The last four meetings have been won by . . . Fresno? Indeed, including three at the Rose Bowl. The Bulldogs are unintimidated by their big instate brothers. They might find motivation in getting the popular Tim Skipper moved from interim to fully installed head coach. UCLA might have trouble filling the tank after an energy-sapping defeat against Southern Cal last Saturday. When playing a regular season game after confronting the Trojans, the Bruins have stumbled in seven of the past 10. With seven defeats this season, incentive to win for a bowl bid has vanished.

This line makes no sense to me so I'm jumping on it early. UCLA hasn't won a game by more than seven points this season and now is favored by 9.5? Not only that, but they're favored over a team that is 6-5, whose only two losses of more than eight points were at Michigan (in Week 1) and at UNLV? Not only do I think the Bulldogs cover, I could see them winning outright. Fresno State 27, UCLA 24.