LSU at UCLA Week 1 College Football Matchup LSU at UCLA Matchup - Week 1
Sun, Sep 5 2021 · Week 1 · 🏟 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA · Turf · 92,542 cap
LSU✈ 1,592 mi-2 hr TZ
Away
27 38
Final
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📊 Punt & Rally Projection
LSU
27
UCLA
35
P&R Line UCLA -8
P&R Total O/U 61
Confidence 86 High
Vegas LSU -2 · O/U 64.0
Matchup Prediction
Toss-up — no clear edge
Neither metric shows a meaningful pre-game edge in this matchup.
Momentum Control
58.4%
Lean
Game Control
50.6%
Toss-up
Vegas Spread
LSU -2
O/U 64.0
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → UCLA · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
LSU 2021 Schedule
LSU's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4LSU at UCLA-2.0L27–3864.0L27–38ON
Sat 9/11LSU vs McNeese-39.0W34–766.0W34–7UN
Sat 9/18LSU vs Central Michigan-19.5W49–2161.0W49–21OY
Sat 9/25LSU at Mississippi State-1.5W28–2554.5W28–25UY
Sat 10/2LSU vs Auburn-2.5L19–2457.0L19–24UN
Sat 10/9LSU at Kentucky+2.0L21–4250.5L21–42ON
Sat 10/16LSU vs Florida+12.5W49–4261.0W49–42OY
Sat 10/23LSU at Ole Miss+9.0L17–3176.5L17–31UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/6LSU at Alabama+29.5L14–2066.5L14–20UY
Sat 11/13LSU vs Arkansas+3.0L13–1659.5L13–16UY
Sat 11/20LSU vs UL Monroe-29.0W27–1457.5W27–14UN
Sat 11/27LSU vs Texas A&M+6.0W27–2447.0W27–24OY
Tue 1/4LSU vs Kansas State+9.5L20–4247.0L20–42ON
UCLA 2021 Schedule
UCLA's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/28UCLA vs Hawai'i-17.5W44–1067.0W44–10UY
Sat 9/4UCLA vs LSU+2.0W38–2764.0W38–27OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 9/18UCLA vs Fresno State-11.0L37–4064.0L37–40ON
Sat 9/25UCLA at Stanford-4.0W35–2460.5W35–24UY
Sat 10/2UCLA vs Arizona State-3.0L23–4256.5L23–42ON
Sat 10/9UCLA at Arizona-16.0W34–1660.0W34–16UY
Sat 10/16UCLA at Washington+1.5W24–1755.5W24–17UY
Sat 10/23UCLA vs Oregon-1.0L31–3462.5L31–34ON
Sat 10/30UCLA at Utah+6.0L24–4460.5L24–44ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/13UCLA vs Colorado-18.0W44–2057.5W44–20OY
Sat 11/20UCLA at USC-4.5W62–3366.5W62–33OY
Sat 11/27UCLA vs California-6.5W42–1458.5W42–14UY
Tue 12/28UCLA vs NC State+2.060.0
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
UCLA PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ UCLA
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
LSU
+0.414
UCLA
+0.551
UCLA Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
LSU
+0.555
UCLA
+0.688
UCLA Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
LSU
0.173
UCLA
0.169
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
LSU Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
LSU
+7.884
UCLA
+7.971
UCLA Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
LSU
+0.854
UCLA
+0.915
UCLA Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
LSU
72.2
UCLA
68.9
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
UCLA Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
LSU Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
LSU
17.0
UCLA
6.6
Offense Rating
LSU
24.9
UCLA
19.6
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
LSU
7.9
UCLA
12.9
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? LSU Edge
Avg sequences created per game
LSU #74
0.00
UCLA #17
3.00
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
LSU #79
0.00
UCLA #18
0.00
LSU +0.00
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 1 game this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? LSU Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
LSU #1
0.0
UCLA #1
98.6
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
LSU #62
0.0
UCLA #33
0.6
LSU +0.0
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 50.6% of games historically
Based on 1 game this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
UCLA
2 — 0 sequences
✗ Predicted incorrectly
GC Battle
UCLA
53.2 — 15.3 GC score
✗ Predicted incorrectly
Game Result
UCLA won by 11
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on UCLA, but the GC edge is small. When metrics agree but GC is near-neutral, the agreed-upon team has covered only 46.7% of the time historically (n=224) — potentially a fade signal.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
LSU
Ed Orgeron #1
47–15 (76%) · Yr 6 at school
OC Jake Peetz Yr 1 #1
DC Daronte Jones Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
UCLA
Chip Kelly #1
12–22 (35%) · Yr 4 at school
OC Justin Frye Yr 1 #1
DC Jerry Azzinaro Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself