Utes Take Lead in NCAA Football Odds Against UCLA

Posted by Aaron . on November 20, 2015 in

• NCAAF Betting News

Ever since Utah joined the Pac-12 four years ago, they have split their meetings with UCLA, 2-2, going 3-1 against the spread and only missing a field goal from going 4-0. Both the Bruins are coming off difficult losses last week, but they also both have a shot of winning the Pac-12 South, so this week’s game in Salt Lake City is an important one. Utah is as slight favorite to win this game according the latest NCAA Football Odds, listed at -2.5 points.

Can the Bruins do the job? They had won three straight, averaging almost 40 points per game, but they ended up falling at home to lowly Washington State last week, 31-27. The Bruins had grabbed a late lead thanks to a 37-yard scramble by QB Josh Rosen, but Washington State roared back down the field, going 75 yards in under a minute for the final score. UCLA gained 130 more yards than Utah, but they had two drives get inside the Washington State 5, only to settle for field goals.

 

The week before that, UCLA had routed Oregon State, 41-0, but Oregon State is even worse than Washington State. This leaves the Bruins at 4-3 in Pac-12 action, but if they can beat Utah this week and then USC next week, they will have the Pac-12 South title. That motivation could give them what they need to carry the game.

What about Utah? They rolled out to an amazing 6-0 start until they fell at USC. They won a couple more before falling in an overtime contest at Arizona last week, 37-30. The Utes were down early 10-0 and then again 20-10, before storming back to go up 27-20 in the third quarter. However, they allowed the Wildcats to come back and force overtime, and then Arizona scored a touchdown on the opening play of the second extra frame, and Utah could not score. Even so, they own the time of possession battle by a whopping 15 minutes, and outgained Arizona on the ground 224-158. Those are usually numbers that seal victory…but not last week. Utah is 5-2 in the Pac-12, trailing USC by that tiebreaker. However, if Utah can beat UCLA and UCLA can beat USC next week, Utah would appear in that Pac-12 title game. Utah can put the brakes on anyone’s running game – and the team that wins the running game wins the games in these series.

Closing Statement & Betting Prediction: So my money would be on the Utes here. UCLA is 1-4 against the spread in the last five meetings with Utah. Even though the Bruins are 5-0 in their last five November road games, that streak ends this week.