UCLA vs Utah NCAA Football Odds
Entering Week 6, the Utah Utes have a historical advantage against the UCLA Bruins. Out of the last five matchups between these two programs, Utah is 4-1. The problem for the Utes is that the one last came in 2012, and the Bruins are the No. 12 team in the country this time around.
UCLA (3-0, 0-0) @ Utah (3-1, 0-1)
Thursday, Oct. 3 10:00 PM ET @ Rice-Eccles Stadium
Moneyline: UCLA -180, Utah +160
Spread: UCLA -4
O/U: N/A
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UCLA
The Bruins have the luxury of entering this battle rested. The team was off last week because of a bye, which means it hasn’t played since its 59-13 trouncing of the New Mexico State Aggies.
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In this one, the defense will have its work cut out for it. The Utes are averaging 42 points per contest, which is 20th in the country, and their balanced attack has them ranked 30th in passing and 31st in rushing at this juncture.
Luckily for the Bruins, their defense has been excellent thus far. They’ve held opponents to 18 points per contest, which is good enough for 29th in the nation. But while a good defensive effort will be crucial in this one, you can’t talk about UCLA without mentioning the high-powered offensive attack.
Utah will have a tough time containing quarterback Brett Hundley, and that’s exactly how UCLA wants it. The Bruins are 12th in passing, 13th in rushing and as a result, they score 52.7 points per outing. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Utah
Home-field advantage will certainly help in this situation. UCLA is the toughest team so far on the Utes’ schedule, and a win would do wonders for momentum, as No. 5 Stanford is set to visit Saturday, Oct. 12.
But as much as the home crowd will benefit this team, the story has to be stopping the UCLA offense. If the Utes can do just that, we’re looking at a good game the entire way through. If they can’t, we’re looking at a contest that could get away from them late.
Specifically, the idea here has to be making Hundley uncomfortable and forcing him into mistakes. Quarterback Travis Wilson may not be quite as accomplished, but he has a chance to outplay his counterpart if his defense can help him out along the way.
Utah has the benefit coming into this one of having played and won close games. UCLA hasn’t had that experience yet, meaning a late-game shootout could be a new experience. That said, the Bruins have faced much tougher competition, which should adequately prepare them for the Utes on the road.
Don’t be surprised if the Utes keep this one close with home-field advantage and a solid offense. However, UCLA’s attack is too potent, which should worry anyone hoping for a Utah victory on Thursday.
Score Prediction: UCLA 34 – Utah 23
