The LSU Tigers and UCLA Bruins meet Saturday night at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the LSU vs. UCLA odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
It will be the season opener for the Tigers, who were a disappointing 5-5 in last season’s COVID-19-shortened season, failing to fill big holes after the departure of QB Joe Burrow and others following the 2019 national championship season. Sophomore QB Max Johnson takes the full-time reins as starter with senior Myles Brennan waiting in the wings.
UCLA (1-0), which opened with a 44-10 rout of visiting Hawaii last Saturday, has no such quarterback issues as senior QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson is back under center and looking to take another step forward.
He averaged 285.2 total yards per game last season, and had 130 yards and 1 touchdown against Hawaii but didn’t need to do much as tailbacks Zach Charbonnet, a Michigan transfer, and Brittain Brown combined for 184 rushing yards and 4 TD.
The Bruins lost four games in 2020, but all four losses were by six or fewer points.
LSU at UCLA odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 4:10 p.m. ET.
- Money line: LSU -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | UCLA +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Against the spread (ATS): LSU -2.5 (-115) | UCLA +2.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 64.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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LSU at UCLA odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
LSU 38, UCLA 31
Money line
LSU (-140) straight up is a solid bet, and won’t cost you much more than laying the points. Just take the Bayou Bengals to win straight up, and forget about the points.
Johnson is making the start under center, and there is some concern about how he’ll fare on the road in front of fans; however, WR Kayshon Boutte will help him make big plays, and the Tigers have a pair of true freshmen who could step right in to help, too. Watch wideouts Jack Bech and Deion Smith, who are poised for big things from the get-go.
Against the spread
LSU -2.5 (-115) is a decent play laying the points. Take the Tigers on the road in the Rose Bowl, especially as they should help to shut down Dorian-Thompson. CBs Derek Stingley Jr. and Eli Ricks are one of the best combinations in the SEC, and perhaps the nation.
Over/Under
OVER 64.5 (-115) is the lean, although I’d only make a small-unit play on that. LSU has the tools to put up good points, and the defense allowed 34.9 points per game and 7.3 yards per play in 2020.
So, the opportunity is there for the Bruins to do big things on offense and hang in the game, as long as they can navigate the tricky waters with that top-notch cornerback duo trying to shut them down.
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