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Washington has been a pleasant surprise so far this season. It isn't that people thought they would be bad, but they have been dominant through their first four games, which includes wins over Michigan State and Stanford. The Huskies will hit the road for the first time, but it will not exactly be in a hostile environment. UCLA is also 4-0, but has been playing it's home games before a friends and family crowd at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins' schedule so far has been unimpressive and their best opponent to date, South Alabama, almost beat them. I'll take the Huskies.
Washington is going to face a real test here in its first road game of the season, traveling to take on a 4-0 UCLA team that's got experience with Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback and a proven running attack led by Zach Charbonnet. But while the Bruins have an offense capable of making this game competitive throughout I think the Huskies get the win. UCLA has not beaten a top-15 opponent since the start of the 2016 season, going 0-11 in that span including an 0-6 mark in the Chip Kelly era.
The Washington Huskies have ascended to No. 15 in the country at 4-0, and will face a dynamic Bruins team led by fifth-year senior quarterback in Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Under first-year Coach Kalen DeBoer, the Huskies have a new level of play and confidence. Take the Huskies to win their first road game of the season.
I love getting this number at under a field goal. The Washington Huskies have looked dominant through their first four games. The Huskies have their first 4-0 start since 2017. Grad transfer quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been arguably the best player in the nation. The Huskies are one of four teams in the FBS that are 4-0 SU and ATS this season. On the other side, the UCLA Bruins are also 4-0 but it has been ugly. They have had no real competition and had to rally to defeat South Alabama at home. The Bruins defense has looked terrible and will be tested throughout this game. The Huskies have too much fire power for the Bruins to keep up with. Lay the points.
Washington was something of an unknown heading into the season, but it's looking like one of the best teams in the Pac-12 so far. New head coach Kalen DeBoer and transfer QB Michael Penix have combined to form an explosive and lethal offense that has the Huskies scoring 3.87 points per drive (7th nationally). The UCLA offense has impressed too, but it's done so against inferior competition compared to what Washington has already faced. This will be UCLA's first true test of the season, and I don't think the Bruins will pass.
We have a battle of unbeaten Pac-12 teams that are off to impressive starts to the season. This is the first real test for the UCLA Bruins in my opinion, and they are taking on a Washington squad that's getting excellent play from Indiana transfer Michael Penix Jr. What's even more impressive is that their defense is significantly better than last year. Washington looks to be on a mission, and come into this game with a much sturdier resume than the Bruins.
This feels about 6 points high in my opinion. The Huskies have been dynamic offensively but also haven't played a road game yet and that does matter -- even if UCLA isn't exactly hostile territory. On the flip side, UW has been great stopping the run in allowing only 2.6 yards per carry so the Bruins probably aren't putting up a ton of points. UCLA has outscored its four opponents this season 78-21 after halftime with two second-half shutouts. I think we're looking at something like 30-27 here, although I don't care who wins.
Washington has won and covered all four of its games, but this will be its first road test. However, the attack mode of the offense behind QB Michael Penix Jr. has shown me all I need to know in order to feel comfortable about laying points. The Huskies have the No. 1 passing offense in the nation, beating Stanford and Michigan State handily with it. UCLA comes with a balanced attack, but I’m expecting its ground game to be slowed. The Bruins haven't played anyone good yet, although South Alabama gave them a scare two weeks ago in a 32-31 victory. Take Washington to cover.