Coming off a home loss to crosstown rival USC, UCLA (8-4) looks to finish its regular season on a winning note when it travels north to Berkeley for a showdown with Cal. One of a lucky 13 games on the NCAA football schedule on Black Friday, UCLA will look to win nine games for the first time since 2014 and be ready for its 37th bowl appearance.
NCAAF California (4-7), on the other hand, is assured of finishing with a losing record and missing the postseason for the fourth season in a row, all under current leader Justin Wilcox. The Golden Bears are also coming off a rivalry game, in their case, a 27-20 victory over fellow Northern Cali rival Stanford.
UCLA Bruins leads the all-time series 57-33-1 and has won the last two. In games played in Berkeley, Chip Kelly’s Bruins hold a 24-21 advantage. Since 2017, UCLA has held a 4-1 SU series edge and is 4-1 ATS, including a 42-14 win last season as a 6-point favorite. For his career, Kelly is 7-1 SU against Cal, including four games at Oregon, and is 6-2 against the number.
Check out the article below for the latest college football injuries, college football standings, and college football odds that will make you a winner because we have the UCLA vs California best bets.
UCLA vs. California
The UCLA offense has bordered on prolific this season and ranks 5th in America in total yards. They are 16th in rushing and fifth in passing. They have also put 40 or more on the scoreboard seven times thus far. Their defense has not been anything special, but they’ve shown ability, more than in any year Chip Kelly has been there, to be able to outscore people.
In looking at UCLA football stats, veteran quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson actually has a better completion percentage in road games, connecting on 72 percent of his attempts on the road against 69 percent of his passes in the Rose Bowl.
Cal is a team that was selected to finish toward the bottom of the league and has lived up to its low expectations. After opening the year with wins over FCS member UC-Davis and UNLV, the waters got deeper and saved a 49-31 win at home against Arizona; Cal lost five of six before the Stanford win. The team is statistically better when throwing than running and, defensively, has been extremely susceptible to the pass, surrendering 287.7 yards a contest, ranking 252nd nationally.
Last Game Records
UCLA closed as a 2.5 home underdog to USC and dropped a 48-45 decision to USC. Bruins were up 14-0 after one and were ahead 21-20 at the half before the Trojans scored twice in both the third and fourth quarters to secure the victory.
Thompson-Robinson threw for 309 yards, four touchdowns, and three picks, while the Bruin defense was torched by Heisman hopeful Caleb Williams, who threw for 470 yards, completing 32 passes to nine different receivers.
Cal claimed a win over Stanford in the 126 renewal of one of the sport’s most storied rivalries. Cal saved its best for last, returning a fumble for a scoop and score, and found paydirt two more times in the final quarter to score 21 in the frame.
California Golden Bears signal caller Jack Plummer threw for 280 yards in the win as the Golden Bears once again struggled on the ground accumulating just 113 yards. Keep this in mind when thinking of the UCLA vs California best bets to make.
UCLA Bruins vs. Cal Golden Bears Analysis
The Bruins’ strength is the Bears’ weakness. UCLA has shown an ability to score, especially through the air. Cal’s weakness has been stopping the passing game.
The Bruins do come in on a two-game losing streak, including a home loss to Arizona, but Cal has lost six of their last seven and are struggling as well. In spots like this, good teams usually find a way to win, and that’s UCLA. This should be one of the most excellent college football matchups of the week.
Odds Breakdown
UCLA Bruins
UCLA enters the contest as a 10-point favorite and -345 on the moneyline. The game total opens at 60 points.
On the year, the Bruins are 6-5 ATS. Eight of UCLA’s 11 games have gone over the total. With the exception of the 2019 meeting, which Cal won 28-18, UCLA has put up points in bunches when playing Cal.
Cal Golden Bears
Cal enters the game as a 10-point underdog and is listed at +285 on the moneyline. As mentioned, the game total is 60 points. In 2022, Cal is also 6-5 against the number. Six of the Golden Bears’ games have gone over.
UCLA vs. Cal Betting Pick and Prediction
- The surest play in this game is the UCLA moneyline. While it does not offer a ton of value, the Bruins have something to play for and will find a way to come away with a win on the road. They are 2-1 SU away from Westwood in 2022, with all the games being within the confines of the Pac-12.
- The second play will be to take Cal and the ten points. The Bears have gotten better as the season has gone on and lost to USC by six on the road and by a touchdown to Washington by seven at home. We just feel like coming off the Stanford game and on a short week, being at home gives the Golden Bears a slight advantage, definitely not to win, but likely to cover. This is arguably one of the UCLA vs California best bets to make.
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