College Football’s Must See Games – UCLA vs. Tennessee (Sept. 12)

UCLA Bruins at Tennessee Volunteers

Saturday, September 12

BetOnline NCAA Football Betting Odds: TENNESSEE -6

Here are some of the NCAA college football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* UCLA has lost four of its last five games SU

* UCLA has covered six of its last nine games

* UCLA has played seven of its last eight games UNDER the total

* UCLA has lost 14 of its last 18 road games SU

* UCLA has played four of its last six road games UNDER the total

* TENN has played ten of its last 11 games UNDER the total

* TENN has won 12 of its last 15 home games SU

* TENN has played ten of its last 11 home games UNDER the total

* TENN is 7-3-1 ATS in its last 11 games as a home favorite

* UCLA has covered each of the last four meetings

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Lane Kiffin became a whipping boy for Oakland Raider fans and eventually owner Al Davis, and he was embarrassed by that bizarre press conference in which David ripped into his beleaguered coach. However, Kiffin got himself a golden parachute, as Tennessee’s administration lost its patience with Phillip Fulmer and announced that Kiffin will be the new head coach.

What must be remembered is that Kiffin was a pretty well-regarded assistant when he was with USC as offensive coordinator. He’s good with quarterbacks, supposedly, and that might be good news for Jonathan Crompton, who had a rough time of it as a junior last year, completing just 51.5% of his passes for four TD’s in his first year starting in place of departed Erik Ainge. Also remember that Kiffin was a good recruiter, and he bagged a major catch by bringing aboard freshman Bryce Brown, who was considered to be the best high schooler at the running back position. Lane didn’t have to do a big recruiting job to bag another whale, his father Monte Kiffin, who gathered a reputation over the years as one of the top defensive coordinators in the NFL, and in fact a man who helped revolutionize defense through his Tampa 2 coverage’s.

So there is reason to be optimistic in Knoxville.

At UCLA they have their own legendary assistant in Norm Chow, who runs the offense, but there is still some uncertainty because the Bruins were not able to run the ball at all last season (just 993 yards a 2.6 ypc). What’s more alarming is that there is not a newcomer on the horizon who would appear to make a difference. Sure, the offensive line is better, but someone has to run through that hole. The quarterback position was manned by Kevin Craft, who tossed 20 interceptions (with just 7 TD’s) in 2008; it has, at least for now, been handed over to redshirt freshman Kevin Prince who will be playing his second game in two years, in front of 105,000 hostile fans, in this matchup. This thing is far from settled.

There has to be a triggerman for UCLA, but if the evidence from the NFL is any indication, Kiffin’s defenses often play havoc for newcomers or those lacking talent. This is the major challenge for UCLA’s quarterback, whether it’s Prince or Craft. So is the presence of superstar safety Eric Berry, who may be able to help Tennessee cut off half the field. "I’ve never seen him rattled in the pocket," UCLA cornerback Alterrain Verner said of Prince. Yeah, they also said that about Michael Vick, until Monte Kiffn started giving a few of his patented disguised coverage’s.

Also, not for nothing, but Pete Carroll, one of Lane Kiffin’s coaching mentors, will never let him hear the end of it if he doesn’t beat a relatively weak UCLA team. I know UCLA has covered four straight meetings, including a dramatic come-from-behind overtime victory in last year’s meeting, but I don’t think the Bruins are ready for this quite yet. I’ll lay the points with Tennessee, the six-point favorite in the BetOnline NCAA college football betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: TENNESSEE -6 ***

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)