This is a big game because it’s audition time for the Bruins. Chip Kelly is taking over and a lot of players will be trying to earn jobs for next year. Play well in the Cactus Bowl and they’ll get in Kelly’s good books. This team will be motivated.
| Pointspread | -7 -105 |
| Moneyline | -270 |
| Over / Under | o +60.5 |
70%
30%
| Pointspread | +7 -115 |
| Moneyline | +220 |
| Over / Under | u +60.5 |
70%
30%
The Kansas State Wildcats and UCLA Bruins were both 5-5 after 10 games, which left both schools with no guarantees about their bowl futures. Fortunately, both teams were able to get just inside the cut line for bowl eligibility, and now they will get to play each other. This game has a lot of questions, which you will read more about below:
Wildcats vs Bruins Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 9 Dec 7:26pm | KSU | -2 -110 | O +63.5 -110 |
| Closing 27 Dec 1:46am | KSU | -6.5 -115 | O +60 -110 |
Kansas State opened up as a 2.5-point favorite but we’ve seen a little bit of buy back on the Bruins. The line now sits at -2. As for the total, it opened up at 63.5 but the pressure has been on the over and now the line sits at 65.
Kansas State was 5-1 straight up as a favorite this season but covered the spread in just two of those games. UCLA lost all four times as a dog this season, covering just once.
Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State played a lot of close games this season. They played Oklahoma very tough before narrowly losing to the Sooners at home, and they also fell short in tight contests with West Virginia and Texas. The Wildcats were 5-5 through 10 games but then closed the season with a road win over Oklahoma State (a team which finished the regular season 9-3) and a home win over an Iowa State team, which beat two top-five opponents in 2017. Kansas State also learned that longtime coach Bill Snyder would be back for the 2018 season, providing continuity for the bowl season and next year.
They should win because their offense does its dirt on the ground, and UCLA couldn’t stop anyone from running the football this season. The Bruins gave up 3400 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns on the season. All but three of their opponents ran for at least 200 yards. That’s terrible. All the Wildcats need to do is turn around and hand it off or run the quarterback, and they’ll be in great shape.
UCLA Bruins
The Bruins struggle on the offensive line. Accordingly, their top NFL prospect, quarterback Josh Rosen, got knocked out of the California regular season finale due to a big hit in the first half. Rosen is expected to play in this game against Kansas State, which is a bit of a surprise. He’s a sure-fire top-five pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and will have a shaky offensive line in front of him. Protecting Rosen is the Bruins’ biggest key to victory. If the Bruins can do that, they should be able to win easily. That’s because the Wildcats have a very weak secondary. They allowed 370 passing yards or more in six games this year, including Kansas. That’s ugly. Rosen and his soon-to-be NFL arm should have no problems finding the gaps.
Injuries
Dalton Risner (OL)
AJ Parker (DB)
Kendall Adams (DB)
D.J Reed (DB)
Dayton Valentine (TE)
Alex Barnes (RB)
Dalton Schoen (WR)
Alex Delton (QB)
Abdul Beecham (OL)
Cre Moore (DB)
Devon Modster (QB)
Jaelan Phillips (DL)
Lokeni Toailoa (LB)
Josh Rosen (QB)
Jaleel Wadood (DB)
Darnay Holmes (DB)
Krys Barnes (LB)
Ainuu Taua (DL)
Darren Andrews (WR)
Matt Dickerson (DL)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton Risner (OL) | Out Tues | Shoulder - 26 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Risner is dealing with a shoulder injury and is not expected to play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA. |
|||||
| AJ Parker (DB) | Ques Tues | Undisclosed - 24 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Parker is dealing with an undisclosed injury and it is unclear if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA. |
|||||
| Kendall Adams (DB) | Ques Tues | Foot - 19 / 11 / 17 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Adams missed the last game nursing a foot injury and it is undetermined if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA. |
|||||
| D.J Reed (DB) | Ques Tues | Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 17 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Reed missed the last game for undisclosed reasons and it is undetermined if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA. |
|||||
| Dayton Valentine (TE) | Ques Tues | Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 17 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Valentine missed the last game for undisclosed reasons and it is undetermined if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA. |
|||||
| Alex Barnes (RB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 17 / 11 / 17 | 1-2 | 1-2 | + - |
|
Barnes will be a game-time decision Saturday against Oklahoma State due to an unspecified issue. |
|||||
| Dalton Schoen (WR) | Ques Tues | Collarbone - 17 / 11 / 17 | 1-2 | 1-2 | + - |
|
Schoen missed the last two games due to a broken collarbone and it is undetermined if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA. |
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| Alex Delton (QB) | Ques Tues | Head - 05 / 11 / 17 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Delton missed the last three games with a head injury and it is unclear if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA. |
|||||
| Abdul Beecham (OL) | Ques Sat | Arm - 23 / 10 / 17 | 3-3 | 3-3 | + - |
|
Beecham is dealing with an arm injury and it is unclear if he will play Saturday against Kansas. |
|||||
| Cre Moore (DB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 23 / 10 / 17 | 3-3 | 3-3 | + - |
|
Moore is nursing an unspecified injury and it is unknown if he will play against Kansas on Saturday. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devon Modster (QB) | Prob Tues | Thumb - 26 / 11 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Modster has a thumb injury but is expected to play in the Cactus Bowl against Kansas State. |
|||||
| Jaelan Phillips (DL) | Ques Tues | Undisclosed - 26 / 11 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Phillips is dealing with an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against Kansas State. |
|||||
| Lokeni Toailoa (LB) | Ques Tues | Ribs - 26 / 11 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Toailoa injured his ribs and it is unclear if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against Kansas State. |
|||||
| Josh Rosen (QB) | Doub Tues | Shoulder - 25 / 11 / 17 | 1-1 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Rosen exited the last game with a shoulder injury and is not expected to play in the Cactus Bowl against Kansas State. |
|||||
| Jaleel Wadood (DB) | Ques Sat | Neck - 15 / 11 / 17 | 2-1 | 1-2 | + - |
|
Wadood missed the previous game with a sore neck and his status is uncertain for Saturday's game against USC. |
|||||
| Darnay Holmes (DB) | Ques Sat | Suspension - 11 / 11 / 17 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Holmes has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's game against Arizona State for a targeting violation. |
|||||
| Krys Barnes (LB) | Ques Sat | Lung - 05 / 11 / 17 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Barnes is dealing with a lung issue and it is unclear if he will play against Arizona State on Saturday. |
|||||
| Ainuu Taua (DL) | out for season | Knee - 05 / 11 / 17 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Taua will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL and MCL and dislocated his knee cap. |
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| Darren Andrews (WR) | out for season | Knee - 04 / 11 / 17 | 2-3 | 3-2 | + - |
|
Andrews injured his knee and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. |
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| Matt Dickerson (DL) | Out indefinitely | Collarbone - 29 / 10 / 17 | 2-3 | 3-2 | + - |
|
Dickerson suffered a collarbone injury and will miss an undetermined amount of time. |
|||||
Cactus Bowl Prediction
-
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
27 -
UCLA BRUINS
20
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 9 Dec 7:26pm KSU -2 -110 O +63.5 -110 Closing 27 Dec 1:46am KSU -6.5 -115 O +60 -110 -
Injuries
Dalton Risner (OL)
Out Tues Shoulder - 26 / 12 / 17AJ Parker (DB)
Ques Tues Undisclosed - 24 / 12 / 17Kendall Adams (DB)
Ques Tues Foot - 19 / 11 / 17D.J Reed (DB)
Ques Tues Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 17Dayton Valentine (TE)
Ques Tues Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 17Alex Barnes (RB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 17 / 11 / 17Dalton Schoen (WR)
Ques Tues Collarbone - 17 / 11 / 17Alex Delton (QB)
Ques Tues Head - 05 / 11 / 17Abdul Beecham (OL)
Ques Sat Arm - 23 / 10 / 17Cre Moore (DB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 23 / 10 / 17Devon Modster (QB)
Prob Tues Thumb - 26 / 11 / 17Jaelan Phillips (DL)
Ques Tues Undisclosed - 26 / 11 / 17Lokeni Toailoa (LB)
Ques Tues Ribs - 26 / 11 / 17Josh Rosen (QB)
Doub Tues Shoulder - 25 / 11 / 17Jaleel Wadood (DB)
Ques Sat Neck - 15 / 11 / 17Darnay Holmes (DB)
Ques Sat Suspension - 11 / 11 / 17Krys Barnes (LB)
Ques Sat Lung - 05 / 11 / 17Ainuu Taua (DL)
out for season Knee - 05 / 11 / 17Darren Andrews (WR)
out for season Knee - 04 / 11 / 17Matt Dickerson (DL)
Out indefinitely Collarbone - 29 / 10 / 17Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Dalton Risner (OL) Out Tues Shoulder - 26 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Risner is dealing with a shoulder injury and is not expected to play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA.
AJ Parker (DB) Ques Tues Undisclosed - 24 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Parker is dealing with an undisclosed injury and it is unclear if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA.
Kendall Adams (DB) Ques Tues Foot - 19 / 11 / 17 1-1 1-1 + - Adams missed the last game nursing a foot injury and it is undetermined if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA.
D.J Reed (DB) Ques Tues Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 17 1-1 1-1 + - Reed missed the last game for undisclosed reasons and it is undetermined if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA.
Dayton Valentine (TE) Ques Tues Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 17 1-1 1-1 + - Valentine missed the last game for undisclosed reasons and it is undetermined if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA.
Alex Barnes (RB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 17 / 11 / 17 1-2 1-2 + - Barnes will be a game-time decision Saturday against Oklahoma State due to an unspecified issue.
Dalton Schoen (WR) Ques Tues Collarbone - 17 / 11 / 17 1-2 1-2 + - Schoen missed the last two games due to a broken collarbone and it is undetermined if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA.
Alex Delton (QB) Ques Tues Head - 05 / 11 / 17 2-2 2-2 + - Delton missed the last three games with a head injury and it is unclear if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA.
Abdul Beecham (OL) Ques Sat Arm - 23 / 10 / 17 3-3 3-3 + - Beecham is dealing with an arm injury and it is unclear if he will play Saturday against Kansas.
Cre Moore (DB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 23 / 10 / 17 3-3 3-3 + - Moore is nursing an unspecified injury and it is unknown if he will play against Kansas on Saturday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Devon Modster (QB) Prob Tues Thumb - 26 / 11 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Modster has a thumb injury but is expected to play in the Cactus Bowl against Kansas State.
Jaelan Phillips (DL) Ques Tues Undisclosed - 26 / 11 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Phillips is dealing with an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against Kansas State.
Lokeni Toailoa (LB) Ques Tues Ribs - 26 / 11 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Toailoa injured his ribs and it is unclear if he will play in the Cactus Bowl against Kansas State.
Josh Rosen (QB) Doub Tues Shoulder - 25 / 11 / 17 1-1 0-2 + - Rosen exited the last game with a shoulder injury and is not expected to play in the Cactus Bowl against Kansas State.
Jaleel Wadood (DB) Ques Sat Neck - 15 / 11 / 17 2-1 1-2 + - Wadood missed the previous game with a sore neck and his status is uncertain for Saturday's game against USC.
Darnay Holmes (DB) Ques Sat Suspension - 11 / 11 / 17 2-2 2-2 + - Holmes has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's game against Arizona State for a targeting violation.
Krys Barnes (LB) Ques Sat Lung - 05 / 11 / 17 2-2 2-2 + - Barnes is dealing with a lung issue and it is unclear if he will play against Arizona State on Saturday.
Ainuu Taua (DL) out for season Knee - 05 / 11 / 17 2-2 2-2 + - Taua will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL and MCL and dislocated his knee cap.
Darren Andrews (WR) out for season Knee - 04 / 11 / 17 2-3 3-2 + - Andrews injured his knee and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Matt Dickerson (DL) Out indefinitely Collarbone - 29 / 10 / 17 2-3 3-2 + - Dickerson suffered a collarbone injury and will miss an undetermined amount of time.