Despite the Pac-12 looking like it will be a thing of the past sooner than later, the conference is going out on a high note. Two teams fighting to stay near the top of the league standings are Oregon State and UCLA, who each enter their Saturday matchup with one loss.
Oregon State (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) is favored on odds boards and has been outscored in only one of 12 halves all season. UCLA (4-1, 3-2) has won eight of 10 halves and rallied past Washington State after falling behind last week, riding a big fourth quarter to a 25-17 comeback win.
The Beavers lost to the Cougars 38-35 on Sept. 23 after digging themselves a 21-point hole. They still have to face Oregon and Washington, while UCLA is fortunate enough to avoid the Ducks and Huskies but visit rival USC on Nov. 18. The winner of this matchup in Corvallis will move forward with a realistic chance of reaching the conference championship game in Las Vegas on Dec. 1.
Oregon State is 15-1 over the past two-plus seasons at Reser Stadium, losing only to the Trojans 17-14 last season. It covered the spread in 15 of those games, with the lone outlier coming this season against San Diego State (Sept. 16), when it won 26-9 as a 25-point favorite. UCLA enters this road game, which kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, on a 9-4 run outside the Rose Bowl (8-5 ATS), which includes a Sun Bowl upset loss to Pitt last December. The visitor has covered in seven of the last nine in this series, with the Beavers winning 48-31 as a six-point underdog in L.A. when these teams last met in 2019. The Bruins won 41-0 the last time they visited Corvallis back in 2015.
UCLA vs. Oregon State odds: Point spread, moneyline, total
Here are the latest college football betting odds for Bruins vs. Beavers:
Oregon State is favored by 3.5 to 4 points after opening up as 5-point ‘chalk’. Sportsbooks are listing the Beavers anywhere in the -180 to -190 on the moneyline after opening -200. UCLA is +155 to pull the road upset after opening +170. The total has been bet up to 55 at most sportsbooks after opening 53.5.
UCLA betting news: Freshman star QB Dante Moore looks to rebound
Chip Kelly gave junior QB Ethan Garbers every opportunity to succeed Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but ultimately couldn’t argue with the on-field results and handed the reins to true freshman Dante Moore, one of the nation’s top recruits. After an awesome first three games, Moore has been slowed by Utah and Washington State in consecutive weeks. He threw a costly pick-six last week and has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns over the past two games, completing 37 of 79 passes (46.8%). Moore is learning as he goes, but has looked confused lately and produced very little in his last road start, a 14-7 loss to Utah.
UCLA’s 32 points over its last two games is its lowest total over multiple contests since the beginning of the 2019 season. Defensively, the Bruins are allowing only 58.3 rushing yards per game, good for second in the nation behind only James Madison. They’re tied for eighth in the country in scoring defense (13.5), a testament to the impact new coordinator D’Anton Lynn has had since arriving after coaching the Ravens’ secondary the past few years.
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Oregon State betting news: Chip on shoulder provides fuel vs. Chip’s Bruins
Although it’s Washington State that’s been beefing with ESPN’s College GameDay, Oregon State has also been disrespected and may be forced to join the Mountain West once the Pac-12 disbands. Head coach Jonathan Smith has lifted the program, going from 2-10 in Year 1 to 10-3 last year. The Beavers, 1-11 the season before Smith took over, are now a threat to win the Pac-12 title.
Clemson transfer QB D.J Uiagalelei has shined upon returning to the west coast after an inconsistent run attempting to replace Clemson legend Trevor Lawrence. He comes off the highest-graded performance of his college career, tossing five TD passes in a 52-40 win over Cal to earn Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. Uiagalelei hooked up with tight end Jack Velling for three TDs, and between him and Cal transfer Jermaine Terry II, Oregon State has true weapons at that position in addition to game breakers at receiver in Siilas Bolden and Anthony Gould. RB Damian Martinez was a All-Pac-12 first teamer last season and again looks like the conference’s most gifted back.
A victory here and at Arizona following next week’s bye could see OSU enter November with its highest national ranking since finishing the 2000 season ranked No. 4 after an 11-1 run. Smith was the QB that season, throwing to Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
UCLA vs. Oregon State prop picks
- Oregon State Longest Touchdown (-145)
- UCLA Under 11.5 1st Half Points (-115)
Bolden had a 45-yard run against Utah two weeks ago. Uiagalelei hit Jesiah Irish for a 38-yard score at Cal. UCLA’s longest TD in Pac-12 play was Keegan Jones’ 22-yard TD run that closed the scoring in last week’s win over Washington State.
The Bruins have scored a grand total of nine points over their last two first halves and could struggle to get started in a hostile road atmosphere, particularly if the priority early on is to take care of the football and let Moore get acclimated.
UCLA at Oregon State predictions ATS
The Beavers have been more consistent than the Bruins, who struggled in their only road game against an equal. UCLA has excelled in stopping the run but face a difficult challenge attempting to corral Martinez, who has run for at least 80 yards in five of six contests, and operates behind a talented, experienced offensive line. Martinez has run for over 100 yards in nine of his last 13 games and could open things up for the OSU passing game if he’s effective. Look for him to be a difference-maker and lay the points.
Pick: Oregon State -3.5
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