According to our college football betting lines page, the Bruins opened as 2 ½ point road favorites. Now most sportsbooks list the Wildcats as either 1 ½ or 2 point favorites. Coupled with the fact that the public is playing UCLA at over a 70% clip, this game features meaningful reverse action. The wiseguys are coming down on the side of Kansas State.
Last season marked the return of longtime head coach Bill Snyder. Snyder led the Wildcat march for 17 seasons before a 3 year retirement, which ended with his return last year. This season the Wildcats are poised to go bowling again. On offense, Coach Snyder welcomes back the Big 12’s leading rusher from a year ago in senior Daniel Thomas. Thomas will be running behind a veteran offense line that returns four starters. And if the spring game is any indication of the Wildcats’ passing abilities, 2010 could be a special year in Manhattan. Senior signal caller Chase Coffman wowed everyone by throwing for over 400 yards and 7 touchdowns! Although Coffman will be throwing to a yet-unproven receiving corps, with standout Thomas in the backfield and some bruising hogs up front, this is likely one of the Big 12’s top offenses.
The defense brings back 6 starters and a host of JUCO transfers. The defensive line should be solid with the return of Brandon Harold, a freshman all-America two years ago who missed all of last season due to injury. The linebackers are thin, and unfortunately for Wildcat fans, JUCO depth will be added to the d-line and secondary. Speaking of the secondary, the two Wildcat returning safeties combined for 8 picks last season. This won’t be a defense on par with Nebraska or Oklahoma, but they’ll be tough, nonetheless.
UCLA also brought in a new, old face last season. Rick Neuheisel, a former UCLA quarterback, returned to his alma mater in 2009. The Bruins have a difficult schedule this season, and returning to a bowl seems to be a tall order. Neuheisel brings back 8 offensive starters, including sophomore quarterback Kevin Prince. But Prince has been hampered by a quadriceps injury and is listed as a game-time decision for Saturday. Two of the team’s top two pass catchers return, as do four offensive linemen and the team’s top rusher from last year. But freshman running back Johnathan Franklin totaled only 566 rushing yards last season. UCLA needs significant improvement on offense, and with the personnel returning, that isn’t beyond the realm of possibility.
The defense was decent last year, ranking 3rd in the Pac 10 in scoring at just over 21 points allowed per game. Only 2 of the front 7 return, though linebacker Akeem Ayers has the talent and athleticism to be a first round pick next April. Last year Ayers had 75 tackles, 6 sacks, and 4 interceptions. Having said that, the rest of the front 7 will be thin. There’s more reason for optimism with the secondary, though. Safety Rahim Moore led the country with 10 interceptions last season, earning 1st team all-America honors. Fellow safety Tony Dye had 73 tackles last year. Those two young men will have to pick up a lot of slack left by a questionable front 7.
There’s good reason for the wiseguys to side with K-State in this game. With the Wildcats ability to run the ball effectively, and what looks to be UCLA’s inability to stop the run, this has the makings for a blowout. With or without Prince, UCLA will have to play a nearly flawless game to come out of Manhattan – a very difficult place to play – with a victory. Like always, make sure to sign up for Maddux Sports college football betting picks to find Saturday’s guaranteed winning plays.
