The set-up: The Bearcats and Bruins square off at the famous Rose Bowl on Saturday. UCLA finished 6-6 in 2017 before then losing to Kansas State in the Cactus Bowl. Cincinnati was just 4-8 last year, including only 2-6 in AAC action.

The teams: Cincinnati is expecting a much better campaign in 2018/19 though, as QB Hayden Moore is back for his senior year. He finished with 2,561 yards and 20 TD's in 2017. WR Kahlil Lewis is back and he had 676 yards and seven TD's, while RB Gerrid Doaks, who missed the final three games of the year with an ankle injury, still led the team with 513 yards on the ground. Many return on the defensive side of the ball as well.

UCLA now has to replace QB Josh Rosen, who went to the NFL after his senior year last season. The Bruins' choices aren't great (Devon Modster, Wilton Speight, Dorian Thompson-Robinson)

The pick: Take it for what you will, but the Bruins are a terrible 1-8 ATS in their last nine non-conference games as well. Cincinnati has a very real shot at posting an outright upset against the "rudder-less" Bruins, but I will in the end recommend grabbing the points.