UCLA vs Boise State Prediction, Pick & Odds: LA Bowl
UCLA will play host in the LA Bowl for the first time in Saturday's showdown against Boise State, and we're backing a Broncos star for our UCLA vs. Boise State prediction for the LA Bowl based on the best college football odds at our best college football betting sites.
In only the second occurrence during Chip Kelly's six-year tenure, UCLA (7-5) is headed to a bowl game. This time, the Bruins will host the Boise State Broncos (8-5) in the third edition of the LA Bowl.
Neither team enters Saturday's matchup at full strength, as is customary during college football bowl season. Earlier this week, Boise State QB Taylen Green transferred to Arkansas, and the Bruins have felt the impact of departures on their roster and coaching staff since the conclusion of the regular season.
As part of our look at all college bowl game odds, here is our best UCLA vs. Boise State prediction and our college football picks for Saturday's LA Bowl (odds via our best college football betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
UCLA vs. Boise State prediction: LA Bowl
Ashton Jeanty to score a touchdown (-135 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
All of the departures entering this bowl game make it a tough one to handicap, especially with so much uncertainty under center for both sides. But it makes this touchdown prop even more appealing.
Jeanty has been an absolute stud this season, leading the nation in scrimmage yards per game (164.9) while ranking fifth in total touchdowns (19). He would have been a coveted target in the transfer portal, too, if not for a reported $300,000 commitment from the Broncos.
He should have an even bigger workload than usual on Saturday when third-string QB C.J. Tiller is expected to make his first career start. The true freshman faces a tall task against a UCLA defense that ranked second in opponent EPA per dropback in the regular season.
That said, the Bruins will be without star defensive end Laiatu Latu - who won this year's Lombardi Award - along with three other key members of the secondary. They also lost prized defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn, who helped transform this defense in 2023.
If I were to bet a side here, I'd back Boise State (+4.5 via BetMGM) amid the mass exodus for UCLA, though I still have my concerns about Tiller in his debut. That's why I'd rather bet the Broncos' do-it-all back to reach paydirt, which he's already done in nine of 11 games this season.
Our Mike Spector has a pick for UCLA QB Ethan Garbers in his college bowl game player props and best bets for Saturday. Shane Jackson, meanwhile, is fading Boise State's backup running back in his favorite player props for Saturday's slate.
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UCLA vs. Boise State best odds
FanDuel (-135)
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | bet365 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeanty to score TD | Jeanty to score TD | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| -150 | -135 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Only two of our best sports betting sites are dealing player props for the LA Bowl, no doubt influenced by the fluid nature of this matchup given all the transfers this week for both sides.
When compared to the odds at DraftKings, we're getting a relative bargain on Jeanty's anytime TD odds at FanDuel, where his implied chance to score is roughly 57.5%. Given that Jeanty has reached the end zone in nine of 11 games (81.8%) and faces a depleted UCLA defense, we'll gladly take that price.
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UCLA vs. Boise State odds
UCLA vs. Boise State odds analysis
UCLA opened as a 2.5-point favorite over Boise State in the LA Bowl, and we've seen the market pounce on the Bruins, driving this line as high as 4.5 across our best sports betting apps with a rogue -4 hanging at DraftKings.
The total opened at 49.5 but has been bet down to 48.5 at most of our best sportsbooks, with DraftKings again sitting as the lone outlier at 49. Given the uncertainty under center for each side, we could see this total drop even further at our college football betting sites, though UCLA's defensive transfers should give Under bettors pause.
LA Bowl game info
- When: Saturday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
- How to watch: ABC
- Weather: 88 degrees, 6-mph winds, 0% chance of precipitation
UCLA-Boise State prediction made Thursday at 5:15 p.m. ET.
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