The Arizona Wildcats (+7) are making a trip west to take on their conference nemesis UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. ESPN2 will broadcast the action and the game is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.
Arizona Wildcats at UCLA Bruins Betting Preview
Arizona is a live dog and is currently getting 7 points in this Saturday Pac-12 matchup. If they want to play the moneyline, gamblers would currently have to wager $300 in order to win $100 back on the Bruins (-300). The Wildcats are getting +220 moneyline odds. There might be some decent live betting opportunities for this match, and oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 55 points.
The O/U has not changed after it was set initially at 55. Having said that, the opening line was 1 and square bettors have been hammering the Bruins.
The Wildcats are 3-4 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 5.8 units so far in 2018. They’ve been a good under bet and have recorded an O/U mark of 0-6. The Bruins have lost 7.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 3-3 ATS and own 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.
The Wildcats lost to Utah 42-10 in a blowout where their defense allowed the Utes to kill the clock by rushing for 230 yards on 46 attempts, including three rush TDs. Offensively, Rhett Rodriguez completed just 20 passes on 38 attempts for 226 yards and one touchdown. J.J. Taylor (63 rushing yards on 14 attempts) led the running 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 after just earning 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 as Caleb Wilson (five receptions, 92 yards) and Demetric Felton (two catches, 10 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Each of these teams has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Arizona has 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 rush yards per game (including 184 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have 10 scores on the ground this year. The Bruins are averaging 150 rush yards per game (169 in conference) and have nine total rushing TDs.
The Wildcats offensive scheme has logged 244 yards per game in the air overall (193 per game against conference opposition) and has 12 passing TDs so far. The Bruins have put up 186 pass yards per game (183.7 in the Pac-12) and have five total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, Arizona has allowed 202 rush yards and 236 pass yards per game. The UCLA defense has given up 233.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 176.7 yards per game on the ground. 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 is up to 275 passing yards on the year. He’s completed 26-of-45 attempts with one scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. Rodriguez has a 5.98 adjusted net yards per pass attempt.
On the other sideline, Dorian Thompson-Robinson has connected on 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 over his past two outings.
When these two teams met a year ago, Arizona emerged victorious by a final score of 47-30.
RELATED: Week 8 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Tip: Arizona Wildcats vs. UCLA Bruins
SU Winner – Arizona, ATS Winner – Arizona, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The O/U for Arizona’s previous game was set at 54. The under cashed in the team’s 42-10 defeat to Utah.
Arizona has averaged 2.9 yards per carry across its last three outings 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 last two.
The UCLA offense has lost two fumbles this season while Arizona has lost three.
Over its last three matchups, Arizona is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
The O/U for UCLA’s previous match going into it was 53.5. The under cashed in that 37-7 win over California.
In its last three matches, UCLA is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Each team has produced four pass plays of 40 yards or more. The Wildcats have have made 13 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Bruins have created five such plays.
The Arizona defense has allowed seven pass plays of 40 or more 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 yards or more, while the Bruins have given up two such runs.
Each team defense has tallied 11 sacks this season.
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