UCLA vs. LSU College Football Week 4 Picks: The Bruins Will Finally Show Up

UCLA Struggled at Home

Saturday night was expected to be UCLA’s time to shine, as they were making their much-anticipated Big Ten debut. Under the bright lights of a nationally televised game at the iconic Rose Bowl, the stage was set for a showcase performance.

However, it was Indiana and their quarterback, Kurtis Rourke, who stole the spotlight. Rourke put on a clinic, completing 25 of 33 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns. The Hoosiers, now 3-0, complemented Rourke’s effort with a balanced ground game, rushing for 123 yards as a team.

Indiana dominated from the outset, racing to a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter and cruising to a 42-13 victory, derailing UCLA’s Big Ten debut. The Bruins were outmatched across the board, with the loss marking their worst home opener since a 35-0 shutout by Stanford in 2010.

UCLA’s quarterback, Ethan Garbers, struggled to find a rhythm, completing 14 of 23 passes but failing to throw a touchdown and tossing one interception. Meanwhile, Indiana spread the ball around, with three Hoosier receivers—Miles Cross, Elijah Sarratt, and Omar Cooper Jr.—each over 50 receiving yards.

The Hoosiers capped off their statement win with two late touchdowns in the final eight minutes: a 23-yard pass from Rourke to Cooper and a 14-yard rushing score from Elijah Green.

“Indiana came out and played a great game,” UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster said.

“They came out and executed, played good. Offensively, we were not able to stay ahead of the chains like we would like to. Defensively, they played a pretty good first half, with the offense putting the defense in kind of bad situations. But it is a learning experience for both sides of the ball, and we have to continue to improve.”

LSU Barely Survived

LSU faced their own adversity on Saturday, rallying from a 17-0 deficit to secure a dramatic 36-33 victory over South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium. LSU’s comeback was punctuated by Josh Williams’ game-winning touchdown in the final minutes, sprinting through a gap on the left side to seal the victory.

Despite the win, LSU’s performance was far from flawless. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns but also committed a fumble and an interception.

Special teams issues further plagued the Tigers, with a blocked punt and a botched extra point due to a bad snap. South Carolina’s defense also held firm, stopping LSU on a first-and-goal from two yards out in the third quarter.

Running back Caden Durham provided a spark for LSU, rushing for 98 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries.

The Pick

This matchup could turn into a high-scoring affair, with UCLA showing signs of offensive improvement against an average LSU defense. LSU allowed significant yardage in their first three games of the season.

If UCLA capitalizes on LSU’s defensive gaps, and LSU’s offense keeps up the momentum from their comeback win against South Carolina, both teams could light up the scoreboard. Expect a shootout in this game as these two programs battle to outscore each other.

College Football Pick: Over 55.5 (-108) at Heritage Sports

Over 55.5 (-108)

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