LA Bowl: UCLA vs. Boise State odds, picks and predictions
The UCLA Bruins (7-5) and Boise State Broncos (8-5) meet in the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the UCLA vs. Boise State odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Bruins basically stay home, taking the short freeway jaunt from Pasadena to L.A. The Bruins did not finish strong, winning just once in the final 4 outings while going 1-4 against the spread (ATS) in the final 5 games. The Under has cashed in 6 in a row for UCLA and in 8 of the past 9 outings.
UCLA saw QB Dante Moore hit the portal. However, QB Ethan Garbers is capable and expected to be able to start after a minor, late-season ailment. RB Carson Steele, the team's leading rusher, is doubtful due to an undisclosed injury, though. The team made it through the portal in fairly good shape, losing a few pieces but no stat leaders.
Boise State will be without QB Taylen Green, as he entered the transfer portal, and QB Maddux Madsen due to injury. That leaves freshman QB CJ Tiller in line to start. He did not attempt a pass in the regular season. He will have leading rusher RB Ashton Jeanty to lean upon, though, and he gobbled up 1,266 yards and 14 TDs while adding 39 receptions for 552 yards and 5 TDs. Leading receiver Eric McAlister, who has 47 grabs for 873 yards and 5 TDs, is out due to an undisclosed injury, though.
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UCLA vs. Boise State odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday 11:10 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): UCLA -225 (bet $225 to win $100) | Boise State +185 (bet $100 to win $185)
- Against the spread (ATS): UCLA -5.5 (-110) | Boise State +5.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 47 (O: -110 | U: -110)
UCLA vs. Boise State picks and predictions
Prediction
UCLA 20, Boise State 13
Moneyline
UCLA (-225) is basically playing in its backyard, but risking more than 2 times your potential return is quite risky behavior. Boise State (+185) will come to play, and Jeanty is a handful, although the Bruins were very good on defense this season — they ranked 11th in total yards allowed (299.0), 3rd in rushing yards allowed (69.6) and 15th in points allowed (18.1) per game.
PASS.
Against the spread
UCLA -5.5 (-110) is worth a look, but go lightly.
The Bruins defense will carry the day, and they'll be difficult for a freshman quarterback to solve in his 1st-ever start. Jeanty will be a handful for UCLA, but it should be equal to the task.
Still, the UCLA offense struggled at times, too, and it produced 10 or fewer points in 3 of the final 4 games. It is down to the backup signal caller, so it could be a slow go Saturday.
Over/Under
UNDER 47 (-110) is easily the best play on the board in this LA Bowl.
The Bruins scored 10 or fewer points in 3 of the final 4 games, and the Under cashed in 6 in a row to close out the season. Overall, UCLA cashed the Under in 10 of 12 games this season. The Bruins are just nasty on defense.
The Broncos are starting a freshman quarterback, and he'll have to cut his teeth against one of the best defenses out west. It should be a slow go for the Broncos. Boise State hit the Under at a 2-1-1 clip in the final 4 games, as it knows a little something about defense, too, allowing 20 or fewer points in each of the outings.
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