The best line for UCLA disappeared long ago, but with it still getting the hook, I'm willing to play the Bruins up against a Utes team that has not been as good as advertised this season. Utah opened with a home win over Florida in which the Gators basically gave them the game. Then they pushed against Baylor and failed to cover against Weber State only scoring 31 points against an FCS opponent. The Utes are injured and lacking offensively. The Bruins won by 10 against Cam Rising last season, even if the game was in Los Angeles. Dante Moore looks like the real deal, and I love how UCLA is running the football.

This has come down to the point we'll play it. UCLA might be really good but this is the first true road test for freshman QB Dante Moore and playing at Utah is simply unlike almost anywhere else (won 16 straight and 27 of past 28 there). Utes QB Cam Rising will not start but it sounds as if he is available, and I'm not sure it's a bad thing that electric dual-threat Nate Johnson continues to start. Utah's defense is definitely superior to its UCLA counterpart. We may not see these schools play again for many, many years.

Who woulda thunk at the start of the season that UCLA would earn the QB checkmark in this matchup? Freshman phenom Dante Moore has built confidence as UCLA has dissected a weak set of opponents; now he gets tested big-time on the road before a rabid sellout crowd. Cam Rising remains out for the Utes and again hands the baton to backup Nate Johnson. The Utes managed just 44 points in their two Power Five outings. Utah has undergone more injuries, says coach Kyle Whittingham, than in any season through four decades. Chip Kelly, able to pull starters in one-sided wins, sends out a healthier bunch. x

Utah has won 16 straight games at Rice-Eccles Stadium, with only two of them (Oregon State in 2020 and USC in 2022) by less than 10 points. UCLA's true freshman QB Dante Moore has been impressive but he has yet to see an opponent like the usually rock solid Utes defense. Plus Utah owes Chip Kelly's team some payback for a surprise victory in the Rose Bowl for the Bruins last season. Utes win, 35-24.

The line has moved closer to UCLA's side from +6 to +5 after two steam moves on Sunday. The betting splits reflect this, with UCLA holding 40% of the tickets, but 76% of the handle. Power ratings say the line should be closer to UCLA +3.5, so there's still value here. Utah is a run-first offense, but isn't running the ball efficiently, averaging 4.34 yards/rush (72nd nationally) and 1.56 yards/rush before contact (100th). That's a problem against a Top-10 UCLA front seven that also averages 9 TFL/game (9th). No matter who suits up under center for Utah, UCLA has the better QB in former 5-star recruit Dante Moore. His efficiency rating is 2nd-best in the Pac-12, behind only Caleb Williams.