The Boise State Broncos take on the UCLA Bruins in the LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk on Saturday, December 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Boise State (8-5, 6-2 MWC) won the Mountain West this season after defeating UNLV, 44-20, in the conference championship game. The Broncos also had wins over Air Force, San Jose State, and Wyoming this season. They ranked in the top 30 in the nation in points per game this season and sixth in rushing yards per game (221.6). The ground game was led by running back Ashton Jeanty, who finished the season with over 1,200 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. The Broncos will be playing this bowl without starting QB Taylen Green, who entered the transfer portal.
UCLA (7-5, 4-5 Pac-12) struggled at the end of the 2023 season, dropping three of their last four to Cal, Arizona, and Arizona State. They grabbed a crosstown win over USC in that stretch. The Bruins dealt with quarterback injury issues all season, and the up-and-coming Dante Moore already entered the transfer portal, leaving them with questions for next season. Their star pass rusher, Laiatu Latu, will also opt out to prepare for the draft. The Bruins’ defense was their strong suit this season, ranking 11th in the nation in total yards allowed per game (305.1).
Here’s everything you need to know and a pick for the bowl.
SP+ Rankings
Boise State: 41 overall, 29 offense, 70 defense
UCLA: 38 overall, 56 offense, 16 defense
List of injuries and players opting out of game
Boise State
QB Taylen Green – Out (Transfer portal, Arkansas, 1752 yards, 11 TDs)
WR Eric McAlister – Out (Transfer portal, TCU 873 yards, 5 TDs)
WR Chase Penry – Questionable (undisclosed)
RB Tyler Crowe – Questionable (undisclosed)
RB Kaden Dudley – Questionable (undisclosed)
LB Marco Notarainni – Out indefinitely (undisclosed)
WR Shea Whiting – Questionable (undisclosed)
QB Maddux Madsen – Out (knee)
QB CJ Tiller – listed as co-starter, likely to start (no stats this season)
QB Colt Fulton – listed as co-starter (no stats this season)
UCLA
WR Kam Brown – Out (Transfer portal, 163 yards, 1 TD)
RB/WR Keegan Jones – Out (Transfer portal, 152 rushing yards, 77 receiving yards)
TE Carsen Ryan – Out (transfer portal, 205 yards, 3 TDs)
QB Ethan Garbers – Probable (forearm)
DL Gary Smith III – Questionable (leg)
RB Carson Steele – Questionable (undisclosed)
QB Collin Schlee – Questionable (undisclosed)
DB John Humphrey – Out (transfer portal)
DL Laiatu Latu – Out (NFL Draft)
DB Kamari Ramsey – Out (transfer portal)
ATS/Total
Against The Spread in 2023
Boise State: 7-4-2 ATS
UCLA: 5-7 ATS
Total in 2023
Boise State: Over 9-4
UCLA: Over 2-10
Team Pace
Boise State: 27.7 seconds per play
UCLA: 22.8 seconds per play
Odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Spread: UCLA -5.5
Total: 47
Moneyline: UCLA -230, Boise State +190
Weather
76 degrees, sunny, 6 MPH winds
Our Best Bet for the Gronk Bowl
Boise State +5.5
The Broncos are losing their QB, but they rely far more on Jeanty and the ground game than they did on passing. UCLA, meanwhile, is scrambling as they continue to lose players to the transfer portal. Their stellar defense won’t look the same without Latu. Even with the hometown advantage for UCLA, I’m taking Boise State to run all over the field and cover the spread here.