194 Indiana at UCLA

The Hoosiers start the Curt Cignetti realm with four of five home games to start the season. This is the lone road game for Indiana. To their credit they have looked good with wins over Florida International and Western Illinois. But this is a big step up in class, and a rare trip to the west coast in the new BIG10. We’ve talked in the past about eastern teams heading west of the Mississippi. It hasn’t been pretty. In fact, we cashed USC plus the points over LSU in Vegas a couple weeks ago. Coming off combined wins by a 108-10 margin, means you are buying high on the Hoosiers. 

UCLA has extra time to prepare after struggling in Hawaii in a 16-13 victory. With Chip Kelly gone the Bruins turn to former star DeShaun Foster. He was promoted from running back coach, so he knows the players well. He brought in highly regarded Eric Bieniemy as his offensive coordinator. The UCLA talent level far surpasses Indiana, who has had the worst combined recruiting rankings in the league the last three years combined. 

We have the Bruins rated higher than the Hoosiers, and yet they are currently installed as a road favorite. At the start of the season UCLA would have been installed as a four point favorite, now based on three games against weaker competition, the roles and line has reversed. We aren’t buying it. 

PLAY UCLA

Good to -2