UCLA Bruins at Arizona Wildcats
Thursday, 10/20/11, 9:00 PM EST, TV:  ESPN
Opening Point Spread:  Arizona -3.5
Current Betting Line:  Arizona -3
Opening Total:  N/A
Current Total:  N/A
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

UCLA travels to Tucson to take on a program that has lost five consecutive games, as it comes off a bye week and tries to break a string of alternating wins and losses in the first six contests.  The Bruins are coming off a 28-25 win over the Washington State Cougars as four-point home favorites on Oct. 8, but have dropped the statistical battle in four consecutive games.  UCLA is ranked 30th nationally in rushing offense, averaging 194.5 yards per game, while the offensive line has allowed 0.67 sacks per contest, which is tied for 11th nationally.  UCLA is 1-5 ATS on the year and 11-19 ATS over the last two-plus campaigns.

The Bruins have had at least one rushing touchdown in each of the last 12 games, while being led by junior running back Johnathan Franklin, who has 509 rushing yards, averaging 6.6 yards per carry.  Quarterback Kevin Prince has returned to the starting role due to Richard Brehaut out till the middle of November with a leg injury.  UCLA hasn’t had much success in this series since 2004, posting a 2-5 mark and dropping four consecutive meetings.

Arizona will be playing its first game since the dismissal of head coach Mike Stoops, which actually may plan against the program in this matchup.  He played a large part in holding Thursday’s opponent to under 300 yards in the last four games in the series.  Stoops finished his career in the desert with a 41-50 record, but dropped 10 consecutive games against lined competition.  “I was concerned about the direction of the program,” commented Wildcats athletic director Greg Byrne.  “I felt it needed to be addressed.”  Arizona completed its first half of the season with a 1-5 record, posting a 2-4 ATS record in the process.

The Wildcats are led by quarterback Nick Foles, who has thrown for the second-most yards of any quarterback nationally, as the team has averaged 33 points per game in the last three contests.  Arizona will need to try and build some momentum at the start, getting outscored by a 55-17 margin this season.  The Wildcats have allowed at least 27 first-half points in each of the past three games, while allowing 196 rushing yards and 291.7 passing yards.  On the injury front, star wide receiver Juron Criner suffered a mild knee sprain in the first quarter at Oregon State, but early indications suggest that he will be on the field after the bye.

Bettors will likely back the Wildcats due to being 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings, while the Bruins are 0-6 ATS following a bye week.

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