UCLA Bruins vs Utah Utes Betting Preview: Utes to Light Up Bruins in Pac-12 After Dark Showdown

UCLA and Utah are two of the teams in the hunt to win the Pac-12 South. Both seem to fluctuate between wanting to do so or not from game to game. There are a number of unpredictable teams in college football this season, but these two are near the top of that list.

Utah returns home off a tough road loss to Oregon State in Corvallis. Losing to the Beavers, who are 5-2 and tied for the Pac-12 North lead, isn’t bad, but giving up a season-high 42 points is.

UCLA is coming off of a loss as well. They were favorites against Oregon at home but couldn’t seal the deal. They have beaten the teams beneath them in the league but have struggled when the competition has been better.

UCLA Bruins (5-3, 3-2 Pac-12) vs Utah Utes (4-3, 3-1 Pac-12), ESPN, 10:00 p.m. ET

UCLA Bruins vs Utah Utes College Football Betting Odds

Moneyline

• UCLA Bruins +198
• Utah Utes -250

Total

• OVER 59.5 (-110)
• UNDER 59.5 (-110)

Spread

• UCLA Bruins +6.5 (-108)
• Utah Utes -6.5 (-112)

UCLA Bruins vs. Utah Utes college football betting odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Friday, October 29, 2021 at 3:05 p.m. ET.

UCLA Bruins vs Utah Utes Best Bet

Utah -6.5

When UCLA wins, they cover. They are 5-3 SU & ATS. Key to this one is the health of quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He left the last game due to injury and is probable and expected to play. UCLA is a strong running team, but to have a chance against Utah they need to have some balance. That is going to be tough if they can’t get much from DTR and the passing game. The UCLA defense is 125th in the country against the pass. They have to find a way to get Utah off the field on defense.

The Utes fell apart in the second half last week at Oregon State. They were winning 24-14 at the half and uncharacteristically fell apart. They couldn’t stop Oregon State’s ground game and had some special teams breakdowns. The offense was solid against the Beavers and is well-balanced. Quarterback Cam Rising is the more effective of the two dual-threat QBs on the field. Utah’s defense is not playing at the level we expect but needs to pick it up to take the Pac-12 title.

With both teams coming off of a loss, it is hard to know what to expect with these teams. The winner gets to stay in the race in the Pac-12 South, especially if it is UCLA. Rice-Eccles Stadium is not an easy place to play, and I like the home team to control this game. Rising can outplay DTR as both defenses are likely to struggle to slow down physical offenses.

UCLA vs Utah College Football Score Prediction

Utah 38, UCLA 27