Why are the Huskies an Underdog against UCLA?

by SSreporters

After Washington got pounded 33-14 to #10 Ohio State, they knew they had to face a tough test against UCLA at the Rose Bowl. As for UCLA, they got blown up against unranked UTAH of all schools 44-6. So the betting machine began for the new college football week. You'd figure that UW would be favored to win since they had beaten them last year, had beaten better teams, and lost to a better team right?

The Huskies are a 5 point underdog at UCLA.

WHAT THE HECK??!!! Can someone explain to me why UW is an underdog against a team that got destroyed by UTAH!!!

WoodsmeisterVarsity Captain

841 days ago

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Because they're on the road.

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SSreportersLegend

841 days ago

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But 44-6.

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WoodsmeisterVarsity Captain

841 days ago

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You wanted an explanation - oddsmakers typically give the edge to the home team if they think teams relatively evenly matched. Washington lost at home. UCLA lost at home. The game's in Pasadena. Just because you don't like the explanation doesn't make it any less valid.

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WoodsmeisterVarsity Captain

841 days ago

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Correction - UCLA lost on the road.

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BigPPupMajor Leaguer

841 days ago

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UCLA is still a better team than the Huskies. They will bounce from what happened against the Utes

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SSreportersLegend

841 days ago

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UW would be the favorite had they beaten OSU.

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WoodsmeisterVarsity Captain

841 days ago

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Yes, but they didn't beat OSU, did they? They got dominated in their own house.

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SSreportersLegend

841 days ago

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They weren't supposed to win that game. UCLA was ranked 11th and lost to a team they should've whipped.

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MECUVarsity

841 days ago

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Locker is the real deal.

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SSreportersLegend

841 days ago

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Yes he is, just not last week.

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MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick

841 days ago

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I was about to say the same thing. Both he and Mallette look really good.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

841 days ago

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Odds are set by bookmakers in anticipation of who people will bet on. The spread is determined by the people who actually place the bets. Bookmakers try to split bets 50/50, having as much money bet on one team as the other. To do this, they set a spread that will cause half of the people to bet for UW, the other have for UCLA. Also, UCLA may not be ranked, but they stil lreceived more votes in both polls than Washington, many more votes. They're also at home.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

841 days ago

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the other half^^^

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AfraidofedhochuliDraft Pick

840 days ago

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They are an underdog because they are from Seattle...oh wait...no I am not whining :) They are an underdog becaus ethey have yet to show they are studly. And I am a HUGE fan. I thought they could take Ohio State.

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Silencer76AAA-er

840 days ago

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Standard practice is to set the home field advantage on spread as 3.5 points. Meaning that if the game was at Husky Stadium, you would see UCLA as a 1.5 point favorite. Home field has that mythical draw to it when it comes to setting lines.

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