UCLA is coming off a disappointing performance against ASU, knocking the Bruins out of the national rankings and severely hurting their chances of winning the Pac-12 South. But despite that home loss, the oddsmakers still give them a considerable edge over Arizona this week.
Arizona (0-4, 0-1 Pac-12) has opened as a 16-point home underdog for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. MT matchup with UCLA, according to Vegas Insider, marking the first time this season the Wildcats haven’t been favored at Arizona Stadium. It’s also the largest home underdog they’ve been since being 24-point dogs against Utah in 2019 when they lost 35-7.
So it goes when you’re riding a 16-game losing streak, tied with Massachusetts for the longest active skid in the country.
The UA had been favored in its previous two home games, losing 38-14 to San Diego State as 1.5-point favorites and then falling 21-19 to FCS foe NAU despite being favored by 26.5 points.
Arizona hasn’t won outright as a home underdog since Sept. 14, 2019, when it beat 2-point favorite Texas Tech 28-14. The last time the UA covered at home was the 2020 season opener, losing 34-30 to USC but covering the 15-point spread.
UCLA (3-2, 1-1) has already won once as a road favorite this season, covering the 4-point spread two weeks ago in a 38-24 win at Stanford. The Bruins were last favored in Tucson in 2017, losing 47-30 as 3-point favorites, and last covered as a road favorite at Arizona Stadium in 2002.