Friday nights conference match-up between the UCLA Bruins and Washington Huskies has high potential. Both teams are coming off dominant performances. UCLA easily toppled Colorado 45-17 while the Huskies offense crushed Stanford 40-22. Without a doubt this will be the Bruins toughest opponent yet. At 4-0, both teams are off to their best start in years. The dawgs haven’t had a 4-0 start since 2017 and UCLA’s last was in 2015. This contest will pin two top 20 offenses against each other in what is expected to be a high scoring game. After watching the Huskies dominate last week, I’m predicting Washington to come away with a victory.
UCLA Offense
The Bruins offense comes in averaging over 500 yards a game with an astounding 220 of that on the ground. They’re running the ball at around six yards per carry. These stats are expected to be muffled as they enter conference play against better teams. They racked these numbers up against lesser opponents such as Alabama State, Bowling Green, and South Alabama. Regardless of the opposition, 500 yards a game is still quite impressive. The challenging part comes in with Washington’s defense. They’re only allowing 89 rushing yards per game so somethings got to give. After eight sacks last week, I expect the Huskies defense to step up again and really slow down this Bruins offensive attack.
Penix Jr. and Huskies Offense
Washington has something special going on right now with their QB, Michael Penix Jr. The star studded junior has thrown for the most yards in the FBS this season. To say he’s been impressive to start the year is an understatement. In addition, the Huskies top two running backs, Taulapapa and Davis, are averaging 5.6 yards a carry. This offense has been scary. Plus you add in the fact that the Bruins lost Martin Andrus Jr. for the season. I know that UCLA will be a tough test but this Washington offense will be too much for the Bruins to handle.
Who Wins and Why
From a betting perspective, I’d take Washington’s first half moneyline. The Huskies have lived off jumping out to double digit leads by halftime. Their smallest lead at half was last week against Stanford in which they were up ten. I look for a similar trend to continue in Los Angeles Friday night. Maybe just under a double digit lead, but a lead nonetheless, I’m expecting Washington to hold on. The only struggle shown all season by the Huskies is in the 4th. It is the only quarter that the Huskies have not outscored opponents. If UCLA can stay within striking distance entering the fourth, they could have a real shot at upsetting the Huskies.
Related Content: Huskies Beat Stanford
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