Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs UCLA Bruins Matchup

Check out our free UCLA Bruins vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights pick and preview for this CFB week 8 game in Piscataway. See who we like to win and cover the spread in this week 8 CFB matchup.

Heading into this week 8 matchup, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights are the -4.5 point spread favorite over the UCLA Bruins. The game is set for 12:00 ET at SHI Stadium in Piscataway and will be broadcast on FS1. The over/under line is currently at 40.5 points. The Scarlet Knights are 4-2 on the season, while the Bruins are looking to improve on their 1-5 record.

Bruins vs. Scarlet Knights Matchup At A Glance

Sport: CFB
Teams: UCLA Bruins at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Where: Piscataway at SHI Stadium
Date: Saturday, October 19th
Betting Odds RUTGER -4.5, UCLA +159 | RUTGER -192 O/U 40.5

Bruins Preview:

UCLA enters Week 8 with a 1-5 record and just a 1.1% chance of becoming bowl-eligible. The Bruins are 0-3 at home but have gone 1-2 on the road this season. They rank 74th in our power rankings ahead of their matchup against Rutgers.

UCLA’s average scoring margin is -14 points per game, and they are 3-3 against the spread. They’ve been favored in just one game this season, going 0-1 ATS as the favorite and 3-2 ATS as the underdog.

The Bruins’ over/under record is 1-5, with their games averaging 43 points. Their average over/under line has been 49.6 points, and this week’s line is set at 40.5 points.

Bruins Offense Breakdown

UCLA’s offense has struggled this season, averaging just 14.5 points per game, which ranks them 97th in the nation. They are also 96th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 8. Their third-down conversion rate is low at 33.8%, and their rushing game is almost non-existent, with only 60.7 yards per game on the ground, placing them last in the country.

Ethan Garbers leads the passing attack with 1,101 yards, and UCLA ranks 42nd in passing attempts per game. Garbers has thrown nine interceptions compared to just four touchdowns, resulting in a passer rating of 66. UCLA is 124th in the nation in passer rating. T.J. Harden leads the team in rushing with 166 yards, while Rico Flores Jr. has 187 receiving yards.

Bruins Team Defense

UCLA's defense has been strong against the run, allowing just 93.5 rushing yards per game, ranking 16th nationally. In their recent game against Minnesota, they gave up only 41 rushing yards on 24 attempts. However, the secondary has struggled, allowing 265.7 passing yards per game, which ranks 138th in the country.

Against Minnesota, UCLA's defense gave up 21 points, including two passing touchdowns, while allowing 193 passing yards. They also allowed 19 first downs in the game. On average, the Bruins are giving up 28.5 points per game this season.

Scarlet Knights Preview:

The Bruins’ over/under record is 1-5, with their games averaging 43 points. Their average over/under line has been 49.6 points, and this week’s line is set at 40.5 points.

Scarlet Knights Offense Breakdown

Rutgers’ offense has leaned heavily on their ground game, ranking 19th in the nation in rushing attempts and averaging 200.7 rushing yards per game. Kyle Monangai leads the way with 739 rushing yards, seven touchdowns, and an average of 5 yards per carry. Overall, Rutgers is averaging 25.7 points per game, placing them 59th in the country, and they are converting 40.2% of their third-down attempts.

Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis has thrown for 1,050 yards, with eight touchdowns and four interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 78. Rutgers ranks 111th in passing yards per game, and they are 80th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 8.

Scarlet Knights Team Defense

Despite ranking 29th nationally by allowing just 20.2 points per game, Rutgers' defense struggled in their recent game against Wisconsin, giving up 42 points. They allowed 551 total yards, including 311 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Opponents have averaged 184.7 rushing yards per game against Rutgers, while quarterbacks have posted a 70.5 passer rating, averaging 187 passing yards per game.

Bruins vs Scarlet Knights Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their ten previous road games, UCLA has an ATS mark of 6-4. Their straight up record in these matchups was 5-5 while averaging 23 points per game.
Rutgers has played well in their previous three home games, going 2-1 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 21 points per game while allowing 20. The team also performed well vs the spread at 2-0-1.
The last ten games that UCLA was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 4-6 while going 1-9 straight up.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have played well in their last five games as the betting favorite, going 4-1 straight up and 3-2 against the spread.