The arrival of Chip Kelly in Los Angeles to take over a disappointing Bruins team has yet to produce desired returns. In his defense, it’s only his second season coming up, but the 2020 UCLA football odds aren’t kind.
In order to defy those odds, UCLA is counting on growth from its young talent at several positions to incorporate more of the scheme that made Kelly a success in the college game.
But they’ll be starting in a hole, after two losses out of conference that have the Bruins reeling.
2020 UCLA College Football Playoff odds: offseason recap
Despite the loss of tight end Caleb Wilson, expect sophomore quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to have plenty of weapons. The foremost of them should be redshirt senior running back Joshua Kelley, who ran for nearly 1,300 yards last season.
Defensively, UCLA is hoping for a better pass rush and ability to execute from the healthy return of redshirt senior linebacker Josh Woods and classmate Keisean Lucier-South continuing to improve himself.
If the Bruins can improve on last year’s defensive ineptness and move closer to the fast-and-furious scoring pace that Kelly offenses were once known for, UCLA could surprise some people this year. That would include legal sportsbooks around the country.
Breaking down the 2020 UCLA odds
Unless a possible constitutional amendment is passed, California sports betting remains illegal. Californians will soon have a new option, however.
Oregon will launch legal sportsbooks soon. Las Vegas welcomes Californians as always, as well. Las Vegas is one of the places where bets on UCLA futures are available.
After two losses, the odds of winning a national championship or even making the playoffs are just about out the window. The Vegas consensus sits at about 2,000 to 1.
Odds of the Bruins accomplishing other goals — like winning the Pac-12 — are much more forgiving, but still not likely.
UCLA may not make a meteoric rise this season, and the season’s start seems to be evidence of that. If the Bruins do shock the world in 2019 and turn things around, they could make bettors a lot of money.
