Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. UCLA Bruins Prediction and Picks – Saturday, November 8, 2025
The Nebraska Cornhuskers will visit the UCLA Bruins for a late Big Ten matchup, and we'll preview the lines and odds in our Nebraska vs. UCLA prediction. Nebraska is coming off a 21-17 loss to USC, while UCLA spent last week recovering from a brutal meeting with the juggernaut Indiana Hoosiers. Kickoff is set for 9:00 PM ET on Saturday, November 8.
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Nebraska falls to USC, loses Raiola for the season
Despite their 6-3 overall record, the Nebraska Cornhuskers rank 11th in the Big Ten with a 3-3 conference record heading into Week 11. They've dropped two of their last three games, between losses to Minnesota (24-6) and No. 23 USC (21-17), and now find themselves looking up at the 3-5 UCLA Bruins in the conference standings ahead of their meeting this Saturday.
Nebraska had every chance to beat USC last Saturday–they scored first to go up 7-0 in the first quarter and held the lead through the first half. The Trojans tied the game at 14 in the third quarter, but they didn't lead until they went up 21-17 in the fourth quarter. The Cornhuskers had ten minutes to retake the lead, but punted on the ensuing possession after gaining only 13 yards and turned the ball over on downs to end their last possession of the game. Dylan Raiola's injury was a significant factor–the starting quarterback completed 10 of 15 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in the game, but the Cornhuskers were clearly reluctant to put the ball in the air without him. Freshman backup T.J. Lateef completed one pass on the team's last drive, which went for a one-yard loss.
Raiola suffered a broken fibula in the third quarter, ending his season and–in all likelihood–the Cornhuskers' remaining ambitions for the 2025 season. They'll close out the year with a trip to Penn State and a home game against Iowa after playing UCLA.
With Raiola out, the Huskers will nee to rely on an outstanding defense, which is allowing just 291.4 yards per game total (13th) and 128.3 passing yards per game (2nd).
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UCLA coming off bye week after brutal IU loss
The UCLA Bruins are 3-5 heading into Week 11 of the 2025 season, but they're 3-2 in Big Ten play after an emphatic bounce-back from a 0-4 start. They spent last week on a bye after falling victim to the Indiana Hoosiers, who're 9-0 after beating the Bruins (56-6) and Maryland Terrapins (55-10) in the past two weeks.
There isn't much to take away from the Bruins' loss to the Hoosiers two weeks ago. Nico Iamaleava completed 13 of 27 passes for 113 yards, averaging only 4.2 yards per attempt while throwing two interceptions and taking three sacks. The Hoosiers were up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter and 35-3 at the end of the first half. Fernando Mendoza threw for three touchdowns and ran for another before the Hoosiers' backups took the field in the fourth quarter–backup quarterback Alberto Mendoza, Fernando's brother, ran in the touchdown that put Indiana up 56-6. UCLA finished the game with only 201 yards and 12 first downs, converted only one of 11 third-down attempts, and committed three turnovers. Indiana finished with 475 yards and 27 first downs, converted 12 of 16 third downs, and went two-for-two converting on fourth.
UCLA is 111th in passing yards (183.5), 61st in rushing yards (160.6), T-116th in points (20.4), and 114th in points allowed (31.0) per game out of 136 FBS teams. Before losing to Indiana, they'd won three straight against No. 7 Penn State (42-37), Michigan State (38-13), and Maryland (20-17).
Nebraska vs. UCLA Pick
Spread Pick for Nebraska vs. UCLA
- UCLA -1.5 (-105) (5 Units)
The Bruins are coming off a bye week, returning home after a road loss to Indiana, and they're hosting a Nebraska team that just lost their starting quarterback. Nebraska has played two road games this season: their 34-31 win at Maryland, and their 24-6 loss at Minnesota, both with Raiola healthy. UCLA feels undervalued here as only a 1.5-point favorite. There's a world where Lateef looks substantially better with a week of practice as the starter than he did against USC at the end of last week's game. I'd still take UCLA to win that game by at least a field goal.
Over/Under Pick for Nebraska vs. UCLA
- Under 44.5 (-102) (4 Units)
The Team Total Under is 5-2 in the Bruins' last seven games, missing in their scoring frenzy against Penn State and their bludgeoning against Indiana. It'd be a shock if the Nebraska offense looked good enough to replicate either of those games against UCLA with Raiola absent. The Bruins haven't necessarily been scoring mavens, either – their wins against Penn State and Michigan State aside, they scored 23 points against UNLV and 20 points or fewer against each of their other opponents.
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