at 54. The under cashed in the team’s 42-10 defeat to Utah.
- Arizona, as a team, has averaged 2.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.0 over its last two.
- UCLA has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 4.4 over its past two.
- The UCLA offense has lost two fumbles this season while Arizona has lost three.
- In its last three games, Arizona is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- The O/U for UCLA’s last game was set at 53.5. The under cashed in the 37-7 win over California.
- In its last three matches, UCLA is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Wildcats have made 13 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Bruins have accounted for five such plays.
- The Arizona defense has allowed seven pass plays of 40+ yards, while UCLA has given up six such plays.
- The Arizona offense has created 12 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while UCLA has created six such runs.
- The Wildcats defense has allowed 14 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Bruins have given up two such runs.
- Each team defense has recorded 11 sacks this year.
