UCLA Football: Bruins are expected to be big favorites over Cincinnati
The UCLA football team are considerable favorites to win their season opener against the Cincinnati Bearcats this Saturday at the Rose Bowl, according to Vegas Insider.
It is almost time to start the 2018 season and with Chip Kelly coaching his first game with the UCLA football team, Las Vegas likes the odds of the Blue and Gold in their first contest against the Cincinnati Bearcats.
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The Bruns are considered the favorites by several Las Vegas sports books and looks as if the consensus has the Bruins as more than a two-touchdown favorite.
Vegas Insider Odds for UCLA vs. Cincinnati (as of 8/27)
- Line: UCLA -16.5
- O/U: -64
Like the Bruins, Cincinnati is a team in transition, though they head into their second year with head coach Luke Fickell, there are both positives and negatives affecting this team. The biggest is that they are in rebuilding mode. The Bearcats have some talent, but there are a lot of questions on both offense and defense.
UCLA on the other hand, despite finishing 6-7, returns a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Things should improve with the upgrade in the coaching staff as Kelly has assembled an experienced and staunch brain trust of coaches on both sides of the ball.
The offense has needed some time to get into gear, but the defense has been showing a lot of progress and should be the squad that helps the Bruins through some tough times early on.
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With that being said, having the Bruins as more than a two-touchdown favorite seems very possible. Though Kelly has yet to name a starter at quarterback, he should have his offense flowing by kickoff. UCLA’s first game of the season is this Saturday, September 1 at the Rose Bowl.