The Beavers upset the Badgers last week.Are they the Cinderella team of the Pac 12? Can they pull two upsets in a row by vanquishing the UCLA Bruins? Let's look at the facts that these two teams have given us over the first three weeks.
NCAA Football
Betting: Oregon State vs UCLA Pick ATS
The Oregon State Beavers grew in the estimation of
college football fans when they defeated the Wisconsin Badgers in Corvallis.
However, the fact that Wisconsin was fortunate to beat Utah State by two points
on last weekend (16-14, when Utah State missed a 37-yard field goal on the
final play of regulation) has created the idea that Oregon State won because of
Wisconsin's ineptitude – not because of the Beavers' excellence.
Oregon State will get a chance to show the Pac 12
Conference that its win over Wisconsin was not just a product of its opponent's
inferiority. If the Beavers can win at UCLA, they will gain a considerable
degree of fresh respect from the rest of their league and the college football
world at large.
The Bruins are a 10-point favorite on the betting lines
as they prepare for this important Pac 12 showdown.
The Beavers can win because:
Their defense stood tall against Wisconsin.
Oregon State held a Heisman Trophy candidate, Wisconsin
running back Montee Ball, to just 61 yards in that win over the Badgers a week
and a half ago. Oregon State has the run-stuffers in the middle of the
defensive line that can turn UCLA into a decidedly one-dimensional offense.
UCLA met very little resistance from Nebraska's defense
and its win over Houston was achieved despite the fact that the Bruins
committed five turnovers. If Oregon State can gain a plus-four or plus-five
turnover differential in this game, they will probably win.
The Beavers do not have an explosive offense, but if
their defense flourishes and if they can set up short fields with timely
takeaways, this game can definitely shift in favor of Oregon State. The upset
is there for the taking.
The Bruins can win because:
They have a more
skilled offense and a better quarterback than Oregon State.
Brett Hundley has
given UCLA a lot of stability at the quarterback spot this season. UCLA has
historically been dogged by injuries at this most important position, but as
long as Hundley stays healthy, the Bruins can score in bunches. UCLA has scored
at least 36 points in each of its three games this season, which is a very
impressive level of output considering how inept this unit was last year.
Hundley's
presence is one key for the Bruins, but the other reason to take UCLA in this
game is that Oregon State's offense hasn't distinguished itself in any profound
sense. The Beavers held on for dear life in their 10-7 win over Wisconsin.
Oregon State had several chances to fatten its lead but quarterback Sean
Mannion and the rest of the offense repeatedly failed to make use of good field
position against a tired Wisconsin defense.
If Oregon State
can't dramatically improve its performance on the offensive side of the ball,
UCLA will crush the Beavers in Pasadena, Calif.
Outlook & NCAA Football Betting Prediction:
Oregon State is not a particularly good team; they simply
benefited from Wisconsin's poor level of play. UCLA should be able to put
together a few good touchdown drives and build a lead by the time the third
quarter arrives.
Oregon State is not built to come back on opponents and UCLA
will increase its lead as the second half unfolds, winning comfortably on the
scoreboard. That is why I lean towards UCLA on this College Football Pick.
NCAA Football
Picks: UCLA -10
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