[9:05 PM] UCLA @ #15 Colorado

What will be the GAME RESULT?

UCLA: Wins or Single Digit Loss

@ #15 Colorado: Wins By Double Digits

Current odds:

UCLA (+9.5): (TBD)

Colorado (-9.5): (TBD)

• ESPN simulations have UCLA as XX% favorites to cover the spread.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Colorado to win as (TBD) favorites.

• The line for this game is Colorado by 12.5 points.

• Things are going so well for rejuvenated Colorado that the Buffaloes “won” their bye week, taking over sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 South Division and moving up to 20th in the coaches’ poll. Now, Colorado returns to the field Thursday night seeking its third straight win and fifth in the last six games when it hosts struggling UCLA.

• Rosen injured his throwing shoulder in the final minutes of an Oct. 8 loss to Arizona State and it was announced Tuesday he will miss the rest of the season which means senior Mike Fafaul will make his third straight start. Fafaul is coming off a wild, up-and-down outing Oct. 22 against Utah in which he threw for 464 yards and five touchdowns while also tossing four interceptions and losing a fumble in a 52-45 home loss. The Bruins’ defense is allowing 26.8 points and 368.8 yards per game and is anchored by defensive end Takkarist McKinley, who is averaging an FBS-best two tackles for loss per game.

• The Buffaloes are getting it done on both sides of the ball, joining Alabama, Ohio State and Louisville as the only teams to rank in the top-20 nationally in total offense and defense at 19th and 12th, respectively. Senior quarterback Sefo Liufau (1,179 yards, seven TDs in five starts) ranks third in the Pac-12 in passing efficiency while tailback Phillip Lindsay has rushed for 350 yards and a trio of TDs over the last two games. Defensively, the Buffaloes have been particularly tough against opposing passers, notching 11 interceptions while allowing only eight aerial TDs behind a secondary featuring safety Tedric Thompson (Pac-12-most four interceptions) and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (Pac-12-most 13 passes defensed).

• UCLA is 9-2 versus Colorado and has won all five Pac-12 meetings after close (35-31 and 40-37 in double overtime) victories the last two seasons.

• The Bruins are 13-9 against ranked opponents, including seven wins in the last 10 games, under coach Jim Mora.

• Special teams has been one of the few problem areas for Colorado, which missed three field goals in a 10-5 win over Stanford on Oct 22 and likely will be without freshman kicker Davis Price (mononucleosis) again

StreakSmarts Pick: Colorado: Wins by Double Digits

Confidence: 5/10