Ucla Bruins vs Washington Huskies Picks and Predictions November 22nd 2025

Game Preview: Washington Huskies @ UCLA Bruins

Two long-time Pac-12 foes meet again under the Big Ten banner when the Washington Huskies travel to Pasadena to face the UCLA Bruins in a matchup featuring two teams searching for consistency down the stretch. Washington enters 7-3 after a volatile month of offensive highs and lows, while UCLA is 3-7 and trying to salvage momentum after three straight losses. The Washington Huskies make their first appearance at the Rose Bowl since 2022, while the UCLA Bruins hope to stabilize quarterback play in what has become a challenging November.

Opening odds positioned Washington as a road favorite in the -6.5 to -7 range, with the total around 51. The Huskies have a rivalry matchup with Oregon next week, raising the possibility of a lookahead spot, but they remain firmly within Big Ten bowl positioning. UCLA is focused on finishing strong in Tim Skipper’s interim stretch, with the offense fighting to regain footing after averaging just 14.3 points over the last four contests.

Odds and Key Information

Early action leaned toward Washington on the spread, pushing the line closer to -7. Public trends favor the Huskies, while some sharper tickets have hit the under given UCLA’s recent offensive output. The total has slipped a half-point on several boards, reflecting concerns surrounding the Bruins’ quarterback availability and their lack of run-game production.

Washington staff emphasized the importance of offensive rhythm, noting recent fluctuations tied directly to quarterback Demond Williams Jr.’s performance. UCLA coaches focused on maintaining defensive intensity despite fatigue, highlighting improvements during spurts of the Nebraska and Maryland games. The Bruins remain day-to-day at quarterback, influencing market uncertainty throughout the week.

Washington Huskies Outlook

Washington’s season has been defined by pronounced swings. The Huskies put up 42 points against Illinois and 49 against Purdue in two explosive wins, but scored only 17 combined in losses to Michigan and Wisconsin. Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. has shown promising flashes, throwing six touchdowns in the two wins, yet his four interceptions across the losses displayed his volatility. Washington relies heavily on his decision-making, particularly when throwing outside the hashes.

The Huskies’ rushing attack has been steady but unspectacular, often used to set up tempo sequences and horizontal spacing. When Washington generates early down success, its pace accelerates and opens opportunities for chunk plays. However, negative plays and turnovers have stalled drives in losses. The offensive line has been solid in pass protection but vulnerable at times to interior pressure, an area UCLA can potentially exploit.

Defensively, Washington has held up well against run-heavy opponents, but struggled in stretches against teams with mobile quarterbacks and quick-passing schemes. The front seven remains disciplined, while the secondary has shown improvement in limiting explosive plays.

If Williams Jr. manages turnovers and sustains early rhythm, Washington’s offense projects to regain its higher-scoring form. The matchup hinges on the Huskies’ ability to create efficiency on early downs and force UCLA into longer possessions.

UCLA Bruins Outlook

The UCLA Bruins have endured a difficult month. After winning three straight following the coaching shift from DeShaun Foster to interim coach Tim Skipper, the Bruins have dropped three consecutive games, including blowout losses to Indiana and Ohio State. The offense, in particular, has regressed sharply, totaling just 68 rushing yards last week and averaging 14.3 points over the last four contests.

Quarterback availability remains the biggest storyline. Nico Iamaleava’s concussion against Nebraska sidelined him against Ohio State, where Luke Duncan stepped in and delivered an efficient 16-of-23 performance for 154 yards and a touchdown. Duncan’s accuracy was encouraging, but the lack of run support and inability to generate explosive plays limited UCLA’s ceiling. Stagnant drives and third-and-long situations have plagued this offense since mid-October.

UCLA’s defense continues to show effort despite the offensive struggles. The front seven has generated consistent early-down stops, but the group has worn down late in games due to time-of-possession disparities. The Bruins’ ability to pressure Williams Jr. will determine whether they can contain Washington’s explosive potential.

Stubblefield’s absence in the backfield has also affected UCLA’s ability to pick up blitzes, and the Bruins need a balanced offensive approach to avoid being overwhelmed by Washington’s defensive front.

Key Matchup Table

Category	Edge
Quarterback Stability	Washington Huskies
Run Game Production	Washington Huskies
Defensive Consistency	Washington Huskies
Red-Zone Efficiency	UCLA Bruins

Betting Trends

Washington is 7-3 but has been inconsistent ATS, mirroring the fluctuations on offense. The Huskies trend toward overs in games where tempo stabilizes and Williams Jr. avoids turnovers. UCLA has leaned heavily under in recent weeks due to offensive inefficiency and quarterback uncertainty.

Head-to-head history favors Washington in recent matchups, but both teams are entering a new conference dynamic. For broader context on college football betting angles, the NCAAF odds board and NCAAF picks hub provide additional market movement insights.

The Lean

Washington’s offense remains volatile, but its ceiling is significantly higher than UCLA’s current projection. The Bruins’ quarterback situation, combined with recent run-game struggles, makes sustaining drives difficult. If Washington establishes early offensive rhythm, the Huskies should create separation, even if the rivalry familiarity keeps the pace moderate.

The total hinges on UCLA’s scoring capability. Unless Iamaleava returns at full strength, the Bruins may struggle to generate more than two sustained drives. More analysis for similar matchups can be explored on the ScoresAndStats NCAAF previews page.

Projected Final Score: Washington Huskies 27, UCLA Bruins 17
Best Spread Pick: Washington Huskies -7
Total Lean: Under 51

Why You Need Expert Picks

Late-season conference matchups hinge on situational edges such as quarterback availability, weather, tempo variance, and sharp-side indicators. Tracking those factors is essential in games with inconsistent offenses like Washington and UCLA. The Handicappers Leaderboard on the college football picks page highlights the most accurate cappers for late-season lines and total movement.

Expert projections identify value in regression trends, injury adjustments, and pace metrics often missed in raw box-score analysis. For expanded football market strategy, the NFL previews page offers complementary insight into line movement patterns that translate well to college football evaluations.