The UCLA Bruins take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Ohio State is favored by 32 points on the spread with a moneyline of -10000. UCLA, meanwhile, enters as a +32 underdog and is +2500 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 48.5 total points.
Here’s my UCLA vs. Ohio State prediction and college football picks for Saturday, November 15.
UCLA vs Ohio State Prediction, Picks
- UCLA vs. Ohio State Pick: Jeremiah Smith + CJ Donaldson Anytime TD Parlay (-105)
My Ohio State vs. UCLA best bet is on Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and running back CJ Donaldson to each score a touchdown. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
UCLA vs Ohio State Odds, Money Line, Over/Under
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+32 -110 | 48.5 -110o / -110u | +2500 |
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-32 -110 | 48.5 -110o / -110u | -10000 |
- UCLA vs Ohio State Spread: Ohio State -32, UCLA +32
- UCLA vs Ohio State Over/Under: 48.5 Points
- UCLA vs Ohio State Moneyline: UCLA +2500, Ohio State -10000
UCLA vs Ohio State Game Preview
Why UCLA Can Win
An 0-4 start for UCLA led to the dismissal of head coach DeShaun Foster. Under interim head coach Tim Skipper, the Bruins won three straight, including a stunning upset of then-No. 7 Penn State.
During the winning streak, the offense averaged 33 points per game, which led to much acclaim for interim offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel, the son of former Bruins head coach Rick Neuheisel.
Tennessee transfer Nico Iamaleava played his best football of the season during that stretch with eight total touchdowns and just two interceptions.
Had the Bruins' coaching change happened sooner, the team looked like it might have challenged for bowl eligibility, considering two of their losses came against UNLV and New Mexico.
However, they were noncompetitive in a 50-point loss to Indiana before falling to Nebraska last week. Now, achieving bowl eligibility will be a major uphill battle, as UCLA is an underdog of more than 30 points in Columbus, in addition to having games against Washington and USC to close the season.
UCLA gave up 30 points five times in its first nine games. It ranks 135th in Success Rate allowed and 136th in Havoc allowed. Now, it has to deal with one of the nation's most dynamic offenses against the Buckeyes.
Why Ohio State Can Win
Last week, Ohio State cruised to a 34-10 victory over Purdue. It was the Buckeyes' eighth consecutive victory of at least 18 points, and it stayed the No. 1 team in the latest College Football Playoff rankings.
One major topic of discussion surrounding the team lately has been about its pace of play. Through its first nine games, Ohio State has averaged 63.3 plays, 10 fewer on average than other CFP contenders.
If the trend continues, it will play one full game less in terms of total plays than other CFP contenders, which could be pivotal as the Buckeyes gear up for a deep run to defend their national title.
Being able to control the game on both sides of the ball has helped the Buckeyes dictate the pace of the game.
Behind that deliberate pace, quarterback Julian Sayin has emerged as a co-favorite for the Heisman with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The redshirt freshman has completed 81% of his passes, while throwing for 2,491 yards and 24 touchdowns against four interceptions.
However, head coach Ryan Day has one injury to a key player to manage, as wide receiver Carnell Tate was held out of last week's game.
But if Tate is "WR1A" for the Buckeyes, WR1 is Jeremiah Smith. The sophomore has 65 receptions for 862 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, and he's well on his way to rewriting the record books in Columbus.
True freshman Bo Jackson has emerged in the backfield to provide balance, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. However, CJ Donaldson has remained the preferred option in goal-line situations.
The Buckeyes have held each of their first nine opponents under 20 points, and six of those opponents scored less than 10 points. They lead the FBS in scoring defense and total defense, while ranking second in passing yards allowed per game.
Linebacker Arvell Reese has burst onto the scene to lead the team with 55 tackles to go along with 6.5 sacks. Reese will likely hear his name called very early in April.
However, it's defensive end Caden Curry who leads the team with seven sacks as a first-year starter.
How To Make UCLA vs Ohio State Picks
UCLA is giving up about 31 points and 380 total yards per game. Even if Ohio State wants to slow this game down, it will have no problem moving the ball this week.
Smith and Donaldson are two players I'm eyeing to score, in particular.
Through his first 25 games at Ohio State, Smith has 25 receiving touchdowns, the fastest to reach that milestone in school history. He has added two rushing touchdowns as well and has scored in seven of his nine games this season.
Meanwhile, Jackson leads the team with 613 rushing yards but has found the end zone just three times. Donaldson has eight rushing touchdowns in 72 attempts while adding one receiving score.
If Ohio State gets in a go-to-goal situation, he will likely get the opportunity to add another rushing touchdown.
Pick: Jeremiah Smith + CJ Donaldson Anytime TD Parlay (-105)
UCLA vs Ohio State Betting Trends
