Colorado vs. UCLA point spread: Picking Buffaloes vs. Bruins

With the lines revealed for Colorado–UCLA, it’s time to pick the winner from On3’s Andy Staples and Clark Brooks, aka Stat Cat.

The Buffaloes had a week off to get healthier following a disastrous loss to Stanford. UCLA meanwhile maintained its standing in the top 25 rankings.

Staples and Stat Cat aka Clark Brooks took a look at the line and made their selections, so place your bets. UCLA is listed as a 17.5 point favorite with the total set at 63.5

“Who’s gonna be quarterback (for UCLA),” Stat Cat said on Andy Staples On3. “I mean Dante Moore lost his job it looks like because again in those losses he was giving opponents extra possessions and that’s usually not a good recipe for success even if you are an offensive mastermind like Chip Kelly … Even with Travis Hunter, Colorado’s defense, they’re in the triple digits and EPA run and EPA per pass.

“So I think it’s gonna be a matter of pick your poison for Mr. Kelly and how to attack this defense and even though Shedeur Sanders, he does have some wins, has some explosiveness, he’s not necessarily the most consistent quarterback because of that offensive line that’s undersized.”

It’s basically nothing new for Colorado, according to Stat Cat.

“That has been a consistent narrative and now they are in the meat of their schedule, and UCLA I do think they have the size to give them problems,” Stat Cat said. “I think it’s just going to be an easy walk away win for the Bruins here at home.

“I think Carson Steele has another multi touchdown game, I think he averaged over four yards after contact, love his running style that bruising Bulldog running style of his but yeah, I just don’t think there’s going to be enough firepower for the Buffs to keep a close. Even after that bye week to get them right.”

Staples agreed regarding the pick. It’s more about questions regarding Colorado’s defense against UCLA’s offense.

“T​hey have a lot of ways to beat you and that’s what concerns me for Colorado’s defense,” Staples said. “They’re gonna keep chucking to try to score, try to keep up, which probably leads to some mistakes, probably leads to some turnovers. So yeah, I’m gonna take UCLA to cover here, but I’ll be curious you know, this is a 7:30pm Eastern Time ABC game, Coach Prime, the shine’s off, though I think everybody who really follows college football is still very impressed with the job that he’s done. 

“Four wins cashes your season total ticket because it was 3.5. The question is, can they make a bowl game now and they should have beaten Stanford. Now they gotta win (two of their last four) and I don’t see two wins on it. But I am curious to see what happens. I just wonder will the group of fans that was coming to watch Coach Prime, the 10 million people who watched Colorado-Colorado State, do they have that same energy now or have they moved on to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce?

Despite buzz wavering regarding Deion Sanders and company, particularly after the 3-0 start, UCLA head coach Chip Kelly is a big fan.

“Yeah I know him, actually he brought Shedeur [Sanders] to camp, so we had Shedeur here at camp a couple years ago,” Kelly said. “I think he’s great, I think he’s done an unbelievable job there. I think he’s great for college football, I think the attention and the buzz that he’s brought to this game.”

Colorado heads to No. 23 UCLA for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff Saturday night.