College football conference realignment sets the stage for a rare clash as the UCLA Bruins and Nebraska Cornhuskers meet in Week 10 — their first regular-season matchup in over a decade. Who will claim victory in this all-Big Ten showdown?
Our UCLA vs. Nebraska prediction has you covered with all the key details, from the latest betting odds to each team’s outlook for the rest of the 2024 college football season.
UCLA vs. Nebraska Betting Preview
All UCLA vs. Nebraska odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Nebraska -13.5 - Spread
Nebraska -7 - Moneyline
Nebraska -270, UCLA +220 - Over/Under
38.5 points - Game time
3:30 p.m. ET - Location
Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, NE - Predicted Weather at Kick
60 degrees, cloudy and breezy with showers, 16 mph - How to Watch
Big Ten Network
The last regular-season matchup between Nebraska and UCLA was early in the 2013 season when the Bruins came to Lincoln and crushed the Cornhuskers 41-21. They’ve had 13 back-and-forth battles over the years, with Nebraska holding the slightest of head-to-head advantages. After drastically different starts to the year, the ‘Huskers are favored heading into Saturday’s game.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Nebraska is 5-1 when favored this fall, and aside from the defeat to Illinois (and a push against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights), they’ve done a good job covering the spread when expected to win. Meanwhile, UCLA is 4-2 covering the spread as an underdog following their win on the road at Rutgers in Week 9. The low points total is reflective of the low-scoring offenses on show.
UCLA’s Winning Probability
According to the CFN FPM, UCLA has just a 16.7% chance of beating Nebraska on Saturday afternoon. It’s been tough sledding for West Coast teams making the journey into traditional Big Ten territory.
However, the Bruins beat Rutgers in the birthplace against the odds last time out, so they shouldn’t be completely ruled out of pulling off another shock. The remaining win probabilities for UCLA in 2024 are below:
- at Nebraska: 16.7%
- vs. Iowa: 24.7%
- at Washington: 24.7%
- vs. USC: 25.4%
- vs. Fresno State: 46.2%
If those win probabilities were to ring true, the Bruins would end the 2024 campaign with a 2-10 record. That would be the fewest single-season wins since the 1971 season when they also only achieved one conference win.
Nebraska’s Winning Probability
Conversely, Nebraska has an 83.3% chance of beating UCLA, as per the CFN FPM. Our metric has been in lockstep with the Cornhuskers for most of this season, projecting the defeats to the Ohio State Buckeyes and Indiana Hoosiers but having the program as a narrow favorite in the Illinois Fighting Illini loss.
The remaining win probabilities for Nebraska in the 2024 college football season are below:
- vs. UCLA: 83.3%
- at USC: 46.6%
- vs. Wisconsin: 53.8%
- at Iowa: 44.4%
If those win probabilities were to hold true, the Cornhuskers would end the campaign with a 7-5 record. That would be the first winning campaign for the program since 2016 when they lost in the Music City Bowl.
Prediction for UCLA vs. Nebraska
UCLA heads to Lincoln riding high off their best result of the season. After weeks of offensive struggles, the Bruins finally broke through, scoring over 30 points for the first time this year. The Deshaun Foster era has had a challenging start, but with five games remaining, has the program finally found its rhythm? Can they carry the momentum from the Rutgers game forward?
Nebraska, on the other hand, has taken a different path, surging to a 5-1 record in Matt Rhule’s second season before hitting roadblocks against Indiana and Ohio State. Those were the toughest matchups on their schedule, so can the Cornhuskers rebound against UCLA?
Who holds the upper hand, and where will the critical battles unfold?
Following a major talent exodus to the NFL this offseason, UCLA’s rebuilding process has been rough, despite the renewed energy around Coach Foster’s arrival. The Bruins rank 127th nationally in scoring offense, struggling to reach the 20-point mark until Week 9.
On defense — previously a strength in 2023 — the Bruins have faltered, allowing an average of 29 points per game and ranking 99th nationally after finishing last season 14th. Particularly susceptible against the pass, they’ve allowed opposing QBs to complete 69% of their throws, with only four interceptions on the season.
This weakness could tilt the advantage to the Cornhuskers. Freshman QB Dylan Raiola has thrived in stretching the field, though he’s had trouble with interceptions, throwing seven in his debut season. UCLA’s defense might give him the room to operate, with receivers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor posing threats downfield.
UCLA QB Ethan Garbers is coming off a breakout performance against Rutgers, fueling the Bruins’ best offensive showing of the season. Nebraska’s defense, while not flawless, is better equipped to contain UCLA’s passing game than Rutgers, with a fierce pass rush and Malcolm Hartzog anchoring the secondary.
Prediction: Nebraska 24, UCLA 14
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