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UCLA Bruins (3-0) vs. Utah Utes (3-0)
Week 4 of the 2023 college football season is upon us, and we are breaking down the Pac-12 Conference showdown from Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City to get you the best UCLA vs. Utah betting pick and odds.
The Utes opened as 8-point favorites with a total of 54.5 points. At the time of writing, Utah was a 4.5-point fave, and the totals sat at 51.5 points. The Utes have gone 5-1 SU and ATS in their previous six encounters with the Bruins, but UCLA emerged victorious in 2022, outlasting Utah 42-32 as a 3-point home dog.
UCLA eyes its third straight ATS win
The UCLA Bruins enter Week 4 as the No. 22 in the AP Top 25 Poll. Last Saturday, the Bruins trounced the North Carolina Central Eagles 59-7 as 35.5-point home favorites and improved to 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS on the season. UCLA outgained the Eagles 614-232 in total yards while posting a whopping 404 rushing yards on 39 carries.
Freshman signal-caller Dante Moore went 8-for-12 in Week 3, throwing for 182 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Junior QB Collin Schlee was only 1-of-4 for 15 yards and an interception, but he also scored a couple of touchdowns on his own, while junior running back Anthony Adkins had ten totes for 96 yards and a touchdown.
“First off, you watch the tape, and what can we correct from a technique and fundamental standpoint? The one thing I was impressed with, with our team, was just their approach,” UCLA head coach Chip Kelly said. “They had a great week of training and a great week of practice. We have continued to train better each week. We were better in San Diego State than against Coastal [Carolina]. And our numbers told us that, and our numbers were better this week than during the San Diego State week.”
Through the first two weeks of the 2023 season, the Bruins have beaten Coastal Carolina 27-13 as 15.5-point home favorites and San Diego State 35-10 as 13-point road favorites. Now, they rank third in the country in rushing yards (270.3 per game) while leading the nation in yards per carry (7.4). On the other side of the ball, the Bruins are yielding just 69.7 rushing yards per contest (tied-12th in the nation). Keep your eyes on Laiatu Latu, who’s already accounted for four sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss in his senior year.
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Utah aims for its 17th straight home W
The Utah Utes are No. 11 in the AP Top 25 Poll. The reigning Pac-12 Conference champions had an easy task in Week 2 but failed to cover a 27.5-point spread in a 31-7 home victory over the Weber State Wildcats. Both teams were scoreless in the fourth quarter, and the Wildcats finished the game with a paltry five 1st downs. Utah outgained Weber State 424-127 in total yards while tallying 231 rushing yards on 52 carries.
With Cameron Rising still recovering from a torn ACL, freshman Nate Johnson drew his first career start last Saturday. Johnson went 13-of-21 for 193 yards and a touchdown while carrying the pigskin 16 times for 71 yards and a TD. Sophomore running back Ja’Quinden Jackson had nine carries for 69 yards, while junior wideout Munir McClain posted three catches for 92 yards.
"Thought we did a lot of good things today, I wouldn't call it a dominant performance or our best football, but we did a lot of good things on offense,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. “Defensively I thought we played exceptionally well; 127-yards is all, that's got to be one of the lowest totals in recent memory.”
The Utes defeated Florida 24-11 in Week 1, covering a 5.5-point spread in front of the home audience. We saw a push in Week 2, as Utah outlasted Baylor 20-13 as a 7-point road fave in what was a dramatic contest. The Utes are now 11th in the country in rushing yards allowed (65.0 per game) and 61st in passing yards allowed (205.7).
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Cameron Rising’s status is still up in the air, but I’m expecting the Utes to give Nate Johnson another starting call. Their offense worked well in Week 3, although the clash against Weber State is not exactly a proper benchmark. The Utes will continue to lean on their defense which is arguably one of the best in the country. On the other side, the Bruins are playing a tough defense, too, so I’m expecting to see a tight battle at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
UCLA is 9-0 SU in its last nine games played in September, while Utah is undefeated in 16 consecutive outings at home. Something’s got to give in this clash, and I’m going with the Bruins to keep it close. This should be a nice opportunity for UCLA to put an end to Utah’s home streak.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
With a couple of freshmen under center, both teams will rush a lot. I’m expecting them to struggle against each other and would be surprised if the Bruins and Utes find a way to move the chains frequently.
Hereof, I’m going with the under even though the line has moved from 54.5 to 51.5 points. The total has gone under in seven of Utah’s last ten games overall and four of its previous five home contests. On the other hand, the over is 6-1 in UCLA’s last seven showings on the road.