Thursday Night ESPN College Football UCLA @ Arizona Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – Week 8 NCAA Football Spreads and Odds

Week 8 Free College Football Picks and Spreads: UCLA Bruins @ Arizona Wildcats 2011 NCAA Football Vegas Odds, Free Picks, and Expert Predictions on ESPN 10/20/11: When the UCLA Bruins (3-3) travel to Tucson Thursday night to face the Arizona Wildcats (1-5), the two Pac-12 rivals will have very different agendas. The Bruins are trying to stay in the mix for a bowl game appearance, while the Wildcats are fighting for respectability. In fact, the season has been so bad for Arizona that Mike Stoops was fired from his coaching position following a loss to Oregon State. However, the Wildcats have a potent offense despite all the losses, and they are actually four-point favorites at home in this matchup.

Bettors may find it strange that a 1-5 team is favored against a conference rival sitting at .500, but the Wildcats’ schedule has been rough to say the least. Arizona went through a four-game stretch that featured Oklahoma State, Stanford, Oregon and USC. For the record, there are three teams ranked in the top 10 nationally on that list. Granted, losing to a below average Beavers’ team is tough to forgive, but the tough stretch leading up to that game probably had a lot to do with the lackluster effort put forth by the Wildcats. At any rate, Arizona will be well rested after a couple of weeks off to recharge.

The Wildcats may be dealing with a coaching change, but the Bruins are dealing with a change at the quarterback spot after starter Richard Brehaut was lost for the year with a broken leg. Backup Kevin Prince looked solid in a comeback win against Washington State, but he has just two touchdowns compared to four interceptions on the year. The good news for Prince is that UCLA is deep at the receiver spot with experienced targets that should help ease his transition. Tight end Joseph Fauria is particularly dangerous in the red zone. He has just 12 catches on the year, but four of them have gone for touchdowns.

Prince appears capable of managing a game and even making some big plays, which is all he needs to do with the powerful Bruins’ rushing attack. UCLA ranks in the top 30 nationally in terms of rush yards per game, and back Johnathan Franklin is a big reason why. He is averaging almost seven yards a carry on the year and has more than 500 yards to date. Meanwhile, power back Derrick Coleman is averaging more than five yards per rush and has scored six touchdowns thus far. For an Arizona team that is giving up more than 200 yards a game on the ground, UCLA should have a chance to control the game on the ground.

The Bruins may need to slow things down in order to win because the Wildcats own the third-best passing attack in the country. Arizona QB Nick Foles has enjoyed an incredible season, and he currently sits second in the nation in passing yards. He has also managed just 15 touchdowns and has kept his turnovers to a minimum. The totals are remarkable considering the Wildcats have the worst rushing offense in the country. Foles has been forced to carry the offense, and he has done an admirable job. The Wildcats scored more than 27 points a game despite being one of the most one-dimensional teams in the country. Foles now gets a shot at a Bruins’ secondary that is giving up more than 230 yards a game through the air.

In the end, Thursday’s meeting will likely come down to UCLA’s running game against Arizona’s passing game. Foles is the top player on the field in this matchup, and for one of the few times this season, he and the Wildcats aren’t facing far superior competition. If Arizona has shown anything this year it’s that it can put points on the board. UCLA isn’t built for shootouts, and if the Wildcats turn this into a battle between Foles and Prince, Arizona has a huge advantage. The Wildcats are too one-dimensional on offense and too mediocre on defense to blow UCLA out, but Foles and company are good enough to win at home and cover the small spread.

Prediction: Arizona Wildcats (-5.5) Cover the Spread

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