UCLA vs. Stanford: College football betting picks, odds and analysis

UCLA’s dreams of an undefeated season ended last week with its loss to Fresno State, but the good news is that was a nonconference game and the Bruins still have goals such as a Pac-12 championship that they can still attain.

But it won’t be easy, starting with Saturday night’s conference opener at Stanford. VSiN’s Matt Youmans breaks down the matchup.

UCLA (-4 1/2) at Stanford

UCLA coach Chip Kelly leads his players onto the field before a loss to Fresno State at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 18.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Hit the brakes on the Chip Kelly hype train. The UCLA coach touted his “special� team after double-digit victories over Louisiana State and Hawaii, but Kelly had nothing to brag about Saturday after the Bruins were stunned as 11-point favorites in a 40-37 loss to Fresno State in Pasadena.

The result was no fluke.

The Bruins were a train wreck on defense while allowing 569 total yards and 32 first downs to a Mountain West offense. Fresno State’s Jake Haener connected on 39 of 53 passes for 455 yards and two touchdowns, including the winning 13-yard throw with 14 seconds left. Haener led the Bulldogs on a six-play, 75-yard drive in 40 seconds to cap an improbable last-minute comeback.

On the bright side, the Bruins’ offense remained strong as Dorian Thompson-Robinson passed for 278 yards and three touchdowns.

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Haener’s performance was special, and now UCLA’s beleaguered defense will face another quarterback on the rise. Two weeks ago, Tanner McKee threw for 234 yards and two scores as Stanford, a 17-point road underdog, whipped preseason Pac-12 South favorite USC 42-28. Cardinal coach David Shaw has quickly turned around his team after a season-opening loss to Kansas State. Stanford has won 12 of the last 13 in this rivalry, including a 48-47 double-overtime decision last year at the Rose Bowl.

The Bruins could be emotionally deflated after the Fresno debacle, and the Cardinal get a boost by playing at home in front of fans for the first time since 2019, so those factors point to Stanford as a home dog. UCLA suddenly has the look of a fragile favorite.

Pick: Stanford +4 1/2

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