California Golden Bears (5-6) vs. UCLA Bruins (7-4)
California Golden Bears vs. UCLA Bruins 11/25/23 – The California Golden Bears (5-6) will face the UCLA Bruins (7-4) in a Pac-12 matchup on Saturday, November 25th at 10:30 PM ET at the Rose Bowl. This late-season NCAAF showdown features two teams looking to finish the year strong and has implications for bowl eligibility. Our NCAAF top picks predict a competitive affair between these conference foes.
The Golden Bears’ offense runs through dual-threat quarterback Fernando Mendoza and running back Jaydn Ott. Mendoza is completing over 60% of his passes with 11 touchdowns through the air, while Ott has racked up a whopping 1180 rushing yards to go along with 11 scores on the ground. Together they anchor a unit averaging close to 30 points per game over their last 3 outings. Defensively, Cal has struggled at times but has talent in the secondary capable of generating turnovers.
For UCLA’s quarterback Dante Moore has shown promise in his first year under center, throwing for over 1300 yards with 10 touchdowns. However, he’s been turnover-prone at times with 7 interceptions already on the year. His top target is receiver Logan Loya, who has reeled in 49 passes for 562 yards. On the ground, Carson Steele has been a workhorse with nearly 800 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. The Bruins defense has battled inconsistency and injuries for much of the season but still boast an athletic front seven that can get after opposing quarterbacks.
California Golden Bears vs. UCLA Bruins 11/25/23 Game Info
| When: | Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 10:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Rose Bowl |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Fernando Mendoza QB vs. Dante Moore QB
Mendoza has rebounded after a rocky start to put together an efficient season. He is completing over 60% of his passes and has thrown multiple touchdowns in 3 of his last 4 games. Mendoza excels at spreading the ball around and could find success exploiting UCLA’s vulnerable secondary. His mobility allows him to buy time and make plays under pressure. Moore has flashed potential in his first year starting but can be turnover-prone, with 7 interceptions on the year. He has a big arm and thrives when given time in a clean pocket. The Bruins’ offense flows through Dante Moore, making his decision-making crucial in this matchup. If he avoids mistakes, his playmaking gives UCLA a decisive edge.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: UCLA Bruins -9.5, Total Odds: 50.5
Our analysis projects this to be a competitive matchup, making taking the points with underdog Cal appealing. The OVER on the low 50.5 total also holds some value based on the strengths of both offenses. Betting trends support high scoring, with Overs hitting in many of Cal and UCLA’s recent games.
California Golden Bears Betting Trends
The Golden Bears are just 3-6 against the spread in their last 9 contests, struggling to cover as underdogs. However, road clashes with UCLA have been tightly contested, with 6 of the last 7 meetings going UNDER the total. Cal will need to break this trend if they want to keep up on the scoreboard. The OVER has hit in 5 of their last 6 overall, showing the potential of their Fernando Mendoza-led offense.
UCLA Bruins Betting Trends
It’s been a disappointing year ATS for UCLA, with a 5-10 ATS record in their last 15 matchups. The Bruins have also trended UNDER at home, with 4 of their last 5 at the Rose Bowl finishing below the total. In 9 of their last 10 games against Cal, the UNDER has cashed as well. The trends clearly point to a low-scoring defensive battle on Saturday night.
California Golden Bears vs. UCLA Bruins 11/25/2023 Betting Picks
Our analysis shows situational betting value on the underdog Golden Bears catching over 9 points against an inconsistent UCLA group. Cal has proven capable of hanging around in Pac-12 play, covering spreads in recent road matchups with Washington State and Oregon State. We predict Fernando Mendoza and Jaydn Ott will find offensive success to match the Bruins. For our top handicapper insights, the trends also suggest Cal continues recent UNDER success when facing UCLA. The total remains low at just 50.5 points and we foresee their stout defense limiting Dante Moore and the explosive Bruins passing game.
Free Pick and Prediction: California Golden Bears 28, UCLA Bruins 24