Utah Utes (0-0) vs. UCLA Bruins (0-0)
August 30, 2025 11:00 pm EDT
The Line: UCLA Bruins +6.5 / Utah Utes -6.5; Over/Under: 52.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Utah Utes and the UCLA Bruins meet in week 1 college football action from the Rose Bowl on Saturday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Utah Utes vs. UCLA Bruins prediction.
Utah Utes Team Preview
The Utah Utes come into the 2025 season looking to rebound from a disappointing 2024 season where the Utes couldn’t stay healthy and finished at 5-7 overall including 2-7 in conference play, their first losing season since 2013. Jason Beck comes in at offensive coordinator to help remedy an offense that really struggled, but Beck brings Devon Dampier with him from New Mexico after throwing for almost 2,800 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for another 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns. Wayshawn Parker transfers in after rushing for 735 yards and 4 TDs for Washington State, while Ryan Davis comes across to Utah as well from New Mexico. On defense, Lander Barton is back at linebacker after leading the Utes with 72 tackles last season while Levani Damuni is back with a clean bill of health after missing all of last season, a year removed from leading the Utes with 87 tackles in 2023.
Why the Utah Utes will win
- Utah has won each of its last six games against teams from California.
- UCLA has lost each of its last three games against opponents from the Big 12 Conference.
- Utah has covered the spread in each of its last seven August games against non-AP-ranked teams.
- UCLA has failed to cover the spread in seven of its last eight games against teams from Utah.
UCLA Bruins Team Preview
The UCLA Bruins come into the 2025 season hoping to rebound from a 5-7 mark in 2024 in year one under DeShaun Foster, the Bruins’ first full losing season since 2019. Nico Iamaleava transfers in from Tennessee to take over UCLA’s QB1 gig, and he’ll have his work cut out for him with a retooling UCLA receiving room. Jaivian Thomas transfers in from Cal after averaging over six yards per carry with seven TDs last year, but it can only go up from here for UCLA compared to last year. On defense, UCLA loses a lot of their tackling from last season and there weren’t many pieces for UCLA to grab from and replace.
Why the UCLA Bruins will win
- Utah has lost each of its last four games as a favorite.
- UCLA has won each of its last six games against non-conference opponents at Rose Bowl.
- Utah has failed to cover the spread in each of its last six games as a favorite against non-AP-ranked teams.
- The underdog has covered the spread in seven of Utah’s last eight games.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Utah’s last eight games in California have gone OVER the total points line.
- Nine of UCLA’s last 10 games at Rose Bowl have gone UNDER the total points line.
Utah Utes vs. UCLA Bruins Prediction
I’m backing the Utes here. I just feel like the Utes are the better coached team in this matchup, and I don’t love the QB pickup of Iamaleava for UCLA as I just do not see him as a difference maker for the Bruins this season. I like the stability that it looks like Utah is going to have with Dampier coming in along with Jason Beck at OC and I just think that Utah’s bad luck starts to turn here. Give me the Utes on the road in this one.
