UCLA hosts Michigan State with playoff hopes on line — SkimNews
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- UCLA is 6-0 under first-year coach Bob Chesney, the second FBS coach ever to start 6-0 at a team coming off a nine-loss season.
- Michigan State is 2-5 and seeks to avoid starting 0-5 in Big Ten play in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history.
- Ty Dieffenbach will start at quarterback for UCLA after season-ending injury to Nico Iamaleava; he threw for a season-high 264 yards last week.
- UCLA's rushing attack has slowed, totaling a season-low 120 yards last week, putting pressure on star back Wayne Knight with a backup QB in.
- UCLA's playoff odds are 28.4% entering the game, improving to 35.2% with a win but dropping to 11.4% with a loss, per CBS Sports Forecaster.
- The prediction is for a low-scoring UCLA win but for Michigan State to cover the 14-point spread, citing the Spartans' run defense and UCLA's QB situation.
Why it matters: For UCLA, a win is critical to maintaining its undefeated record and viable path to the College Football Playoff, as a loss would slash its odds by over half. For Michigan State, the game represents a chance to avoid a historically poor conference start under its new coach.
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