UCLA at 80-1: A College Football Playoff Value Bet

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Pushing The Odds with Matt Perrault

UCLA’s 80-to-1 Odds Stand Out Amid an Unsettled Playoff Picture

The odds are fascinating. Ohio State is 4-to-1, Georgia is 5-to-1, Notre Dame is 5.5-to-1, Miami is 6.5-to-1, Indiana is 8.5-to-1, and Alabama is 11-to-1 despite not being in the bracket.

UCLA at 80-to-1 is especially interesting. There is still a lot of football to be played, but consider the Bruins’ potential path. Could they beat Georgia? It is hard to know, but Ole Miss could beat Georgia, and UCLA could then beat Ole Miss.

UCLA’s running attack resembles how Miami reached the national championship game against Indiana last year. Miami ran the football effectively and had a strong offensive line. UCLA has those same qualities under Bob Chesney.

People need to stop overlooking UCLA because Nico got hurt. The backup quarterback who played this weekend looks like the better option. He is a better passer, stands 6-foot-5, throws the ball downfield, and can see over the linemen. Chesney has a team that can play.

It will be fascinating to see whether UCLA can run the table. If the Bruins do, they could finish higher than a sixth seed. They have a big game against Michigan coming up, but they should win it.

UCLA’s remaining schedule includes Michigan State at home, Nevada at home, Minnesota on the road, Illinois at home, Michigan on the road, and USC at home. There is a strong chance the Bruins run the table. They could lose at Michigan, but Ohio State and Indiana are not on the schedule.

UCLA could end up as a fifth seed and potentially host multiple games. Chesney has a strong team and a schedule conducive to running the table.

At 80-to-1, the Bruins offer an intriguing number. Could they beat Texas Tech at home? Yes. Could they beat BYU on the road? That would be difficult, but UCLA’s running game could make it a close contest. Given how the Bruins are playing and the chaos across college football, there appears to be real value in that number. UCLA is a top-10 team this week.

Indiana, Miami, and Alabama also have interesting odds because the bracket is nowhere near complete, and their potential draws remain unknown. Alabama is currently outside the playoff, and there is uncertainty about whether the Crimson Tide will qualify.

Auburn’s victory was significant, meaning that matchup cannot be treated as an automatic win for Alabama. The Crimson Tide host Texas A&M this weekend in a game they should win, but a loss would create a serious problem. Alabama already has two losses, with games against LSU, Vandy, Chattanooga, and Auburn still ahead.