The Colorado Buffaloes have zoomed to the top of the Pac-12 South standings, and can guarantee they remain there for at least another week with a win in Week 9 against the UCLA Bruins.
Colorado is coming off a bye and gets this game at home, and it is a solid favorite to take care of business against the Bruins. UCLA had high hopes but has really fallen flat and is now in big danger of missing out on a bowl game. An upset in this one would be a big step but it will be tough with the likelihood of a backup quarterback taking the reins.
This contest in Week 10 of the regular season will go down Thursday, November 3, 2016, at 9 p.m. ET at Folsom Field.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
UCLA +12
Colorado -12
Odds Analysis
The Buffaloes are sizable home favorites and the line looks accurate as each side is getting healthy action. Colorado has gotten 52 percent of the early action to cover but a big segment of bettors believe the Bruins are the right call by getting close to two touchdowns.
These teams are polar opposites when it comes to covering the spread this season. UCLA is 3-5 straight up and 1-7 against the spread. Colorado is 6-2 straight up and an impressive 7-0-1 against the spread.
The oddsmakers have been high on UCLA for much of the season but are finally coming off of that.
Injury Report
The Bruins seem unlikely to have starting quarterback Josh Rosen, as he continues to battle an injury. Backup Mike Fafaul will be under center if that’s the case.
He was 40-of-70 for 464 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions last week in a 52-45 loss to Utah. The yardage and scores were good, but he has to do a better job of taking care of the ball.
Colorado’s defense is tough, allowing only 18.1 points per game, and Fafaul will really need to play well to give his team a shot at the upset. The Buffaloes held Stanford to five points last time out.
Four opponents have been held to seven points or fewer by Colorado, which ranks 13th in the nation for points against. Michigan and Oregon are the only two teams to score 30 or more against Colorado.
Player to Watch
Phillip Lindsay -- The running game will be key for Colorado this week against UCLA led by the team’s top rusher. Lindsay is averaging 6.3 yards a carry for the Buffaloes this year.
He has 119 carries for 745 yards with nine touchdowns. His best game of the year came on October 15th against Arizona State where he finished with 219 yards and three touchdowns including a 75-yard touchdown to jumpstart the second half.
Lindsay suffered a minor ankle injury and was limited in his last outing against Stanford two weeks ago, but still managed 12 carries for 131 yards in the 10-5 win. Lindsay has been rehabbing and the recovery should be aided by the bye week.
Free ATS Pick
The Bruins had high expectations, but a lot of close losses and the injury to Rosen has really taken the wind out of their sails. If he was healthy, this could be prime upset territory, but a backup quarterback against a good defense is a bad combination.
Fafaul showed he could move the ball last time out against Utah, but the four interceptions were too many. UCLA won’t be able to pull the upset unless it takes better care of the ball.
Colorado just has too many playmakers on defense and will make life tough on the Bruins. The Buffaloes should emerge with the win, but the spread is too high in this one. UCLA should finally buck an awful season against the spread with a cover in this one.
College Football Odds: Colorado 23, UCLA 17
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