Charlie Strong and his banged up Texas Longhorns are in need of a pick-me-up victory after getting thoroughly beaten last week by the BYU Cougars. The UCLA Bruins, meanwhile, have a clean 2-0 slate but leaves a lot to be desired. Find out more about this intriguing matchup when you read the game’s preview below.
You can also read our previews of Georgia vs. South Carolina here and Iowa vs. Iowa State here.
[sc:Football ]UCLA Bruins vs. Texas Longhorns Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: AT&T Stadium, Texas
When: Saturday, September 13, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Texas Longhorns (+7.5) at UCLA Bruins (-7.5) – view all NCAA Football lines
Betting on the UCLA Bruins
[sc:NCAA240banner ]For the second straight game, UCLA was given a scare by a massive underdog, as it barely escaped the Memphis Tigers (-22.5) with a 42-35 win on Saturday. Last week, the Bruins staved off the stubborn Virginia Cavaliers, who entered the contest as 18-point dogs and left the field losing only by eight, 28-20.
The two wins the Bruins have collected thus far say little about their future this season. If anything, those victories against the said lowly programs only suggest that the Bruins have a lot in their game, especially in their defense, to iron out before living up to the expectations as the preseason no. 7 team in the FBS.
The Bruins allowed Memphis to gain an alarming total of 429 yards, comprised by 305 passing yards and 164 on the ground. Thankfully for UCLA, they have one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in Brett Hundley to compensate for the lackluster showing of the team’s defense. Hundley threw for 396 yards and three touchdowns against the Tigers. UCLA finished the game with a huge sum of 540 yards and six touchdowns to provide a much-needed cushion as the Tigers staged a furious rally in the fourth period.
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Betting on the Texas Longhorns
With the way the Bruins have played defense last week, the Longhorns should remain positive despite absorbing a soul-crushing 41-7 loss to the BYU Cougars in Week 2. However, staying optimistic is going to be easier said than done for the Longhorns who could still be without quarterback David Ash (concussion) and offensive tackles Desmond Harrison and Kennedy Estelle, who are both suspended indefinitely.
Taking the place of Ash for the meantime is signal-caller Tyrone Swoopes, who visibly had a hard time running the offense against the Cougars. He went 20-for-31 for 176 yards and a touchdown with one interception. That touchdown pass, caught by wide receiver John Harris, made sure that the Longhorns wouldn’t get shutout.
A stripped-down offensive line will be problematic for the Longhorns regardless of who they will be facing next. Left in the O-line are players with only four total career starts prior to the massacre at the hands of BYU. Perhaps, another week of planning and practice can make this makeshift O-line perform way better against the Bruins, who have been underwhelming against teams ranked lower than the Longhorns.
The under is 8-1-1 in the Longhorns’ last 10 games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
This is the breakout game UCLA has been waiting for. The Bruins win straight up and against the spread.
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