NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
Prediction 
Odds 
Last Recap 
Game Picks 
Top Handicapper 
UCLA vs Utah Picks and Predictions — August 30, 2025
The UCLA Bruins kick off the Nico Iamaleava era on Saturday night when they host the Utah Utes at the Rose Bowl. Head coach DeShaun Foster begins his second year in Westwood, while Utah transitions to new QB Devon Dampier after last season’s struggles following Cam Rising’s injury.
Get Inside the NCAAF Insiders
Access starts here.
Oddsmakers list UCLA as a 6.5-point favorite with the total at 61.
Want winning plays for every Power Five opener? See today’s expert picks →
UCLA Can Win If…
Nico Iamaleava delivers right away. The Tennessee transfer threw for 2,616 yards and 19 TDs last season before departing in a high-profile NIL dispute. Now back home in Southern California, he has full command of the Bruins’ offense.
“We got an elite quarterback, so that’s going to change the whole offense,” RB Jalen Berger said.
The Bruins need Iamaleava to stretch the field against Utah’s experienced secondary while leaning on the run game to keep balance. Defensively, linebacker JonJon Vaughns and company must contain Dampier’s dual-threat ability.
Utah Can Win If…
Devon Dampier carries over his dynamic playmaking. At New Mexico last season, Dampier became just the fifth QB in FBS history to pass for 2,500+ yards and rush for 1,000+ in a season, joining Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, and Jayden Daniels.
“We welcomed him like he’d been here five years,” Vaughns said about Iamaleava — but Utah’s veterans in the secondary (Elijah Davis, Smith Snowden, Rabbit Evans, Tao Johnson) won’t make life easy.
If Dampier avoids turnovers and Utah’s defense forces Iamaleava into mistakes in his debut, the Utes could spoil UCLA’s opener.
Key NCAAF Betting Trends
| Category | UCLA | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Record | 5–7 | 6–6 |
| Home Record | 3–3 | 2–4 (Road) |
| Returning QB | Nico Iamaleava (TENN transfer) | Devon Dampier (NM transfer) |
| Points Per Game | 26.1 | 25.2 |
| Opponent PPG | 29.5 | 27.8 |
The Lean
Pick: UCLA -6.5
Projected Final Score: UCLA 34, Utah 24
Iamaleava’s talent and UCLA’s home-field advantage give the Bruins a strong edge. Utah’s secondary is solid, but the Utes’ transition to Dampier under a new offensive system may take time to click. Expect UCLA to cover and start the season with momentum.
Stay locked into our college football previews hub for more Week 1 betting breakdowns.
Big debuts define Week 1—don’t miss your edge. Check expert insights here →
