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Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
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Expert Picks
Jumping on the Under here as the Buffaloes have allowed an average of 11 points in their past four games. Look for them to dictate the game at home and keep this one low-scoring.
The Buffaloes have covered all eight of their games, and they might have the most rapidly adjusted rating since the season began. The value is with UCLA, but the Bruins are only 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games, and QB Josh Rosen is out for the season. The angle I can get behind tonight is the total. In a conference full of explosive offenses, Colorado's defense stops them all, allowing just 18 ppg and 306 ypg. That is incredible, and they get better with each game. The Buffs have stayed Under in their last four -- let’s back them to do it again Thursday.
Colorado has one of the most improved teams in the country and has also been a bookie buster, with a remarkable 8-0 record against the spread. But that streak should come to an end Thursday night against a UCLA club that has lost three straight by 16 combined points and needs to win three of its last four to become bowl eligible. A season-ending injury to QB Josh Rosen and a leaky defense have hampered the Bruins, but they should play well as a two-touchdown underdog against a Colorado team whose best win likely came on the road against Stanford.
Now that QB Josh Rosen is done for the season, this game becomes that much tougher for the Bruins, who were already having issues on offense. The Buffs are stout in the secondary and are solid and efficient on offense with the best senior QB in the country in Sefo Liufau. They’ve had two weeks to prepare and I think Colorado's back seven will end up being the big story in this one.
The spread here shows the extreme about-face experienced by both programs this season. Colorado is enjoying its best season since joining the Pac-12, and already is bowl-eligible heading into Thursday’s game against UCLA. The Bruins have been chronic underachievers under coach Jim Mora, but an injury to star quarterback Josh Rosen has played a big role in three straight losses. Even so, my projections show UCLA is a big value side getting double figures in points against a potent but finesse Buffaloes squad. Grab the Bruins here.