Admittedly the UCLA Bruins did not live up to the hype in 2018. The arrival of Chip Kelly as head coach was touted as the renaissance of an underachieving program. Instead it showed just how long and hard the road will be for the Bruins. betting on NCAA football. At the onset of the 2018 season UCLA suffered a home upset loss to Cincinnati 26-17. The Bruins were 14.5-point favorites in Kelly’s first game. But the Bearcats proved to be the superior team. As a matter of fact, Cincinnati posted one of the best seasons in school history.
UCLA Bruins vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
| Date and Time: | Thursday, August 29, 2019, 7 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio |
| UCLA vs. Cincinnati TV Coverage: | ESPN |
Betting on NCAA Football Odds at SBG: UCLA +3.5, Cincinnati -3.5, UCLA +153, Cincinnati -173
UCLA Bruins vs Cincinnati Bearcats Overview
Last season was a banner one for head coach Luke Fickell and Cincinnati. UC posted a betting on NCAA football record of 11-2 straight up and 7-6 vs the odds. Cincy finished third in the American Athletic Conference East Division. Most important of all the Bearcats beat Virginia Tech 35-31 in the Military Bowl. UCLA finished a dreadful 3-9 straight up but 7-5 against the spread. On the whole Chip Kelly used the 2018 season to change the culture. To his dismay he discovered a country club atmosphere. Further, there were too many UCLA players that didn’t love football.
Reality Check for Chip
While at Oregon Chip Kelly became famous for his ferocious offenses and 46-7 record. Consequently, his hire was hailed as the greatest moment in UCLA history. Kelly proved to be no miracle worker. The Bruins program was in much worse shape than anyone realized. Following the worst start to a season since 1943 things slowly improved. A win over arch rival USC 34-27 helped lessen the disappointment of fans. Recruiting has not gone gangbusters. But team attitude has toughened. Of great concern was the lack of offensive production in 2018. Quarterback Dorian Thompson Robinson will have more help in 2019.
Not So Fickell Anymore
Cincinnati improved from 4-8 to 11-2 under second year coach Luke Fickell. Correspondingly the Bearcats ranked ninth in the nation for points allowed. Quarterback Desmond Ridder and most of the team returns.
UCLA and Cincinnati Betting Trends
Late on the Bruins have been in the red as an offshore betting away dog. UCLA has covered only six of their last 14 games getting points on the road. Four of their last six in that situation have gone under the total. By contrast the Bearcats have been a solid bet as home chalks recently. Cincinnati has paid in four of their last six laying points at Nippert Stadium. Five of those six games went over the total.
Matchup to Watch
To begin with UCLA will be much more of a Chip Kelly team this season. In the same way Cincinnati is a betting on NCAA football favorite to contend for the AAC title. With everything else being equal the dog looks like the best choice.
UCLA vs. Cincinnati Betting on NCAA Football Picks
In this situation UCLA is a dangerous revenge minded dog.
UCLA vs. Cincinnati Betting on NCAA Football Pick: UCLA Bruins
UCLA vs. Cincinnati Betting on NCAA Football Score Prediction: UCLA 21, Cincinnati 20
Check out Chip Kelly’s assessment of UCLA’s recruiting class!