The No. 9 UCLA Bruins have done nothing but win - and cover - all season, and they’ll try to keep both streaks alive Friday night when Illinois comes to town.
UCLA is 9-0 and has cashed in against the spread in every one of those victories. The latest was a 34-20 road win at Minnesota last week, another step in a perfect run that has held together even after the Bruins lost Nico Iamaleava to a season-ending knee injury on Oct. 10.
That setback pushed Ty Dieffenbach into the starting role, and he’s handled it well enough to keep UCLA unbeaten. He helped the Bruins get past Oregon in his first game after taking over, and his numbers have steadily built from there. In five games, Dieffenbach has thrown for 986 yards, completed 67 of 116 passes for a 57.8% rate, and posted six touchdowns against two interceptions.
His best outing came last week, even with the box score looking a little uneven at first glance. He finished 8 of 16 passing, but those completions went for 303 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception.
He also added 27 yards on six carries. The senior’s confidence appears to be growing, and UCLA will need that to continue against an Illinois defense that has been playing better football lately.
Illinois arrives with momentum of its own after stumbling out of the gate at 2-3. The Fighting Illini have since ripped off four straight wins, highlighted by an upset of Nebraska last Friday night.
They’ve also shown they can travel. In three road games, Illinois beat Maryland, upset Michigan State and covered against Ohio State. That makes this a more interesting test than the records might suggest.
Still, UCLA has been a different team at home. The Bruins have covered in all five of their home wins, including their last three at home by scores of 27-0, 28-10 and 17-7. Their defense has been the driving force, and that side of the ball is expected to be the difference again here.
UCLA’s offense has started to find more rhythm recently, but the real edge remains the Bruins’ ability to clamp down defensively. With that in mind, the pick is UCLA as a home favorite once more.
In Other News...
Illinois Just Learned Which Players Can Handle Tough Road Games
Illinois got a useful snapshot of who can travel well in a hostile environment during its road loss at Texas Tech, even if the result itself was disappointing. The game offered a clear look at which players were able to stay active on defense, make plays through contact and contribute when the offense bogged down, with Lincoln Williams standing out for his defensive impact and Quentin Coleman supplying value on both ends.
The bigger takeaway is less about the final margin than the way different Illini handled the demands of a tough road setting. Some players struggled to find clean looks, others had trouble with turnovers or consistency on defense, and the film from this one should give the staff a better sense of who can be trusted when Illinois leaves home against quality competition. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Needs A Fast Response In A Home Test Fans Can't Ignore
Illinois gets back to work Friday night at State Farm Center, where the Illini will meet Sam Houston in a matchup that brings together two teams sitting at 2-1. It is the first-ever meeting between the programs, and for a home crowd in Champaign, it offers an early chance to see how Illinois handles another nonconference test after an uneven start to the season.
The Illini will have to do it without Jake Davis and David Mirkovic, both sidelined by injuries, which puts a little more pressure on the rest of the rotation to steady things at home. Sam Houston has matched Illinois record for record so far, so this is the kind of November game that can quietly matter for rhythm, depth and confidence before the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Gets An Early Chance To Answer A Bigger Concern
Brad Underwood did not need much time after the loss to Texas Tech to point Illinois back toward the basics. Rebounding, ball control and free throws were the areas he circled, and they now sit at the center of the Illinis early-season reset as they get ready to host Sam Houston. Both teams enter the matchup at 2-1, which gives Illinois a quick chance to show whether those lessons are already taking hold.
Sam Houston comes in with some momentum after beating Pepperdine, so this is not the kind of game Illinois can treat as a routine tune-up. For the Illini, the bigger question is whether the issues Underwood highlighted show up again or whether a home date offers a cleaner response. It is still early, but this is the sort of test that can reveal whether the details are improving or simply being talked about. [Read more 🡒]