2024 NCAAF Cheat Sheet: UCLA Bruins Stats & Odds
2024 UCLA Bruins Stats Could be Impacted by Loss of Defensive Stars to NFL
New Coach, New Conference, and Plenty of Questions for UCLA
It is a season of change at UCLA. Not only did head coach Chip Kelly leave to take over as the offensive coordinator at Ohio State, but the Bruins left the sinking ship that was once known as the Pac-12 Conference to join the Big Ten.
UCLA was ninth in the Pac-12 in scoring offense (10th in conference play) but second in scoring defense. What will the 2024 UCLA Bruins stats look like as a member of the Big Ten?
UCLA was 4-2 at home during the 2023 season with the Bruins favored in each of those contests. The Bruins lost two of the three games as a road underdog.
- The Bruins were 2-4 against the college football spread at home and 3-3 ATS on the road. UCLA covered in just two of seven games following a win but was 4-1 against the spread coming off a loss.
UCLA ranked last in the Pac-12 with just three games landing over the total and with just one of six road games going over the total.
At A Glance
| Odds to Win | Opening Odds | Current Odds |
| Championship | +20000 | +75000 |
| Conference | +11000 | +15000 |
| Regular Season Win Total | 5.5 (o -110, u- -110) | 5.5 (o -110, u- -110) |
| To Make Playoffs | Yes N/A, No N/A | Yes N/A, No N/A |
Quarterback Questions Aren’t Enough to Derail the Buckeyes
Indiana, Washington, and Michigan State are the only Big Ten teams to add more incoming transfers to the roster than UCLA. It remains to be seen if the quality matches the quantity as the Bruins had the 10th-best class of incoming transfers in the Big Ten. Keep that in mind when it comes to the 2024 UCLA Bruins stats.
Notre Dame receiver Rico Flores Jr., Washington quarterback Dermaricus Davis, Miami edge rusher Collins Acheampong, and Notre Dame offensive tackle Michael Carmody are among the top transfers as UCLA has some interesting pro prospects.
11 Bruins have been named to the 2025 @ShrineBowl 1000 watchlist 👀#DoMore #DRE pic.twitter.com/UO4rtUHk8f
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) July 30, 2024
It wasn’t all good news as quarterback Dante Moore transferred to Oregon, safety Kamari Ramsey landed at rival USC as did cornerback John Humphrey, and tight end Carsen Ryan went to Utah.
With the focus on the transfer portal, UCLA only signed 10 incoming freshmen. Receiver Kwazi Gilmer is the top-rated freshman signed by the Bruins.
UCLA legend DeShaun Foster is the new head coach with longtime NFL offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was hired to run the offense.
Jay Toia (@JayToia_102) on the culture Coach Foster is building in Westwood 🎙️#B1GMediaDays #DRE pic.twitter.com/ZjOB2RmML8
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) July 25, 2024
Bieniemy’s offenses with the Kansas City Chiefs were pretty explosive thanks to the talents of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He’ll get to work with Ethan Garbers at UCLA. In the four games when he attempted at least 20 passes during the 2023 season, he had eight touchdown passes and only one interception. If he keeps that up, that could impact the college football free picks.
Although leading rusher Carson Steele is now in the NFL, TJ Harden averaged more yards per carry and scored more touchdowns last season. Michigan State transfer Jalen Berger should help UCLA in its attempt to be an elite rushing team. Logan Loya is the top returning pass catcher. Steele and Loya could be solid college football player props options.
The defense will certainly miss pass rushers Laiatu Latu and Gabriel Murphy but have some top-notch run stuffers in the middle of the defensive line.
Leading tackler Darius Muasau is off to the NFL.
Championship Odds: Not Much Brewing With the Bruins
Not even the most creative Hollywood script writer could pen a finish with UCLA in contention for the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Kelly leaving UCLA to take a job with a program soon to be a conference rival speaks volumes about where the UCLA program is right now.
When looking at the potential 2024 UCLA Bruins stats, the Bruins lost 18 of their last 20 games against ranked opponents and now are joining a conference with multiple championship contenders so it could be a tough adjustment for the Bruins.
Conference Odds: Tough Early Matchups For Big Ten Newcomer UCLA
UCLA’s first conference game as a member of the Big Ten comes against Indiana and that is a game that the Bruins could win. That is followed by a matchup with Oregon, a team that joined the Bruins in making the move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten. Next up will be a game against Penn State so two of the first three conference games come against two of the top four teams in the Big Ten.
It will be interesting to see where UCLA stands after the Penn State game. Mix in a non-conference matchup with LSU and the first half of the season certainly has plenty of challenging assignments. UCLA doesn’t have to play either Ohio State or defending national champion Michigan so that is a break.
The schedule lightens up a bit with games against Minnesota, Rutgers, Nebraska, and Iowa before conference play ends with meetings with rivals Washington and USC.
Regular Season Wins: Can the Bruins Become Bowl-Eligible?
When looking at the 2024 UCLA Bruins stats, a 6-6 regular season would be a nice accomplishment with UCLA breaking in a new head coach in a new conference.
The Bruins could start 2-0 with wins against Hawaii and Indiana. Things get a little nasty after that with matchups with LSU, Oregon, and Penn State. Four wins in the final seven games could get UCLA to six wins. The final regular-season game is against Fresno State and UCLA fans would be thrilled if the Bruins have a shot at the sixth win going into that game.
To Make Playoffs: Not Going to Happen
With the College Football Playoff field being expanded from four to 12 teams beginning this year, there will be multiple Big Ten teams in the bracket. However, it is hard to see UCLA being one of those teams.
After four seasons in a row without playing in a bowl game, UCLA has gone bowling in each of the last two seasons. If the Bruins get to play in a bowl game this season, that would be a step in the right direction.
Side Bets
Perhaps Harden can make an appearance in the Heisman Trophy odds with a strong start to the season.
Before that happens, the best betting options might be UCLA listed by the college football odds as a 14-point favorite in the season opener against Hawai’i and the 55.5-point total in the game.
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