A battle of Big Ten bottom-feeders is on the docket this weekend, with UCLA set to visit Northwestern on Saturday. The winless Bruins are less than two weeks removed from firing their head coach, while the Wildcats are also looking for their first FBS win of 2025.
The Wildcats are 6.5-point favorites in the matchup with -230 moneyline odds, and the point total has been set at 44.5. Here is a preview of the Week 5 showdown featuring odds and lines from DraftKings Sportsbook.
Northwestern vs. UCLA Preview
UCLA Preview
The Bruins (0-3) have gone through some significant changes since they last took the field on September 12. For one, head coach DeShaun Foster was dismissed just three weeks into his second season at the helm. Defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe stepped away shortly after. First-year offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri remains in place, but he had never been a play-caller during his time at James Madison or Indiana. Tim Skipper, who went 6-7 as Fresno State’s interim head coach in 2024, is now the man in charge as interim head coach.
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava appears to be sticking it out through the regime change. The high-profile transfer from Tennessee is completing 63.9% of his passes with a 120.6 passer rating and 6.3 yards per attempt. He has 608 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions through the air, plus 139 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Anthony Woods has been UCLA’s most efficient running back, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. He has 208 yards and a touchdown on 31 touches, outproducing Jaivian Thomas and his 112 yards on 20 touches. Kwazi Gilmer and Mikey Matthews have been Iamaleava’s most productive receivers, while Titus Mokiao-Atimalala and tight ends Jack Pederson and Hudson Habermehl have chipped in as well.
UCLA’s opponents are averaging 36.0 points per game this season. Even taking the 43-10 loss to Utah out of the equation, UNLV and New Mexico each broke 30 points as well. Still, linebackers Isaiah Chisom and JonJon Vaughns rank first and fourth in the FBS in total tackles per game at 12.3 and 11.7, respectively.
Northwestern Preview
If not for a 42-7 win over an FCS program in Western Illinois, Northwestern would be in just as tough of a spot as UCLA. The Wildcats (1-2) lost 23-3 to Tulane in Week 1 and 34-14 to Oregon in Week 3. David Braun may have been named Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading Northwestern to an 8-5 record in 2023, but he is 5-10 since. The Wildcats, who don’t move back into the updated Ryan Field until next season, could join the Bruins in searching for a new coach if Braun can’t pull it together soon.
Former SMU signal-caller Preston Stone has a 59.3% completion rate, 109.7 passer rating and 6.3 yards per attempt through three games this season. All three of his touchdowns came against Western Illinois, while all six of his interceptions came against Tulane and Oregon. Fortunately for Stone, UCLA has yet to intercept an opponent’s pass in 2025. In 19 games with SMU between 2023 and 2024, Stone posted a 160.7 passer rating with 33 touchdowns, seven picks and 9.2 yards per attempt. Running backs Caleb Komolafe, Joseph Himon II and Dashun Reeder have combined for 438 yards from scrimmage on 75 total touches, making up for the loss of sixth-year senior Cam Porter to a season-ending injury.
On the whole this season, Northwestern is allowing 21.3 points per game. Taking the FCS game out of the equation, though, and that number climbs to 28.5 points per game. Tulane and Oregon combined for 445 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns against the Wildcats defense.
Northwestern vs. UCLA pick, best bet
This is not the NFL, where firing a coach midseason regularly lights a fire under a team of accomplished professionals. The transfer portal is open and redshirt options are on the table. Not to mention UCLA’s inexperienced leadership staff, which seems to be coaching on borrowed time. If things looked bad under Foster, they could get considerably worse under Skipper in Big Ten play.
One of the worst defenses in the nation is now somehow more vulnerable, even against a Northwestern offense that has scored 17 total points in two games versus FBS opponents. The Wildcats showed they could drop 40 against inferior competition, and unfortunately for the Bruins, their defense can’t be valued much higher than an FCS unit at this point. UCLA’s offense does have relative continuity and talent, though, so perhaps Sunseri spent the bye week drawing up the kind of game plan that will show off his skills as a play-caller.
Northwestern is a heavy favorite for a reason, but there is more value in taking the over on such a low point total – the lowest in any power conference matchup this weekend.
