California Golden Bears vs. UCLA Bruins Betting Odds, College Football Pick

California's resurgent Golden Bears are only 1-3 straight up over their last four meetings with UCLA, but they're also 5-2 against the spread over their last seven clashes with the Bruins. The Pac-12's ursine rivals meet again Thursday night at the Rose Bowl.

Point spread: Bruins opened as 6.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 30.5-24.6 Bruins

Why the California Golden Bears can cover the spread

Cal won its first five games this season before falling 30-24 in a tough game at undefeated Utah two weeks ago. The Bears then had last week off.

Cal trailed the Utes 24-10 late in the first half and pulled to within a field goal late in the third quarter, but could get no closer. The Bears outgained Utah 467-435 on the night, but ultimately couldn't overcome six turnovers, five on Jared Goff interceptions.

Cal is tied for second place in the Pac-12 North at 2-1 in conference play and has outgained every conference foe so far. As long as Goff cuts down on the picks and the defense makes some stops, the Bears have a shot in every game left on their schedule.

Why the UCLA Bruins can cover the spread

UCLA opened this season 4-0 with wins over BYU and Arizona, but has encountered some turbulence since then with back-to-back losses to Arizona State and Stanford. Last Thursday the Bruins fell down early on a Cardinal pick-six and never recovered, eventually losing 56-35.

The injury bug has taken a big bite out of UCLA, especially on defense, where three starters are down and out for the season. But offensively, the Bruins are averaging 463 yards and 35 points per game, led by freshman quarterback Josh Rosen, who has thrown 12 touchdown passes, and running back Paul Perkins, who has scored eight times. So they can score with just about anybody in the conference.

If UCLA can move the chains on an iffy Cal defense, work some clock and minimize the minutes its own defense has to play, it can put a halt to that two-game skid.

Smart pick

UCLA needed a late field goal to beat Cal last year 36-34, but the Bruins aren't quite the same team now that they were then, while the Bears are on the improve. The smart choice here is Cal.

Betting trends

California is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games against UCLA.

California is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games on the road.

UCLA is 0-8 ATS in its last eight games in October.

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.