StatFox.com - Sports Handicapping Community

The Leader In Sports Handicapping

No. 25 UCLA hosts No. 14 Arizona Saturday night
By:   - 
Published: 11/1/2014  at  5:09:00 AM
  Print This Article    

ARIZONA WILDCATS (6-1)
at UCLA BRUINS (6-2)

Kickoff: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Line: UCLA -6.5, Total: 70.5

No. 14 Arizona looks for another big road victory in the conference as it visits No. 25 UCLA on Saturday night.

After losing two straight home games, the Bruins have bounced back with two road victories, though they have not been very impressive. They are coming off a 40-37 double-overtime victory against Colorado, a game in which UCLA (1-7 ATS) was favored by 14.5 points and started off with a 14-0 lead. The Wildcats are a perfect 3-0 SU (2-1 ATS) on the road this season after blowing out Washington State 59-73 last week. Last season, these two teams played a close game, with the Bruins escaping with the 31-26 road win. It was a very competitive game, as the numbers were very similar in just about every single statistic. Arizona (3-4 ATS) is 20-8 ATS on the road after ATS defeats in 4 or 5 of its previous six games since 1992, but UCLA is 33-17 ATS at home after 2+ straight SU wins in this same timeframe. While Arizona's injury are minor, UCLA could be missing two offensive linemen in Alex Redmond (ankle) and Simon Goines (knee).

Can Arizona stay unbeaten on the road this season? For the answer, connect to College Football Best Bets for all the StatFox Experts picks throughout the 2014 regular season and bowl season. StatFox Gary is heating up with a 67% ATS mark (6-3) in Best Bets over the past three weeks.

Arizona enters the game ranked eighth in FBS passing (348.4 YPG), 13th in scoring (40.6 PPG) and 42nd in rushing (193.4 YPG). The most impressive thing about these rates is that the offense is led by a freshman quarterback, Anu Solomon (2,430 pass yards, 20 TD, 4 INT). Solomon has shown great composure for any quarterback, especially a freshman, by completing 64% of his passes, and has taken more command of the offense as of late. The rushing attack is led by RBs Nick Wilson (100 carries, 592 yards, 7 TD) and Terris Jones-Grigsby (70 carries, 406 yards, 3 TD). Both of these guys have had injuries at different points in the season, but they are both fast running backs that do a great job of getting to the second level. Their ability to run the ball opens up mismatches on the outside. WR Cayleb Jones (46 catches, 670 yards, 7 TD) and Austin Hill (29 catches, 408 yards, 4 TD) are one of the best pass catching duos in college football. They both are very good at going up and catching the ball at its highest point, while both being able to get behind the defense with good speed. This unit has continued to improve as they play more together, so the best of this Arizona offense may be later in the season. Right now the defense ranks 81st in points allowed (28.3 PPG) while surrendering 448 total YPG. LB Scooby Wright III (78 tackles, 14 TFL, 9 sacks, 5 FF) may be the leader for the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Whenever the Wildcats need a big play, he is there to make it. He was the guy that had the strip sack that helped Arizona upset Oregon early in the season. S Jared Tevis (64 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 PD) is another guy on the defense that is all over the field, helping especially in the passing game.

UCLA ranks 29th in FBS scoring (35.8 PPG), 34th in passing (280.4 YPG) and 34th in rushing (214.1 YPG). QB Brett Hundley (2,056 pass yards, 14 TD, INT) not only has a big arm, but also provides big plays with his legs (415 rushing yards). He missed some time early in the season, but has been very sharp since returning, completing 71% of his passes. RB Paul Perkins (149 carries, 993 yards, 5 TD) has been great as of late, averaging 6.7 YPC. The Bruins needed someone to become the go-to running back to help take some of the pressure of Hundley. WRs Jordan Payton (47 catches, 664 yards, 6 TD) and Thomas Duarte (18 catches, 329 yards, 2 TD) have become two of Hundley’s favorite targets. Payton is a talented receiver that has both the size (6-foot-1) and strength (215 pounds) to be a matchup nightmare. The biggest reason why the team has struggled is the performance of the defense (89th in points allowed, 30.3 PPG). LB Eric Kendricks (93 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 INT) is the leader of the unit, while LB Myles Jack (62 tackles, 6 PD, 5 TFL) has the speed to cover the slot receiver, while also having the power to take on a 240-pound running back.


FoxSheets.com
The FoxSheets - the most advanced sports handicapping information available on the internet.
Sign up for professional sports betting information including fantastic trends, and Free FoxSheets.
E-mail: