Oregon Ducks vs. UCLA Bruins Betting Odds: Analysis and Prediction

Two Pac-12 teams that are both coming off tough home losses last week as double-digit favorites will try to rebound at the Rose Bowl when the Oregon Ducks visit the UCLA Bruins. The Ducks have won the last five meetings with the Bruins, but the teams have split the past six head-to-head matchups against the spread.

Point Spread: The Ducks opened as three-point favorites at Rose Bowl, but the spread has increased to 3.5 points as of Tuesday morning.

Odds Shark Computer Prediction: Ducks 42.2, Bruins 31.4

Why the Oregon Ducks Can Cover the Spread

Oregon has dominated the series recently, winning the last five meetings by an average of nearly 23 points. The Ducks ran into a very good Arizona team last week that seems to have their number, beating them for the second year in a row as 21.5-point underdogs, 31-24.

UCLA does not have that same mental edge here, and Oregon should be able to take advantage of a Bruins squad that has underachieved most of this season outside of a rout of Arizona State two weeks ago.

This is also a Heisman Trophy showcase game between two players who could be picked early in next year’s NFL draft. Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota performed well in last year’s 42-14 victory against the Bruins while UCLA’s Brett Hundley did not.

Mariota should be extra motivated to outplay Hundley again.

Why the UCLA Bruins Can Cover the Spread

The Bruins had higher expectations going into this year and are a better team regardless of last week’s 30-28 home loss to Utah as 13-point favorites.

Maybe they were caught looking ahead to this game against Oregon, but UCLA still has an opportunity to bounce back in this spot as a home dog and can learn a lot from the Wildcats, who upset the Ducks last week.

Oregon is not invincible and also struggled on the road prior to its bye, needing a late touchdown to fend off Washington State in a 38-31 victory as a 21.5-point favorite.

Now that the Bruins have seen the Ducks have weaknesses like almost every other team, they should not be intimidated anymore.

Smart Pick

Oregon has failed to cover its last three road games and started showing signs of concern in the Pac-12 opener at Washington State. The Ducks are not the dominant team many thought they were heading into the season, and they have been exposed in their last two games.

Even though UCLA has covered the spread in just one game this season, the Bruins were playing on national TV when they routed Arizona State 62-27 and may have just fallen flat knowing Oregon was coming to town next after Utah.

Whatever the case may be, the Bruins have no excuses not to play their best game of the season against the Ducks and get revenge for losing the last five meetings.

Trends

• Oregon is 13-2 straight up in its last 15 games on the road.
• UCLA is 2-4 ATS in its last six games at home.

All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark, all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds tracker app.