The Stanford Cardinal (3-2) head to Pasadena, Calif. for a Pac-12 clash with the UCLA Bruins (3-3) at the Rose Bowl Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Stanford-UCLA college football betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Stanford at UCLA: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:22 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Stanford +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | UCLA -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Stanford +6.5 (-105) | UCLA -6.5 (-115)
- Over/Under: 59.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Stanford at UCLA: Three things to know
- Stanford recovered from an 0-2 start to win three consecutive games, including last week’s 27-24 win at Oregon State. The difference has been the Cardinal’s defense, which allowed 35 points in each of their first two games but hasn’t given up more than 26 in any of the last three.
- UCLA lost a heartbreaker in its annual rivalry game against USC last week. The Bruins coughed up a 12-point fourth-quarter lead, regained the lead after a go-ahead field goal in the final minute but allowed a USC game-winning touchdown pass with 16 seconds left in the 42-38 home loss.
- UCLA’s 34-16 win as a 4-point home dog in last year’s game against Stanford snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Cardinal that started in 2009. The Bruins defense smothered Stanford, holding them to just 11 first downs and fewer than 200 total yards.
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Stanford at UCLA: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
UCLA 34, Stanford 31
Money line (ML)
The spread is what I am betting in this game but if anything I’d sprinkle a tiny wager on Stanford (+200) because of a long-term strategy to bet an underdog’s money line with whom I plan on taking with the points.
Officially, I’ll PASS.
Against the spread (ATS)
There’s too much discrepancy in ball security between both sides for me to lay nearly a touchdown in a conference game. UCLA has 10 more giveaways than Stanford (12-2) and the Cardinal defense has gotten two takeaways per game in their last three.
Also, Stanford will better control the tempo of this game, which is the most important aspect of any sporting event. Stanford is 21st in net time of possession while the Bruins are just 95th.
Plus, UCLA has a bad 3rd down and red zone defense whereas Stanford is above-average in those situations. The Cardinal offense has moved the ball better in their previous two games coming into this one so I like them to keep this close.
BET STANFORD +6.5 (-105) for 1 unit.
Over/Under (O/U)
Stanford’s rush defense is near the bottom of the country while UCLA is 16th in rushing yards per game. While UCLA’s defense has nice metrics, the Bruins have given up 35 and 43 to the only winning teams they’ve faced this season (USC and Oregon). Additionally, the Over has cashed in four of Stanford’s last five games as an underdog.
BET OVER 59.5 (-105) for 1 unit.
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