Free College Football Picks Today: California-Los Angeles Bruins vs Stanford Cardinal 10/29/22

The No. 12 University of California at Los Angeles Bruins (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) and their outstanding rushing offense play host to the Stanford University Cardinal (3-4, 1-4 Pac-12), one of the nation’s softest ground defenses, at Rose Bowl on Saturday.

The Bruins are 16.5-point favorites, and the total is 66.5. Stanford is coming off a close 15-14 win over Arizona State at Stanford Stadium last Saturday. Tanner McKee threw for 320 yards and an interception. Casey Filkins ran eight times for 48 yards. John Humphreys caught eight passes for 90 yards.

UCLA lost 45-30 to No. 10 Oregon at Autzen Stadium last Saturday. Dorian Thompson-Robinson was 27 of 39 for 262 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Zach Charbonnet carried 20 times for 151 yards and a touchdown. Jake Bobo also scored once. He hauled in eight receptions for 101 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Bruins won the only game between the teams last season, a 35-24 victory in September. Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw two touchdowns for UCLA, as Kyle Philips scored twice. Tanner McKee tossed three touchdowns for Stanford.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Cardinal are averaging 25.1 points per game for the season, 91st in FBS, and they are facing a Bruins defense that has surrendered 25.9 PPG (64th). Meanwhile, UCLA has scored 39.9 points a game this season, 14th in the country, and Stanford is allowing 27.4 PPG (76th).

The Cardinal rank 35th in the nation in passing yards per game (273.7) and 103rd in rushing (124.0), while the Bruins are 95th in passing yards allowed per game (251.1) and 35th against the run (122.3).UCLA has been one of the country’s top rushing teams, averaging 207.9 yards per game (19th), while ranking 24th in passing yards (289.6).

Stanford’s defense has been beatable on the ground, as the Cardinal are 112th in the country in rushing yards allowed per game (187.6). Against the pass, the Cardinal are 46th (214.4).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through seven games, Tanner McKee has thrown for 10 touchdowns (6 INT) and 265.3 yards per game to lead Stanford in passing. In three away games this season, he has five TDs (1 INT) and an average of 246.7 yards passing. Casey Filkins leads the team in rushing with an average of 68.3 yards a game over seven games.

He has four touchdowns on the ground and three through the air. Michael Wilson is the Cardinal’s leading receiver with 69.7 yards a game and four TDs. Dorian Thompson-Robinson has 17 passing touchdowns (3 INT) with 253.1 yards per game through seven games to lead UCLA. In five home games this season, he has thrown for 13 TDs (2 INT) and an average of 255.2 yards.

Zach Charbonnet has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 127.7 yards a game through six games. He has seven touchdowns. Jake Bobo has been the primary target in the Bruins’ aerial attack. He has six touchdowns and a 69.4 yard per game average through seven appearances.