Arizona Wildcats vs. UCLA Bruins Betting Odds, Analysis, College Football Pick

The UCLA Bruins are 2-0 both straight up and against the spread versus the Arizona Wildcats the last two years. But after beginning this season as the favorite to win the Pac-12 South, UCLA has already lost twice in conference play and can ill afford another defeat. The 6-2 Bruins host the 6-1 Wildcats for homecoming at the Rose Bowl on Saturday night.

Point spread: The Bruins opened as 4.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 39.4-34.7 Bruins

Why the Arizona Wildcats can cover the spread

The Wildcats bounced back from their first loss of the season, that heartbreaker to USC, to win 59-37 at Washington State last week.

Arizona returned a punt for a touchdown two minutes into the game, led 24-0 after one quarter, and cruised to the victory and the cover as a field-goal favorite.

The 'Cats ran for 157 yards, got five touchdown passes from redshirt freshman quarterback Anu Solomon and held the supposedly high-powered Cougars passing attack to just two touchdowns through the first three quarters.

Arizona ranks sixth in the nation in total offense and 13th in scoring at 41 points per game.

Why the UCLA Bruins can cover the spread

The Bruins avoided disaster with a 40-37 overtime victory at Colorado last week.

UCLA jumped out to a 24-7 lead, allowed the Buffaloes to come back and tie the score at 31 late, and then won it on a Brett Hundley scoring run in the second OT. The Bruins racked up 509 yards of offense, 309 on the ground.

UCLA ranks 21st in the nation in total offense and is averaging 214 yards per game rushing.

Two years ago, the Bruins thrashed Arizona 66-10. Last year, they beat the 'Cats 31-26. In those two games combined, UCLA amassed nearly 1,100 yards of offense, 550 on the ground.

Smart Pick

UCLA has been one of the worst teams in college football to bet on this season, going just 1-7 ATS. But a trend like that, involving a team like this, should begin reverting back toward the .500 mark sometime soon. If the Bruins can put on a full four-quarter performance, they should win and cover this contest.

Betting Trends

• Arizona is 2-4 ATS in its last six games.
• UCLA is 1-7 ATS in its last eight games.

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.