UCLA looks to continue its torrid 6-0 start to the season as it hosts Michigan State at the Rose Bowl in Week 8.
My Michigan State vs. UCLA predictions and college football picks see a low-scoring contest where the underdog has a bit of value. For more from today's slate, see our Week 8 college football top picks and Brad Powers' Week 8 predictions.
Kickoff is today at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS, and the lines on Kalshi have UCLA favored by 14.5 with the total at 42.5.
Who will win Michigan State vs UCLA today? Pick: Michigan State +14.5
I'd play Michigan State at +14 or better.
UCLA has been a breakout team, but it's time to sell high after a 6-0 ATS start. The offense has mustered just 17 points in each of its last two games, and quarterback Ty Dieffenbach has as many career interceptions as touchdowns (10).
The Spartans certainly aren't a world-beater, but they've shown some verve with a one-point loss to Illinois and a three-point loss to Northwestern. They're 5-2 ATS despite being 2-5 straight up.
In what should be a low-scoring slog, I'd rather back the two-score underdog. For more spread plays, see our college football Week 8 picks against the spread.
COVERS INTEL: Dieffenbach has 12 career turnover-worthy passes, which doesn't put UCLA in the best position to take advantage of Michigan State's greatest weakness: a banged-up secondary.
TOP PICK
Michigan State vs UCLA Over/Under pick: Under 42.5
The Bruins operate at a slow tempo, ranking 125th in seconds per snap (29.4). They've managed to put up crooked numbers against downtrodden defenses, but that's not predictive moving forward with a backup quarterback. Check the college football injury report for the latest on UCLA's quarterback room.
Michigan State is 2-5 O/U and would prefer to keep this contest low-scoring. Its offense is inefficient (119th in EPA per play) and struggles to generate big plays (133rd in explosiveness).
The most reliable unit on the field is UCLA's stingy defense, ranked second in EPA per play allowed. Bob Chesney will hope to ride that defense to a playoff berth, resulting in low-scoring games. For more totals, see our college football Week 8 Over/Under picks.
Michigan State vs UCLA combo
UCLA's defense will have success, but what about the offense? Our first glimpse of the Bruins sans Nico Iamaleava was a 17-point effort where the defense carried the weight.
My expectation is for more of the same in Week 8. The quarterback situation also shapes the player markets, so see our Week 8 college football player props and anytime touchdown picks.
Michigan State vs UCLA combo
- Michigan State +14.5
- Over 42.5
- Over 23.5 1H
More multi-leg plays are in our Week 8 college football parlays and combos.
Michigan State vs UCLA prop: Michigan State Under 14.5 points
In Michigan State's games against strong defenses, it managed three points (Wisconsin), 10 points (Notre Dame), and 13 points (Nebraska).
Its best player, running back Cam Edwards, is out for the season due to injury, and the leftover skill players simply aren't difference makers in the slightest. UCLA's defense ranks 11th in havoc created and should be able to disrupt Sparty's offensive flow.
- Top picks: 11-7, +3.21 units
- Combos: 7-11, +20.62 units
More Week 8 college football picks
These Covers pages cover multiple games on today's Week 8 slate.
- Week 8 college football top picks for today
- Brad Powers' Week 8 college football predictions and best bets
- Week 8 college football AI predictions
- Week 8 Top 25 college football predictions with watchability ratings
- Week 8 Group of 6 college football predictions
- Week 8 college football picks against the spread
- Week 8 college football moneyline picks
- Week 8 college football Over/Under picks
- Week 8 college football parlays and combos
- Week 8 college football anytime touchdown picks
- Week 8 college football player props
Michigan State vs UCLA odds
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
- Spread: Michigan State +14.5 | UCLA -14.5
- Over/Under: Over 42.5 (56%) | Under 42.5 (50%)
- Moneyline: Michigan State 15% | UCLA 85%
For straight-up plays across the slate, see our college football Week 8 moneyline picks. If you prefer to trade the game, college football markets are available on Kalshi.
For the full slate of today's college football matchups, see our college football odds board.
More Covers college football betting tools
Michigan State vs UCLA weather
Weather won't impact this contest, with ideal conditions expected at the Rose Bowl.
Our college football weather page has up-to-date info on every matchup.
Michigan State vs UCLA trend to know
The Under is 4-0 in Michigan State's last four road games. Find more college football betting trends for Michigan State vs. UCLA, or see our Week 8 college football AI predictions for a model-based read on the slate.
or our BET99 promo code COVERS99 if you're in Canada.
How to watch Michigan State vs UCLA
| Location | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif. |
| Date | Today, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | CBS |
Michigan State vs UCLA latest injuries
Our college football injuries page has updates on every team.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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