Foster Farms Bowl Betting: UCLA vs. Nebraska Odds, Analysis and Pick

UCLA is 2-1 both straight up and against the spread in three bowl games under head coach Jim Mora. Nebraska is just 1-4 straight up and 2-3 against the spread over its previous five bowl appearances. The Bruins and Cornhuskers seek to finish disappointing seasons on positive notes when they meet in the Foster Farms Bowl on Saturday, December 26.

Foster Farms Bowl point spread: The Bruins opened as 6.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (view line updates and matchup report).

College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 36.1-28.6 Bruins

Why the Bruins can cover the spread

UCLA started 4-0 this season and later got to 7-2. Following an upset loss to Washington State, the Bruins then pulled a minor upset of their own, beating Utah in Salt Lake City to set up a showdown with rival USC for the Pac-12 South championship. Unfortunately, UCLA fell victim to a pair of Trojans defensive/special teams scores and lost 40-21 to finish 8-4 overall, 5-4 in Pac-12 play.

The Bruins got outgained and outrushed by USC, but that was only the third time that happened this season. Prior to that UCLA had outgained five of its previous six opponents.

Finally, the Bruins are 2-0 both straight up and against the spread in two matchups with Nebraska under Mora; the most recent was a 41-21 ambush of the Huskers two seasons ago.

Why the Cornhuskers can cover the spread

The record will show Nebraska went just 5-7 in its first season under new head coach Mike Riley, but this team experienced some bad luck. The Huskers lost to BYU on a Hail Mary on the last play of the game, in overtime at Miami, on a touchdown with 10 seconds left against Illinois, on a field goal at the buzzer against Wisconsin and by two points against Northwestern.

Also, while they lost the season finale to Iowa 28-20, the Huskers outgained the Hawkeyes by almost 200 yards. And they're the only team to beat Big Ten champion and College Football Playoff qualifier Michigan State this season.

In fact, Nebraska has outgained each of its last six opponents. It's also 4-3 against the spread over its last seven games and 3-1 against the spread this season when getting points.

Finally, the only time Riley took his Oregon State outfit up against Mora's UCLA team, back in 2012, the Beavers upset the Bruins at the Rose Bowl 27-20.

Smart pick

UCLA deserves to be favored, but the Bruins are a banged-up outfit. Nebraska, meanwhile, is one of the worst hard-luck cases in the country this season but might be due for a dash of good fortune. Take Nebraska, plus the points.

Betting trends

UCLA is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games against the Big Ten.

The total has gone under in five of Nebraska's last seven games in December.

The total has gone under in nine of Nebraska's last 12 bowl games.

The favorite is 8-0 straight and 6-2 against the spread in the last eight Foster Farms Bowls.

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.