Prediction, preview, and Betting Lines for Minnesota vs. UCLA

A week after almost saving the Michigan game, Minnesota went for a score on fourth and goal against USC with less than a minute left in the game.

The replay judges made a huge mistake because they could not be sure that the ball crossed the goal line, but no one on the Gopher side of Huntington Bank Stadium cared.

There are again dreams that Minnesota will go to a bowl game after their win over USC. They are now 3-3.

UCLA still needs to get its first Big Ten win and first win of any kind since barely beating Hawaii in the first game of the season. On November 8, they will play Iowa at home in their last game at home.

It is only their fourth match. The last time they played was in 1978, and UCLA won 17–3. The Gophers won the season before and beat Ohio State 21-3 in the Rose Bowl in 1962.

Minnesota vs UCLA Preview

Minnesota vs UCLA How to Watch
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2024
Game Time: 9:00 pm ET
Venue: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
How to Watch: Big Ten Network
UCLA (1-4), Minnesota (3-3)

Why Minnesota Will Win

Iowa ran the ball all day in its win over Minnesota, and USC marched all over the field. But the defence has not given up more than 200 passing yards and has kept all opponents to less than 375 total yards so far.

Since the Hawaii game, UCLA has not been able to get to 300 yards.

The Bruins are very bad at stopping third downs and moving the ball. They are also the worst in the country at moving the ball. Minnesota is going to grind some more. But…

Why UCLA Will Win

UCLA has not been bad at stopping runs.

When it comes to third downs, the Bruin pass defence is the bigger problem. However, Minnesota is at its best when the running game works.

It is 3-1 when running for more than 100 yards and 0-3 when it is less than that. Last week, UCLA held Penn State to 85 yards on the ground.

It is been hard for the Bruins, but they have been able to stay in most games. The Indiana loss got out of hand, but if UCLA’s offence could finally get going in a good way…

Minnesota vs UCLA: Who Will Win

The best pass defence in the country is in Minnesota, but Michigan and USC ran, so that is why they beat them. That is not possible for UCLA.

The Bruins have not reached 100 yards yet, but that is partly because they have not had time to work hard. They have not run 30 carries yet, which is almost everything here.

That 0-3 record for Minnesota where the run defence gave up 100 yards came from three games where the other team ran at least 40 times.

UCLA is not going to run 40 times.