Oregon Ducks vs UCLA Bruins Predictions, Odds, Picks

• When Oregon has the ball — Balance remains the key
• When UCLA has the ball — Track meet is fine with Kelly
• X-factors to watch

Oregon Ducks vs UCLA Bruins Odds

Odds for this match are taken from DraftKings Sportsbook

Oregon and UCLA both have their goals of a Pac-12 championship firmly within their reach, but each would like to be playing a bit better than they are right now. Oregon comes off a win over Cal — but needed a goal line stand in the final seconds to do so against a 1-5 Golden Bears team. If they run the table, they have a good shot at the playoff thanks to the win over Ohio State, but the Ducks have looked vulnerable and UCLA isn’t some Cinderella story.

We like UCLA to cover the spread and on the money line

Garcia’s 2021 record: (14-9)

Oregon Ducks vs UCLA Bruins Betting Trends to Watch

• Ducks are 6-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record
• Ducks are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss
• Ducks are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games in October
• Ducks are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 conference games
• Ducks are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win
• Ducks are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall
• Under is 4-0 in Ducks last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 5-0 in Ducks last 5 road games
• Under is 7-2 in Ducks last 9 games overall
• Ducks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings in UCLA
• Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last head-to-head 5 meetings
• Under is 4-0-1 in the last 5 head-to-head meetings in UCLA
• Bruins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in October
• Bruins are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall
• Bruins are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 conference games.
• Over is 5-1 in Bruins last 6 vs. a team with a winning record
• Over is 5-1 in Bruins last 6 home games

Oregon Ducks vs UCLA Bruins Predictions

It Starts On the Ground For Oregon

This Oregon team isn’t your father’s Oregon team — or however, that saying goes. This is far from the days of being one of the original spread offenses and just having speed and no strength.

The Ducks can pound you into the ground between the tackles or around them, and that’s where success starts for this team — in the rushing game, even though star running back CJ Verdell is out for the season with a lower leg injury.

In his place, Travis Dye put up his fifth career 100-yard game last week, in what was maybe the best game thus far, tallying 145 yards and a score on 19 rushes. He also served as an effective safety net in the passing game, catching seven passes for 73 yards.

The passing game continues to be a work in progress for quarterback Anthony Brown and the Ducks. There were definitely boos in the first half last week against Cal and that’s likely because the team had generated just 10 points through three quarters of play.

Brown has been inconsistent all season but has still been effective at most times. His numbers look okay — 1,194 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception but a 58.9 percent completion rate is the worst of his five-year (well, really four) career.

That said, he came up big when his team needed him, orchestrating scoring drives of 62- and 70-yards to earn the win.

UCLA Has No Problem Getting In a Shootout

When the Bruins have the ball — lookout. Because they can beat you in the air, beat you on the ground, have a slow and methodical drive or score in the blink of an eye.

UCLA has scored 34 points or more in five of its past six games. That’s not to say things have come easily this season, far from it actually, with a loss to Fresno State early in the year and then a beat down from the hands of Arizona State coming within a few weeks of one another.

But since, the Bruins have responded with two wins, last week’s thanks to Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The senior came up with a critical fourth-down conversion and then a nine-yard touchdown strike in the fourth quarter to earn the 24-17 win — finishing the day 21-of-26 for 183 yards and two scores and adding 87 yards on the ground and another touchdown.

His partner in crime in the rushing attack was Michigan transfer Zach Charbonnet — he ran 21 times for a season-high 131 yards. He’s been one of the best backs in the conference this season, running 109 times for 697 yards (6.4 YPC) and seven scores.

X-factors to Watch

The X-factor for UCLA is the balance of the passing attack. Eight different receivers caught passes on the day and six have more than 100 yards on the season while nobody has more than 375.

Thompson-Robinson’s favorite target is tight end Greg Dulcich. He has 21 catches for 374 yards and three scores — the big man is 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, and can stretch the field, so he is a nightmare to match up with.

For Oregon, someone has to step up as a go-to receiving option. Nobody has more than 200 yards through five games — that’s a problem for a team with championship hopes. In fact outside of the Dye, only one player has more than 10 catches.

That’s Johnny Johnson III — but since his big game in the season opener, he’s had just 125 yards and no scores in four games.

How to Watch Oregon Ducks vs UCLA Bruins