3* Pac-12 Championship SMASH on UCLA +8.5

UCLA vs. Stanford, 11/30/2012 20:00 EDT, Score: 24 - 27

Point Spread: +8½/-110 UCLA

Sportsbook: Bovada

Result: Win

3* Pac-12 Championship SMASH on UCLA +8.5
The Bruins have been no pushover on the road where they are 4-1 this season. It is also significant that they enter off a double-digit loss at home to Stanford. That’s because they are 9-3 against the spread in their last 12 games following a home loss of 10 points or more. They are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games following a game in which they failed to cover the number and 4-1 against the spread in their last five games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game.

Stanford has the best run-stuffing defense in the country, but it has been susceptible to the pass. It ranks 92nd in the nation against the pass with 257.2 yards allowed per game. A UCLA squad that ranks 32nd in passing offense with 279.5 yards per game has the passing game to hurt Stanford.

Freshman Brett Hundley was solid in Saturday’s loss to Stanford. He completed 20 of 38 passes for 261 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He should be even better now that he’s seen the Stanford defense.

Hundley is having a special season. He’s completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 3,234 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. I expect him to be turned loose in this one as Jim Mora Jr. now knows that's what needs to be done to win this game.

The Bruins are 3-1 straight up and against the spread as an underdog this season, and I'll gladly grab the points with them Friday night with the Pac-12 title on the line.