The UCLA Bruins and Stanford Cardinal will tangle for the second time in two weeks when they clash at Stanford Stadium later tonight (8:00pm ET start time, FOX). This time the stakes are higher, though, as the PAC 12 Championship is on the line. The latest 2012 PAC 12 Championship Odds have the Cardinal listed as a -9.5 against the spread home favorite. The Over/Under in tonight’s game is set at 45.5 points.
UCLA welcomed Stanford to the Rose Bowl last weekend knowing it had already secured a place in the PAC 12 Championship Game. Conversely, the Cardinal needed a win over the Bruins to secure their spot in tonight’s championship proceedings. That scenario probably played at least some part in UCLA, which had posted a 5-1 home record, being lined as a three point home underdog.
What is, no doubt, playing a major part in this week’s 9.5 point line is the 35-17 thrashing Stanford put on the Bruins last Saturday. The Cardinal, who has won six straight games, forced two UCLA turnovers and held the Bruins rushing attack to 73 yards on 33 carries (2.2 ypc) in the lopsided contest.
UCLA bounced back well from its previous two losses this season, defeating Colorado 42-14 after a 27-20 loss to Oregon State and knocking off Utah 21-14 following an ugly 43-17 setback at Cal; however, the Bruins have not done anything well against Stanford in recent seasons.
UCLA is 0-4 both straight up and against the spread in its last four meetings with the Cardinal and it is 0-3 both straight up and opposite the number in its last three games as a road dog in Palo Alto.
The Bruins are a nice team and a nice rebound story for which Jim Mora Jr. deserves a lot of credit, but they simply do not match-up well with Stanford. The Cardinal’s defense, as it already proved, can shut down UCLA and their ground game is capable of wearing down a defense that has spent too much time on the field.
Free Pick: Take Stanford -9.5. UCLA is 3-7 against the spread and 1-9 straight up in its last 10 games as a road dog with a total between 44.5 and 47 points (Under was 9-1 in those same 10 games).
2012 PAC 12 Championship Game Odds:
UCLA Bruins +9 (-110), Over 45.5 (-110), +290 (Moneyline)
Stanford Cardinal -9 (-110), Under 45.5 (-110), -350 (Moneyline)
College Football Free Picks: UCLA at Stanford Betting
What college football bettors need to know about UCLA Bruins at Stanford Cardinal on Friday (11/30/12) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Chris Andrews, with Vegas Runner and Chuck Edel.
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