UCLA, fresh off an upset of Nebraska, goes for a 3-0 start under Coach Mora when it hosts Houston Saturday night (10:30 pm Eastern). The Bruins, who lost 38-34 at Houston last year, are favored by 17 points over the Cougars, who are 0-2 after losing to Louisiana Tech 56-49.



View Houston vs UCLA Odds and Stats.

Betting Line: The Bruins were listed as 18-point favorites at sportsbooks on the Sportsbook college football line.

Power Rankings / Prediction: This game matches up the No. 23 (Bruins) and the No. 99 (Cougars) teams in the league, according to our current NCAAF Power Rankings at OddsShark. A 51-24 result in favor of the Bruins is predicted by handicapping models.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up UCLA's No. 18-ranked offense (42.5 PPG) against a Cougars defense that ranks No. 118 at 43 PPG. The Bruins passing attack has averaged 306 yards per game, more than the Cougars give up through the air (274.5 YPG on average).



In their last action, Houston was a 56-49 loser at home against Louisiana Tech. They failed to cover the 3-point spread as underdogs, while the combined score (105) was profitable news for OVER bettors. David Piland's 580-yard performance through the air wasn't enough last time out, as Louisiana Tech earned a 56-49 win over Houston on Saturday at John O`Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium.

UCLA won its last outing, a 36-30 result against Nebraska on September 8. UCLA covered in that game as a 4-point underdog, while the 66 combined points took the game OVER the total. Brett Hundley's 305-yard performance through the air was enough last time out, as UCLA earned a 36-30 win over Nebraska on Saturday at Rose Bowl.


Houston Cougars Trends:
When playing in September are 7-3
When playing on grass are 7-3
After outgaining opponent are 9-1
When playing outside the conference are 5-5

UCLA Bruins Trends:
When playing in September are 6-4
When playing on grass are 5-5
After outgaining opponent are 6-4
When playing outside the conference are 6-4

A few Cougars at Bruins trends to consider:
Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Houston is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Houston's last 10 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games
UCLA is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of UCLA's last 23 games at home


Next up:
Houston at Rice, Saturday, September 29
UCLA home to Oregon State, Saturday, September 22