EYES WIDE SHUT

Blinded from the blight — Despite UCLA’s 3-4 record and recent weak play, the unranked Bruins are still listed as 7-point favorites over 6-1 Utah, who is #19 in the Nation and beat sc earlier this year

As I have stressed multiple times here, a pointspread does NOT indicate what the experts think will transpire on the field.  Rather, all it means is that the Oddsmakers think that UCLA minus 7 will evenly split the incoming wagers, 50-50.  So I don’t think the Oddsmakers are foolish and ignoring recent results on the field — I blame the wagering public.

I’m not saying the Bruins won’t win by 7 or more, what with Home Field Advantage and Josh Rosen probably returning to action healthy.  But ON PAPER, Utah looks like the stronger, better team, and the odds should reflect that.  On paper, the Bruins will not be able to run the ball, and Utah will be able to pin their ears back and attack Rosen in the pocket.  That set of factors does not scream “UCLA by 7!”

There are three reasons that would explain this seemingly inaccurate spread:  #1:  Bettors almost always bet more on the Favored team, thus increasing the point spread (to tempt more people to bet on the Underdog); #2: Bettors tend to bet more on the more famous team with the better long-term reputation, so despite the fact the Utes are better right now than the Bruins, UCLA’s “NAME” is much more famous and recognizable to gamblers (especially in Vegas), which is why Alabama, Notre Dame, and Ohio State are often favored by more than reality would indicate; and finally, #3:  Bettors often lean towards HOME teams, and this game does happen to be at the Rose Bowl.

So based on all of that, I could see the Bruins being pegged as maybe a 3-point Favorite.  On a neutral field, the Utes should be favored by 3, and if the game were in Utah, the Bruins should be 7-point underdogs, at least.  So for the bettors to make the Bruins favored by 7 in Pasadena seems like a stretch.

Speaking of stretches… and cheer stunts, and dance moves, here are 65 more photos of the UCLA Cheerleaders, doing what they do best…