Foster Farm Bowl
Levi's Stadium - Santa Clara, CA
Kickoff: Saturday, 9:15 p.m. ET
Line: UCLA -6.5, Total: 61

Sub-.500 Nebraska tries to avoid an eighth loss when it faces a UCLA squad playing in its home state in Saturday night's Foster Farms Bowl in Santa Clara, CA.

Although the 5-7 Cornhuskers have no business being in their 45th bowl in 47 seasons, they haven’t lost by more than 10 points all season with four defeats coming by a field goal or less. The Bruins are appearing in their 12th bowl in the past 14 years and have displayed a roller-coaster defense over the past five games in allowing 31, 0, 31, 9 and 40 points. These teams have split a dozen all-time meetings, but UCLA has taken the only two matchups played in the past 20 years, prevailing 36-30 in 2012 and rolling to a 41-21 victory in 2013. But Nebraska has more favorable betting trends with an 8-1 ATS mark in away games versus good passing teams (58%+ completion pct) since 2013, while head coach Mike Riley owns an impressive 18-4 ATS record in away contests after a turnover margin of minus-2 or worse as a collegiate head coach. However, UCLA bettors can point to Riley's woeful 3-14 ATS mark after allowing 125 or less passing yards in his coaching career. Both schools have a slew of injuries, as the Cornhuskers will be without CB Jonathan Rose (dismissed from team), while DL Mick Stoltenberg (knee) is doubtful, WR Alonzo Moore (shoulder) is questionable and LB Marcus Newby (shoulder) is probable. For the Bruins, OG Alex Redmond (personal) left the team, RB Steven Manfro (shoulder) is questionable, while OLs Kenny Lacy (ankle) and Conor McDermott (knee) are both upgraded to probable.

Will UCLA have trouble with a losing team in this bowl game? For the answer, connect to College Football Best Bets for all the StatFox Experts picks throughout the bowl season. The experts are heating up with a combined 57% ATS (55-42) success rate in the past month of college football Best Bets, highlighted by StatFox Scott’s robust 63% ATS mark (20-12) during this run. Also during this timeframe that started Nov. 19, StatFox Brian has a strong 60% ATS record (12-8) in college football Best Bets and StatFox Gary is a profitable 58% ATS (7-5) since Week 13.

Despite Nebraska's losing record, the offense is still averaging 32.5 PPG on 443 total YPG this season. This strong production has been achieved with a nearly identical mix of pass (37 attempts per game) and run (36 attempts per game). Both methods have been effective, with the team gaining 275 YPG (7.5 YPA) through the air and 168 YPG on 4.6 YPG on the ground. Junior QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. has been erratic this season with a 55% completion rate for 2,856 yards (7.5 YPA), 21 TD and 16 INT through the air. Four of those picks came in the regular-season finale versus Iowa when he failed to throw a touchdown pass despite 296 passing yards. Armstrong's inconsistency has also led to up-and-down production for WR Jordan Westerkamp (63 rec, 874 yds, 7 TD). During the 2015 season, the junior has six games of 90+ receiving yards, but five other games of 41 yards or less. With junior RB Terrell Newby (743 rush yds, 5.2 YPC, 5 TD) struggling with a paltry 46 rushing yards in the past three games combined, senior RB Imani Cross (389 rush yds, 4.1 YPC, 5 TD) has stepped up with 243 yards on 57 carries (4.3 YPC) and 3 TD in these past three contests. The Nebraska defense has been subpar this season with 27.7 PPG and 402 total YPG allowed. Opposing rushers gain 168 YPG on 4.6 YPC while opposing quarterbacks throw for 275 YPG on 7.5 YPA. This Blackshirts defense isn't very opportunistic either with a mere 13 takeaways all season.

UCLA has struggled to move the football during the past three games with only 21.7 PPG and 415 total YPG, which pales in comparison to its season averages of 32.5 PPG and 472 total YPG. The offense is very balanced with 39 passing attempts per game and 37 rushing attempts per game, and both methods have worked well. While the rushing attack picks up 186 YPG on 5.0 YPC, the passing game collects 286 YPG on 7.3 YPA. Heady freshman QB Josh Rosen (60% completions, 3,351 pass yds, 7.5 YPA, 20 TD, 9 INT) has done a great job under center, throwing for 220+ yards in nine straight contests where he has amassed 15 TD and just 5 INT. His go-to receiver is senior WR Jordan Payton (1,069 rec yds, 4 TD) who has picked up 522 yards in his past five games. On the ground, junior RB Paul Perkins (1,275 rush yds, 5.7 YPC, 13 TD) has at least 85 rushing yards on nine different occasions this year, including five in a row. Perkins loves the postseason, as he torched Kansas State for 194 yards on 20 carries (9.7 YPC) and 2 TD in the 2015 Alamo Bowl. The Bruins defense has been decent this season in giving up 25.1 PPG on 393 total YPG. The front seven has surrendered 188 rushing YPG on 4.3 YPC, while the secondary is giving up 206 YPG, but on a mere 5.6 YPA. The Bruins thrive off turnovers, collecting 15 takeaways in their eight wins, but have only three forced turnovers in four defeats.