The Utah Utes take on the UCLA Bruins in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Aug. 30. Kickoff is set for 11 p.m. ET on FOX.
Utah is favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -205. UCLA, meanwhile, comes in at +170 to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 51.5 points.
Here’s my Utah vs. UCLA prediction and college football picks for Saturday, August 30.
Utah vs UCLA Prediction
- Utah vs. UCLA Pick: Utah -5.5 (Play to -7)
My UCLA vs. Utah best bet is on the Utes to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Utah vs UCLA Odds
| Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -108 | 51.5 -108o / -112u | -205 |
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -112 | 51.5 -108o / -112u | +170 |
- Utah vs UCLA Spread: Utah -5.5 (-108), UCLA +5.5 (-112)
- Utah vs UCLA Over/Under: 51.5 (-108o / -112u)
- Utah vs UCLA Moneyline: Utah -205, UCLA +170
Utah vs UCLA Preview
Utah Utes Betting Preview: Return to the Top?
Last year was a disaster season for the Utes. Their 5-7 record marked the first losing season for the program since 2013. Four different quarterbacks played, and none of them worked.
It looks like that problem might have been solved with the addition of the human highlight reel, Devon Dampier. The New Mexico transfer had a breakout season last year, throwing for 2,768 yards while rushing for 1,166 more and adding 31 total touchdowns.
Only Army's Bryson Daily and Alabama's Jalen Milroe had more rushing touchdowns for a quarterback.
Now, Dampier will bring his 54 missed tackles forced to Utah, where he will be running behind one of the best offensive lines in the country. The Utes return all five starters up front, including two future NFL tackles on either side of him
The continuity upfront will help ease the concern of all the new faces at the skill positions.
Running back Wayshawn Parker rushed for 735 yards at Washington State last season, and the new wide receiver group will be made up of transfers from Cal, Mississippi State, New Mexico and Southern Miss.
While everything seemed to go wrong for Utah last year, it still fielded a top-10 defense. Defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley’s unit finished fourth in Success Rate and ranked 15th at creating Havoc.
Even with just four starters returning, this defense should continue to be one of the best in the country.
Leading tackler Lander Barton returns in the middle of the field, where he will be once again joined by Levani Damuni, who led the Utes in tackles in 2023 before missing all of last season with an injury.
Utah is loaded up front in this 4-2-5 defense, and the secondary is filled with experience that should once again make this a top-20 unit against both the pass and the run.
The Utes occasionally allowed too many big plays last year, but they were great at getting off the field and clamping down in the red zone.
UCLA Bruins Betting Preview: The Iamaleava Era Begins
Did anything interesting happen at UCLA this offseason? What will be your greatest memory of the Joey Aguilar era?
After going 5-7 in DeShaun Foster’s first season at the helm, UCLA went out and signed former All-Sun Belt quarterback Joey Aguilar from App State.
Then, on April 11, Nico Iamaleava announced he was leaving Tennessee and entering the transfer portal. A week later, on April 20, Iamaleava announced his commitment to UCLA.
A very highly-touted recruit, Iamaleava had a disappointing season at Tennessee, averaging just 200 yards passing per game with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. He ranked ninth in the SEC in yards per attempt and really struggled under pressure. He posted a 25% pressure-to-sack ratio, one of the highest marks in the country.
Some reports regarding the main reason for Iamaleava’s departure from Tennessee mentioned his desire to have better weapons around him. That makes his commitment to UCLA a tad puzzling.
Running back Jalen Berger has been at three schools and has seen his effectiveness decline at each stop. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry in two years at Wisconsin, 4.5 yards per carry in two years at Michigan State and 3.7 yards per carry last season with the Bruins.
The two best receivers from last year and the starting tight end are all gone, and reports from fall camp have been a major concern. Nearly the entire receiver room is dealing with injuries, and their status is uncertain.
With his top four receivers all banged up, Iamaleava might have no weapons at all.
UCLA has just as many questions on the defense. After being the strength of this team last year, ranking 39th in total defense, the Bruins' stop unit returns just one starter. Defensive tackle Siale Taupaki is the lone holdover from a terrific run defense.
Now, they're not completely starting over. UCLA has a few pieces who are returning from early-season injuries, and Foster hit the transfer portal hard to replenish the linebackers and secondary.
The biggest issue UCLA had last season was preventing Finishing Drives. It ranked 123rd nationally when it came to allowing opponents to cash in on scoring opportunities. That's a major concern.
With an entirely new back seven, it remains to be seen if it will be able to improve that.
Utah vs UCLA Pick, Betting Analysis
Utah was available for as low as -2.5 early this summer but has been bet all the way up to -6.5. Anything at -7 or better is good with me on the Utes here.
Dampier was one of the most electric players in the country with the football in his hands last season. He found ways to make plays with both his arm and his legs.
He got it done behind a bad offensive line and a lot less talent than he will have around him at Utah.
Dampier will have the best of both worlds in Salt Lake City. He will have the continuity and a familiar voice in his ear with offensive coordinator Jason Beck joining him at Utah after the success they had together last year.
He will also get the benefit of operating behind one of the best offensive lines in the country, creating room for him to run. I’m not sure there's a team in the entire country that has upgraded its quarterback situation more than Utah, comsidering where it was a season ago.
UCLA has questions at every single position, including quarterback. Iamaleava failed to live up to the hype last season and really struggled against the better teams he faced.
In 10 games against Power 4 teams, Iamaleava had just 11 touchdown passes. He really struggled to avoid pressure, with a 25% pressure-to-sack ratio. Scalley's 4-2-5 defense is going to eat him alive.
To make matters worse, after leaving Tennessee because he wanted more weapons around him, he's now surrounded by a MASH unit.
There's not a single unit in this game where UCLA has an advantage over Utah. I’m expecting a big bounce-back season from the Utes, and it starts here with a big road win over the Bruins.
Pick: Utah -5.5 (Play to -7)
