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The UCLA Bruins take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on FOX.
Despite what I expect to be a hostile environment at Minnesota’s Huntington Bank Stadium, the Bruins enter Saturday’s Big Ten clash as 5.5-point road favorites, with a moneyline of -192. The over/under sits at 39.5 total points.
Here’s my UCLA vs. Minnesota prediction and college football pick for Saturday, November 7.
UCLA vs Minnesota Prediction
- UCLA vs. Minnesota Pick: 1Q Under 7.5 (-136)
My Minnesota vs. UCLA best bet is on the first-quarter under. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page, and be sure to download the Action Network app for more picks and analysis.
UCLA vs Minnesota Odds
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -110 | 39.5 -110o / -110u | -192 |
| Minnesota Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -110 | 39.5 -110o / -110u | +160 |
- UCLA vs Minnesota point spread: UCLA -4.5 (-110), Minnesota +4.5 (-110)
- UCLA vs Minnesota over/under: 39.5 (-110o / -110u)
- UCLA vs Minnesota moneyline: UCLA -192, Minnesota +160
UCLA vs Minnesota College Football Preview
UCLA Bruins Betting Preview: Knight and Dieffenbach Shining
UCLA has been the biggest surprise of the college football season, as first-year head coach Bob Chesney has ripped through a relatively difficult conference schedule and is now one of just three undefeated teams at 8-0.
This has all happened despite losing quarterback Nico Iamaleava to a season-ending injury against Oregon, I think the loss of the former Vol made this Bruins bunch even better, thanks to the spectacular play of backup Ty Dieffenbach.
While many initially saw Iamaleava's injury as a major roadblock to their playoff quest, the signal-caller had been extremely turnover-prone and objectively overrated nationally.
Nico had thrown just four passing touchdowns all year before getting hurt and turned the ball over six times during that stretch.
In his absence, Dieffenbach has thrown for 683 passing yards while turning the ball over only once — a vital attribute for a squad that relies heavily on its defense.
Running back Wayne Knight has also been spectacular for Chesney’s rushing attack, racking up 680 yards on the ground at an impressive 6.2 yards per carry.
Knight’s 12 rushing touchdowns rank seventh nationally, and I expect him to play a major role in what should be a difficult road atmosphere.
Knight is one of several key players Chesney brought to UCLA from James Madison, and he leads a versatile backfield that also features Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas.
The Bruins are battle-tested and continue to impress each week, and this matchup against Minnesota will undoubtedly be a difficult challenge if UCLA is to advance to 9-0.
This Big Ten showdown will have major playoff implications for the Bruins as the regular season comes to a close.
Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Preview: Better Through the Air
The season has been up and down for the Golden Gophers, who enter their Week 10 matchup with a 5-3 record.
Minnesota has looked inconsistent in head coach PJ Fleck’s 10th season at the helm, losing two of its last three contests after an impressive 4-1 start.
Junior quarterback Drake Lindsey has looked impressive in his second season under center, throwing for 1,592 yards through the air over the first eight games.
Running back TJ Thomas leads the rushing attack with 379 yards and is the feature tailback in a backfield that also features Darius Taylor and Xavier Ford.
The Gophers have been far more efficient through the air, though, with a receiving corps that includes senior wideout Noah Jennings and speedster slot option Javon Tracy, who have combined for 855 receiving yards.
This will be a huge test for defensive coordinator Danny Collins’ unit, which has looked very impressive over the first nine weeks, with opponents scoring just 20.5 PPG on average, ranking 35th in the FBS.
Collins’ aggressive, heavy-blitzing 4-3 base schematics will be tested against an extremely well-balanced UCLA offense that rarely turns the ball over.
While this clash is undoubtedly more significant for UCLA, it still matters for a Gopher bunch looking to finish on a strong note before bowl season.
UCLA vs Minnesota Pick, Betting Analysis
While UCLA has looked spectacular in its first year under Chesney, I expect Saturday to be very difficult for the Bruins, who will be under pressure in front of a rowdy Gopher fanbase.
UCLA boasts one of the premier defenses in college football, ranking seventh in opponent yards per game, 13th in opponent passing yards per game and 10th in opponent rushing yards per game.
Fleck’s defense is also extremely dominant, ranking inside the top 25 in several defensive metrics.
In a game where I expect UCLA to start sluggish on the road, with an earlier start time than the Bruins are accustomed to, I favor backing under 7.5 points in the first quarter at -135 in what I expect to be a low-scoring defensive battle.
Pick: 1Q Under 7.5 (-136 · FanDuel)
UCLA vs Minnesota Betting Trends
