The UCLA Bruins (+14) aren’t traveling far to face their in-conference counterpart USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Kickoff for this game is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and ABC is scheduled to televise the action.
Betting Preview: UCLA Bruins at USC Trojans
UCLA is a live dog in this one and is currently getting 14 points. The Bruins are also receiving +500 moneyline odds while the Trojans are -735. There will likely be multiple good live betting opportunities during the game, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 62.5 points.
The general public leaning toward the Trojans. This line initially opened at -13 while the over/under was originally 62.
Each of these teams has been profitable this year as the Bruins have gained 5.2 units and the Trojans are up 2.4 units.
The Bruins have gone just 4-6 straight up (SU), including 4-3 SU against conference opponents. The Trojans are 7-4 SU overall and are also 6-2 SU in conference play.
The Bruins came up short to Utah 49-3 in a blowout where the defense allowed the Utes to pass for 335 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 201 yards and four scores. Zack Moss was unstoppable for the Utes in that one with 127 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 17 attempts, along with 73 yards on four catches. On the offensive side, Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed just 20-of-36 passes for 219 yards and two interceptions. Joshua Kelley (78 yards on 19 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Thompson-Robinson (-26 yards on 10 carries) led the ground attack. Kyle Philips (seven receptions, 86 yards) and Devin Asiasi (five catches, 72 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
USC just put together a 41-17 win over California. The defense allowed the Golden Bears to rush for 135 yards on 29 attempts, including two rush TDs. DeShawn Collins had a good showing in the loss for California, recording 103 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 15 attempts. For USC, Kedon Slovis completed 29-of-35 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns. Stephen Carr (19 rushing yards on nine attempts, one TD) handled the running game while Michael Pittman Jr. (11 receptions, 180 yards, one TD) and Drake London (six catches, 111 yards, one TD) led the receiving attack in the win.
UCLA has run the ball on 55.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while USC has a rush percentage of 44.9 percent. The Bruins have produced 158.7 rush yards per game (including 193.3 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have 15 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Trojans are logging 126.1 rush yards per game (108.8 in conference) and have 14 total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Trojans could hold an edge when it comes to quarterback protection, since their offensive line has given up just 21 sacks while the D-line has logged 30 sacks. The Bruins offensive line has allowed 28 sacks and their defense has got to opposing signal-callerss on just 24 occasions.
The Bruins offense has averaged 234 yards in the air overall (254.9 per game against conference opposition) and has 18 passing scores so far. The Trojans have recorded 319.6 pass yards per game (339 against Pac-12 foes) and have 29 total pass TDs.
UCLA has allowed opponents to run for an average of 143.6 yards and pass for 298.4 yards per game. The USC defense has given up 236.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 167.1 yards per game on the ground. The Trojans are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.94 to opponents, while the Bruins have allowed a whopping 9.09 ANY/A.
Offensively, Thompson-Robinson is up to 1,830 passing yards this season. He’s completed 58 percent of his 251 attempts with 15 scores through the air and nine interceptions. He’s got a 5.54 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 3.83 over the past two games.
Look for a balanced approach offensively from UCLA in this one. Joshua Kelley, Devin Asiasi and Kyle Philips have combined to account for 442 total yards and three touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
Kedon Slovis has completed 194-of-276 passes for 2,295 yards, 20 TDs and eight INTs for USC. His ANY/A stands at 7.60 for the year and 11.87 across his last two games.
Michael Pittman Jr. (972 receiving yards, nine receiving touchdowns this season), Amon-Ra St. Brown (578 receiving yards, five receiving TDs) and Kenan Christon (302 rush yards, two rush TDs, 17 receiving yards, one receiving TD) have combined for 791 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns over the last couple of games.
These two teams met last year with the final outcome being a 34-27 win for UCLA.
UCLA Bruins at USC Trojans Free NCAA Betting Tip
SU Winner: USC, ATS Winner: USC, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The USC offense has lost eight fumbles this season while UCLA has let 10 get away.
- The USC defense has sacked opposing QBs 30 times this season. UCLA has produced just 24 sacks.
- As a team, UCLA has rushed for 3.3 yards per attempt across its last three outings and 3.0 over its last two.
- USC has averaged 2.7 yards per carry over its last three games and 2.3 over its last two.
- Over its last three matchups, USC is 1-1-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The O/U for UCLA’s last game was set at 52. The O/U pushed in the team’s 49-3 defeat to Utah.
- Over its last three matchups, UCLA is 2-1 ATS.
- The O/U for USC’s last matchup was 48. The over cashed in the 41-17 win over California.
- USC has won five of its last six games SU, with a -32-point defeat to Oregon on November 2nd representing the only loss over that stretch.
