A Big Ten matchup is upon us in Lincoln, where the UCLA Bruins (2-5) take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-3). The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET and can be streamed live on Big Ten Network.
Despite the win in Piscataway during Week 8, it’s very fair to speculate that UCLA is among the worst college football programs in 2024. The Bruins surprised us all, beating Rutgers on the road, 35-32, but before that, struggled to gain any momentum.
Nebraska has been victim to two straight matchups. Most recently, it lost to Ohio State in a tight battle, 21-17, but in Week 8, it got brutalized by Indiana in Bloomington by the score of 56-7. It forced the Huskers to do some introspection after impressing the nation with their early 5-1 start.
Nebraska is a 6.5-point favorite with a 39.5-point over/under.
Where does the betting value lie? Read more for my UCLA vs Nebraska predictions and college football picks for this NCAAF Week 10 matchup.
UCLA vs Nebraska Prediction
- UCLA vs Nebraska Pick: Nebraska -6.5
My UCLA vs Nebraska best bet is on the Cornhuskers to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at DraftKings, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
UCLA vs Nebraska Odds
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -105 | 39.5 -110o / -110u | +210 |
| Nebraska Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -115 | 39.5 -110o / -110u | -258 |
- UCLA vs Nebraska Point Spread: UCLA +6.5 (-105) · Nebraska -6.5 (-115)
- UCLA vs Nebraska Total: Over/Under 39.5 (-110o / -110u)
- UCLA vs Nebraska Moneyline: UCLA +210 · Nebraska -258
UCLA vs Nebraska Preview
UCLA Bruins Betting Preview: Incompetent In All Facets
Oh, where to start with UCLA?
It’s just very ugly for the Bruins, and I think they’ll be ecstatic when this season is over. Quarterback Ethan Garbers is doing the best he can. However, it’s never easy when your offensive line makes life miserable for you – ranking 115th in Havoc allowed.
The underlying numbers don’t look great, as the Bruins throw the ball at a top-10 rate yet are ranked 116th in Passing Play Success Rate, 113th in PPA and 109th in explosiveness.
Garbers has been a victim of a myriad of issues, and turnovers are one of them. While he’s completing passes at a solid 64% and has thrown for eight touchdowns, he’s coughed it up nine times.
He has decent options available in Moliki Matavao, Rico Flores Jr., and Logan Loya, but when he’s constantly on the run, it’s hard to make plays happen.
Surely, the run game has to be better, right? Guess again.
Running back T.J. Harden has received the bulk of the carries, and he’s averaging a lowly 2.9 yards per carry. If that’s not enough for you, UCLA, as a whole, not only runs the ball at a bottom-10 rate but it’s ranked 123rd in Rush Success Rate.
The only thing UCLA does at a high level is stopping the run, which works out because Nebraska runs the ball at a high rate.
Carson Schwesinger is a madman, ranking 18th in the FBS in total tackles, and has registered 6.5 tackles for loss as well as two sacks.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Preview: Can the Huskers Bounce Back?
It’s starting to seem like teams are figuring out Dylan Raiola.
The freshman quarterback ascended the Huskers – who finished 5-7 last season – to a 5-1 start six weeks into the season. Raiola’s numbers still look decent (66% completion rate, 9 TD), but he’s thrown four interceptions in the past two matchups.
I’ll always be a Raiola guy, but this stretch has shown that he’s not invincible. Luckily, he has a myriad of weapons to help. Both Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor have formed a legitimate chemistry with him, both averaging at least 14 yards per carry and combined for six touchdowns.
The run game is a bit complicated, though.
Nebraska has a solid three-headed committee featuring Dante Dowdell, Emmett Johnson and Rahmir Johnson. None are spectacular nor explosive, but they get the job done. The Huskers are 42nd in Rush Success Rate and 39th in PPA.
Dowdell is the primary back who has found the endzone six times, but he only averages 4.3 yards per carry. Both Johnsons are fine, but Emmett is leaned on a little more, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
Defensively, this team is also an enigma. The Huskers don’t do a great job at stopping the run, but luckily, as mentioned, UCLA is terrible on the ground. They’re also decent against the pass, ranking 42nd in Pass Play Success Rate allowed, and the presence of Isaac Gifford is immense.
The problem is that the Huskers will be without defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr., who injured his hamstring in the fourth quarter of last week's game. So it'll be interesting to see Jeremiah Charles step up in his place.
UCLA vs Nebraska
Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how UCLA and Nebraska match up statistically:
UCLA Offense vs. Nebraska Defense
 |  Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 133 | 72 | |
| Line Yards | 133 | 64 | |
| Pass Success | 62 | 51 | |
| Havoc | 118 | 17 | |
| Finishing Drives | 123 | 25 | |
| Quality Drives | 56 | 18 | |
Nebraska Offense vs. UCLA Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 69 | 106 | |
| Line Yards | 58 | 56 |  |
| Pass Success | 64 | 114 | |
| Havoc | 88 | 97 | |
| Finishing Drives | 124 | 127 | |
| Quality Drives | 70 | 128 | [0]0 |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 56 | 31 |
| PFF Coverage | 98 | 66 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 59 | 125 |
| Middle 8 | 32 | 34 |
| Seconds per Play | 30.5 (126) | 28.7 (103) |
| Rush Rate | 44% (126) | 51% (77) |
UCLA vs Nebraska Pick & Prediction
These numbers are pretty interesting. The total is set at 39.5, while the spread is set at 6.5.
Given how opposite these programs are, those numbers are surprising to me, but given the trends that each is on, I suppose it makes sense.
UCLA had a surprising one when it beat Rutgers and Nebraska has lost two in a row. However, Nebraska was super close to upsetting Ohio State.
Two losses in a row, plus four interceptions in two games from Raiola looks bad, but a close game against Ohio State is much better than it looks. I still think UCLA is terrible, so I’m happily taking Nebraska at -6.5.
Pick: Nebraska -6.5 (-115)
UCLA vs Nebraska Start Time, Channel, Streaming, How To Watch
| Location: | Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE |
| Date: | Saturday, Nov. 2 |
| Kickoff Time: | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | Big Ten Network |
UCLA vs Nebraska will be played at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 3:30 p.m. ET. You can stream the game live on Big Ten Network.
