Saturday Night College Football: Oregon vs UCLA Prediction, Pick & Odds

• We’ve made our Oregon vs UCLA prediction for Saturday night CFB
• The Ducks are favored big on the road in the Rose Bowl
• Read below for Oregon vs UCLA odds, prediction and best bets

The No. 8 Oregon Ducks (3-0) make their Big Ten debut on Saturday night against the UCLA Bruins (1-2) at the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Kickoff’s set for 11:00 PM EDT on FOX.

Oregon enters as a heavy 24-point favorite with the over/under at 54, according to BetMGM.

Let’s dive deeper into this Saturday night CFB matchup and offer our Oregon vs UCLA prediction.

Oregon vs UCLA Odds

Over/Under: 54 (-112/-108)

The Ducks are big favorites here, with their -2400 moneyline odds giving them a whopping 96% implied probability of winning. UCLA’s +1200 moneyline means they’ve got just a 7.7% shot at pulling off the upset.

The 24.5-point spread suggests Oregon should win by at least four touchdowns. These lopsided odds are no surprise considering Oregon’s hot start and UCLA’s struggles against Power Five teams.

Ducks Betting Analysis

Oregon’s offense is a well-oiled machine, averaging nearly 10 yards per play. Senior QB Dillon Gabriel is completing an incredible 84% of his passes and has thrown for 914 yards and 6 TDs with no picks.

He’s got a bevy of talented pass-catchers, like WRs Tez Johnson, Evan Stewart, and Traeshon Holden. Junior RB Jordan James is also doing work, churning out close to 100 yards per game behind a resurgent O-line.

Dillon Gabriel and Oregon come up BIG in the Civil War 🦆⚔️ pic.twitter.com/W056ISMxgB

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 14, 2024

The Ducks’ defense is no joke either, ranking 25th nationally in Pass Success Rate allowed. They’ve held two opponents under 110 passing yards, which is pretty impressive. While they’ve had some trouble stopping elite rushing attacks, UCLA’s weak ground game (2.6 yards YPC) is unlikely to exploit that weakness.

If Oregon can keep rolling offensively and take advantage of UCLA’s shaky secondary, they should be able to cover the massive spread.

Bruins Betting Analysis

UCLA’s transition to the Big Ten has been rocky, to say the least. They’ve suffered double-digit losses to Indiana and LSU, although the Bruins did manage to cover the 20-plus point spread against the Tigers last weekend.

Most notably, UCLA’s once-vaunted rushing attack now ranks a dismal 131st in Rush Success Rate.

Senior QB Ethan Garbers has been a turnover machine, tossing more picks than TDs and seeing his PFF grade plummet from 77.7 last year to 50 this season. To make matters worse, Garbers is a mess when blitzed, posting a PFF grade of 30 under pressure.

The Bruins’ defense, particularly against the pass, is super leaky. They rank 121st in Pass Success Rate and surrendered over 400 yards through the air to both the Hoosiers and Tigers. They also struggle mightily in the red zone, ranking 121st in points allowed per scoring opportunity.

For UCLA to shock the CFB world like Kentucky did today, they need to play a near-flawless game, establish the run, and hope Garbers doesn’t hand the ball to the Ducks on a silver platter.

Oregon vs UCLA Prediction

While the Ducks should win comfortably, I don’t love the number at 24.5. It’s crossed that key number of 24, and the Bruins are capable of putting up some points in this spot.

My favorite bet is for Oregon to cover the 1st Half Spread of -13.5 at DraftKings. The Bruins have only covered the 1st Half Spread in 3 of their last 12 games, which is downright awful.

I expect the Ducks to race out to an early lead behind Gabriel’s pinpoint passing and James’ tough running. They might ease up in the second half, so take advantage of the first-half number sitting below two scores.

Oregon’s significant talent advantage (14th vs. 94th) in this game, and I think they set the tone early building off their convincing win vs Oregon State last weekend.

• Pick: Oregon -13.5 1H (-110)

Saturday night college football is set to feature an exciting matchup between the Oregon Ducks and the UCLA Bruins. Both teams are coming off strong performances in their previous games and will be looking to continue their winning ways.

The Oregon Ducks are currently ranked 11th in the nation and have a record of 4-1. They are led by star quarterback Anthony Brown, who has been impressive so far this season with his passing and running abilities. The Ducks also have a strong defense that has been able to shut down opposing offenses.

On the other side, the UCLA Bruins are ranked 13th in the nation and have a record of 4-2. They are led by quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who has been a dual-threat on offense. The Bruins also have a solid defense that has been able to create turnovers and put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

In terms of odds, the Oregon Ducks are currently favored to win this matchup. They have an explosive offense that can put up points in a hurry, and their defense has been able to make key stops when needed. The Bruins will need to play a near-perfect game in order to pull off the upset.

Prediction: Oregon Ducks win

Pick: Oregon Ducks -3.5

Odds: Oregon -150, UCLA +130

Overall, this game is shaping up to be a highly competitive and entertaining matchup between two top-ranked teams. Fans can expect a back-and-forth battle with plenty of scoring opportunities for both sides. It should be a game that college football fans won’t want to miss.