LAS VEGAS – Two undefeated Pac-12 teams battling for the lead in the conference’s South Division square off in Tempe on Thursday night, when the UCLA Bruins visit the Arizona State Sun Devils (10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1). The Bruins are 8-3 against the spread in the last 11 meetings with the Sun Devils but are still looking for their first cover of the 2014 season. ASU did win last season's meeting, 38-33, as a 3-point road favorite.
UCLA star quarterback Brett Hundley is expected to play on Thursday after hyperextending his left elbow in a game against Texas two weeks ago.
The Line: UCLA -4.5, Total: 59.5
Line movement: UCLA opened as a 3-point road favorite at The Wynn Las Vegas on Sunday, was bet up to -5 at most shops around town, before moving back down to -4.5 as of Wednesday morning. For updated spreads and totals, visit our live odds page .
Trends that matter: UCLA is 3-0 ATS in its last three road games after a bye week....Arizona State is 4-0 ATS in its last four home games after a bye week....Arizona State is 5-2 ATS in last seven home games against Pac-12 opponents.
Bruins yet to live up to hype: As one of the top 10 teams in the Don Best/Linemakers College Football Power Ratings every week so far in 2014, one would think UCLA would have looked the part in at least one of the first three games this season. However, the Bruins are 0-3 against the spread despite a 3-0 straight-up mark, with each game decided by eight points or less.
UCLA is coming off a bye week and still moved up to No. 6 in the power ratings from No. 7 last week. While the Bruins have yet to play up to their high expectations, that does not mean they are not capable of breaking through in a big spot on national television Thursday night. Even oddsmakers realize it’s just a matter of time.
“UCLA hasn’t played anywhere near their potential yet,” Johnny Avello, The Wynn's Executive Director of Race & Sports Operations, told The Linemakers on Sporting News this week.
Avello has seen bettors fade UCLA in two of the first three games and come out victorious. UCLA was bet down 4 points in each of its first two games, against Virginia (-23 to -19) and Memphis (-26.5 to -22.5), before bettors jumped on board against Texas and moved the line 1 point in the Bruins’ favor, only to see them fail to cover as 8.5-point favorites in a 20-17 win.
Sun Devils preparing for Hundley: Hundley is officially listed as “questionable” on the injury report for Thursday’s game against Arizona State, but Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham believes he will suit up and start against his team. Hundley suffered an elbow injury in the first quarter of a 20-17 win for the Bruins over the Longhorns on Sept. 13.
“No doubt in my mind, we're planning for their quarterback to play,” Graham said on Monday.
UCLA head coach Jim Mora has not revealed Hundley’s status and noted he still needs to be medically cleared in order to play.
Meanwhile, Graham had previously announced that his starting quarterback Taylor Kelly will not play due to a foot injury. Backup quarterback Mike Bercovici is expected to start in Kelly’s place, and he has completed 14 passes in his college career for a total of 112 yards.
Weather: The forecast calls for temperatures in the 90s, with sunny and clear skies. Visit Weather Underground for the latest forecast.
Handicapping tools: UCLA-Arizona State matchup analysis | UCLA team page | ASU team page
The Linemakers' lean: We're all in on UCLA here. Micah Roberts says the line hasn’t been adjusted enough with Taylor Kelly out, and that it could be argued that the spread should be closer to UCLA -10. Kenny White points out UCLA has the far better quarterback and a better defense – one that can slow down running back D.J. Foster. It’ll be a difficult environment for the Bruins in Tempe, but they have revenge after last season’s home loss to the Sun Devils. UCLA may be Kenny’s biggest play of the year.
Do our partners agree? The Quants' college football picks
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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