Louisiana State Tigers vs Ucla Bruins Picks and Predictions September 21st 2024

From Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, the LSU Tigers are set to host the UCLA Bruins in a week four non-conference matchup. ABC will be covering the game, which is scheduled for 3:30 ET. The Tigers are the heavy favorite with a -24.5 point spread, and the over/under line is currently set at 55.5 points. UCLA enters the game with a 1-1 record, while LSU is 2-1 on the season.

UCLA vs. LSU Key Information

UCLA is looking to bounce back after a 42-13 loss to Indiana in their most recent game. The Bruins, who were +3.5 point underdogs, not only fell short of the upset but also failed to cover the spread. This defeat evened their record at 1-1 for the season. The over/under line for the game was 47 points, and the teams combined for 55 points, hitting the over.

Indiana jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but UCLA managed to close the gap to 21-7 by halftime. The Bruins added a field goal in the third quarter, and Indiana responded with a touchdown. UCLA’s only other score came on a touchdown in the fourth quarter, while Indiana added another 14 points to secure the win.

UCLA’s offense, led by quarterback Ethan Garbers, totaled 238 yards in their 42-13 loss to Indiana. Garbers completed 60.9% of his passes for 137 yards but threw one interception and ended with a passer rating of 59.51. The Bruins managed to convert 16 first downs but struggled to move the ball consistently.

On the ground, UCLA was limited to 96 rushing yards, with T.J. Harden leading the way with 48 yards on 12 carries. Harden also scored the team’s lone rushing touchdown. In the passing game, he caught four passes for 41 yards, the most on the team.

UCLA’s defense will be looking to bounce back after giving up 430 total yards and 42 points to Indiana. The Bruins were particularly vulnerable through the air, allowing 307 passing yards and four touchdowns. They also struggled to stop the run, giving up 123 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns.

LSU is now 2-1 after a 36-33 road win over South Carolina. The Tigers were -6.5 point favorites but ended up winning by just three points, failing to cover the spread. The over/under line was 48.5 points, and the teams combined for 69 points, hitting the over.

LSU trailed 24-16 at halftime but rallied in the third quarter, outscoring South Carolina 6-0. In the fourth quarter, the Tigers added 14 points while holding South Carolina to 9, securing the win.

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier led LSU’s offense to a total of 418 yards in their 36-33 win over South Carolina, throwing for 285 yards and two touchdowns. Nussmeier completed 60% of his passes and posted a passer rating of 88.02. Aaron Anderson was his top receiver, with five receptions for 96 yards.

The Tigers’ offense moved the chains 26 times, with 133 rushing yards. Caden Durham was the leading rusher, gaining 98 yards on 11 carries and scoring two rushing touchdowns.

LSU’s defense will be looking to tighten up after allowing 243 rushing yards and four touchdowns to South Carolina. The Tigers gave up 398 total yards but were more successful against the pass, allowing just 155 yards through the air on 11 completions. Despite these struggles, LSU’s defense did manage to come up with one interception.

LSU is the heavy favorite in their week four matchup against UCLA, with the point spread set at -24.5 in their favor. We expect them to win by a score of 43-16, making them a good bet to cover the spread.

The over/under line is 55.5 points, and with our projected score of 59 points, we recommend taking the over.

No. 16 LSU Looks to Bounce Back and Improve Against UCLA

After a narrow escape in their SEC opener, No. 16 LSU is determined to clean up their mistakes and deliver a more polished performance when they face UCLA this Saturday in Baton Rouge. Both LSU (2-1) and UCLA (1-1) had their share of struggles last week, and both teams will be looking for redemption as they head into this matchup.

For LSU, the focus is on self-scouting and making the necessary adjustments to avoid the kind of miscues that nearly cost them the game against South Carolina. UCLA, meanwhile, is looking to rebound after a rough introduction to the Big Ten, having suffered a heavy defeat to Indiana.

LSU’s Struggles Despite the Win

LSU’s 36-33 victory over South Carolina last weekend was far from comfortable. The Tigers found themselves trailing by 17 points at one point and had to rely on a late rally to pull out the win. Big plays from South Carolina’s offense, including touchdown runs of 75 and 66 yards, as well as a blocked punt, exposed weaknesses in LSU’s defense and special teams.

Tigers head coach Brian Kelly acknowledged that while the team’s resilience was impressive, there’s a lot of work to be done.

“The reality of it is it’s hard to win on the road,” Kelly said. “And given the fact that we made a lot of mistakes, we still found a way to win that football game. That’s incredible resolve and resilience amidst your group.”

While Kelly appreciated his team’s grit, he emphasized the need to evaluate both the scheme and personnel to prevent future breakdowns.

“The big takeaway is when you’re making mistakes, are you putting your guys in the right position? Do you have the right guys there? And are you preparing them for those scenarios?” Kelly explained, hinting at potential adjustments without committing to drastic changes.

LSU’s Season So Far: A Work in Progress

LSU opened their season with a tough loss to another Big Ten newcomer, USC, falling 27-20 in a neutral-site game in Las Vegas. They followed that up with a challenging home opener against FCS opponent Nicholls, where they led by just two points late in the third quarter before pulling away for a 44-21 win.

As the Tigers prepare to face UCLA, Kelly stressed the importance of focusing on their own improvement.

“This is a lot about us and how we clean up the things we need to clean up to be a better football team,” Kelly said. “As we’ve seen, everyone’s going to play their best against LSU.”

With their next game against a Big Ten opponent, LSU knows they’ll need to sharpen their execution, especially in their run defense and special teams, to avoid similar scares moving forward.

UCLA Searching for Consistency

UCLA, coming off a humbling 42-13 loss to Indiana in their Big Ten debut, is equally focused on bouncing back. The Bruins struggled mightily in that game, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Their running game has been virtually non-existent, averaging just 83.5 rushing yards per game through their first two contests.

Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster is determined to address these issues, particularly in the run game.

“The run game’s going to be fixed,” Foster said, expressing confidence in his team’s ability to improve. Despite the disappointing start, he praised his players’ character and resilience, saying they have the right mindset to bounce back.

“I just told them to keep that feeling that you had as soon as the game was over,” Foster said, referring to the loss to Indiana. “Bottle it up and have it out here every day this week and find a way to just not have that feeling.”

Running back T.J. Harden echoed his coach’s sentiment, emphasizing the need for the team to move on from the loss and focus on the task at hand.

“We’ve got a big game this week on the road, so we can’t just hang our heads low about last game,” Harden said. “It’s still early in the season, we still have a chance to redeem ourselves and move forward.”

Key Matchups and Areas to Watch

One of the key matchups in this game will be LSU’s run defense against UCLA’s struggling ground attack. With LSU giving up big plays in the running game last week, UCLA may look to establish their run game early to exploit any lingering vulnerabilities.

On the flip side, LSU’s offense will look to avoid the mistakes that have slowed them down in recent games. Quarterback Jayden Daniels has been steady but will need to continue making smart decisions under pressure to keep LSU’s offense moving. Additionally, special teams play will be a major focus for the Tigers, as the blocked punt against South Carolina nearly changed the outcome of the game.

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For UCLA, they’ll need to find a way to generate more consistent offense, particularly on the ground. If they can’t improve their rushing attack, they’ll likely struggle to keep up with LSU’s dynamic offense. On defense, the Bruins will have to find a way to slow down LSU’s multi-faceted offense and avoid letting the game get out of hand early, as it did against Indiana.

LSU Looks to Solidify Their Standing

As LSU prepares to take on UCLA, the Tigers are looking to solidify their spot among the nation’s top teams and continue their push for a strong season. A win over the Bruins would not only help them improve to 3-1, but it would also give them valuable momentum as they continue through their challenging SEC schedule.

While the win over South Carolina showed LSU’s toughness, they’ll need to address their issues on defense and special teams if they want to avoid similar nail-biters in the future. As Kelly and his staff continue to evaluate and make adjustments, Saturday’s game will be a critical opportunity to show improvement.

UCLA, meanwhile, is looking for redemption and a chance to get their season back on track. After a shaky start to their Big Ten journey, the Bruins will need to prove they can compete at a high level and avoid the mistakes that have plagued them so far. With both teams searching for consistency and improvement, this game promises to be a hard-fought battle in Baton Rouge.