The California Golden Bears (+3) aren’t traveling far to battle the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Kickoff is pretty late for bettors on the East Coast (10:30 p.m. ET) and fans can catch it live by tuning in to FS1.
Betting Preview: California Golden Bears at UCLA Bruins
In this Saturday Pac-12 game, UCLA has been projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 3 points. The Golden Bears are also receiving +120 moneyline odds while the Bruins are -140. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 52 points, and if one team catches a lucky break early, it’ll probably create a worthy live betting opportunity.
Odds have moved from when they were originally posted. The line opened at -2, while the game’s total has not moved after being set initially at 52.
Each of these teams has rewarded gamblers this season as the Golden Bears have gained 3.6 units while the Bruins are up 4.2 units.
The Golden Bears are 6-5 straight up (SU), including 3-5 SU against conference opponents. The Bruins are 4-7 SU overall and 4-4 SU in conference play.
When these two schools faced each other last year, UCLA won easily 37-7.
The Golden Bears are coming off a 24-20 victory over Stanford last week. Chase Garbers completed 20-of-30 passes for 285 yards and one touchdown. Christopher Brown Jr. (55 yards on 18 rush attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Garbers (72 yards on 13 carries, one TD) led the ground attack. Nikko Remigio (nine receptions, 157 yards, one TD) and Trevon Clark (three catches, 46 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
UCLA just lost a 52-35 game to USC. The defense allowed the Trojans to pass for 515 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 128 yards and three scores. Drake London had a good outing for USC, posting 142 yards on eight catches. As a group, the Bruins collectively completed 30-of-49 passes for 383 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Dorian Thompson-Robinson went 26-for-44 for 367 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while Austin Burton was four-of-five for 16 yards. Thompson-Robinson (64 yards on 16 rush attempts, one TD) and Joshua Kelley (45 yards on 15 carries, one TD) mounted the running game while Kyle Philips (12 receptions, 123 yards) and Demetric Felton (six catches, 50 yards, one TD) led the UCLA pass-catchers in the loss.
California’s run the ball on 56.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while UCLA has a rush percentage of 54.6 percent. The Golden Bears have rushed for 127.7 yards/game (including 120.4 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have 12 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Bruins are putting up 158.5 rushing yards per game (188.8 in conference) and have 17 total rush TDs.
The Golden Bears offense has logged 187.2 yards/game through the air overall (164.9 per game versus conference opposition) and has 14 passing scores so far. The Bruins have recorded 247.5 pass yards per contest (271 against Pac-12 competition) and have 21 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, California should have the upper hand in both phases. The team has allowed 128.8 rush yards and 254.6 pass yards per game. The UCLA D has allowed 318.1 yards per game to opposing passers and 142.2 yards per game to opposing runners. The Golden Bears are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.21 to opposing QBs, while the Bruins have allowed a staggering 9.38 ANY/A.
Offensively, Garbers has amassed 1,237 passing yards this season, and has connected on 88-of-145 attempts with nine scores through the air and only two interceptions. He has a 7.50 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.98 over the last two games.
On the other sideline, Dorian Thompson-Robinson has completed 173-of-287 passes for 2,204 yards, 20 TDs and nine INTs. Thompson-Robinson’s ANY/A sits at 6.46 for the season and 4.82 over his past two outings.
California Golden Bears vs. UCLA Bruins Free Prediction
SU Winner: UCLA, ATS Winner: UCLA, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The California defensive unit has 28 sacks on the year while UCLA has 27.
- The UCLA offense has lost 10 fumbles this season while the California offense has let four get away.
- The Golden Bears offense has recorded six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Bruins have put up five such plays.
- The California defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while UCLA has given up 13 such plays.
- The California offense has created 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while UCLA has created 14 such runs.
- The Golden Bears defense has allowed nine rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Bruins have given up 12 such runs.
- The O/U for UCLA’s previous matchup going into it was 66.5. The over cashed in the 52-35 defeat to USC.
- Over its last three matchups, UCLA is 1-2 ATS.
- Over its last three matchups, California is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The O/U for California’s previous game was set at 43. The over cashed in the team’s 24-20 triumph over Stanford.
- California, as a team, has rushed for 4.6 yards per attempt across its last three outings and 4.2 over its last two.
- UCLA has averaged 3.3 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 2.7 over its last two.
