UCLA opened up as a 31-point favorite, and now that it's down to 23, my alma mater is getting a little too much respect here. Bowling Green does return more experience than almost any team in the nation, but this is also a program that has gone 7-22 over the last three seasons and lost to Miami (Ohio) by 27, Toledo by 32, Eastern Michigan by 31 and Tennesse by 32 points last season. Yes, they beat Minnesota as a 31-point dog, but looking back, that game appears to me more of a fluke.
UCLA ranked 13th in the nation with 36.7 ppg last season and 14th with 215.2 rushing yards per game, which is a problem for a BGSU defense that has finished in the bottom-30 against the run nationally in five straight seasons. I think UCLA is being overlooked for only having two returning starters back on defense. Still, Chip Kelly hit the transfer portal hard and has talent on that side of the ball, definitely enough to overwhelm the Falcons. Bowling Green is 5-16 in its last 21 games played in September. I like UCLA.