UCLA is reeling after a 42-13 blowout loss to Indiana, while LSU is riding relatively high following a come-from-behind victory over South Carolina last week. Can the Tigers avoid a slow start in our UCLA vs. LSU prediction?
UCLA vs. LSU Betting Preview
All UCLA vs. LSU odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, September 21, 2024.
- Spread
LSU -21 - Moneyline
UCLA +1000, LSU -1800 - Over/Under
56.5 - Game time
3:30 p.m. ET - Location
Tiger Stadium | Baton Rouge, LA - Predicted Weather at Kick
90 degrees, Partly Cloudy - How to Watch
ABC
LSU first opened as 20.5-point favorites. But after UCLA was completely manhandled at home this past weekend by Indiana, that number has steadily climbed to -24. The same can be said for the moneyline, which opened at LSU -1700 and has charged up to -2730.
After the betting public got their hands on it, these numbers moved a bit back to where they first opened on Saturday.
LSU has seen both games with set totals hit the Over in 2024, while UCLA is 1-1 on the total.
UCLA vs. LSU Prediction
It’s hard to imagine a more challenging environment for UCLA to travel to following a home blowout loss to Indiana. LSU is always a tough place to play, but it’s even more challenging when you’re limping in and they smell blood in the water.
UCLA wanted to establish an identity as a tough, hard-nosed football team that controls the line of scrimmage and can run the football under head coach Deshaun Foster and OC Eric Bieniemy.
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But they’ve been a far cry from that. They were overwhelmed by Indiana’s strong and athletic defense, and it’s hard to picture a much different outcome in Death Valley against this tested Tigers unit.
UCLA’s best hope is that LSU overlooks them in this one. The Tigers have already been in a top-25 battle with USC, and they just pulled off a hard-fought, come-from-behind SEC road victory in Columbia. Perhaps they’re sleepwalking in this one?
With the SEC schedule resuming in a few weeks, maybe the Tigers look past the Bruins. But they have South Alabama next week, so a look-ahead game doesn’t quite fit the narrative. And Brian Kelly still has CFP aspirations, so he’ll have his team ready for an afternoon kickoff on national TV.
I don’t think this is going to go well for UCLA.
The Prediction: LSU 44, UCLA 16
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