Surprise College Football Team Favored to Score Most Points in Week 0

The 2021 college football season kicks off a week from Saturday, August 21st. There won't be any AP Top 25 teams on the schedule, but a handful of notable programs will officially kick off the season for "Week 0."

One of those programs is the UCLA Bruins, who have struggled to find much success under now fourth-year head coach Chip Kelly. The Bruins have won a total of 10 games in Kelly's three seasons, but their 3-4 mark from a season ago was considered progress in a COVID-19 shortened year.

WynnBET has created a unique prop for the start of college football season, highlighting which team will score the most points in their "Week 0" season opener, and the Pac 12's Bruins have opened up as the slight favorites ahead of Fresno State out of the Mountain West. Here are the candidates along with their odds.

College Football Week 0 Highest Scoring Team:

• UCLA -120
• Fresno State +130
• Nebraska +1500
• UTEP +1500
• New Mexico State +2500
• Hawaii +5000
• Illinois +5000
• Connecticut +10000

Can Chip Kelly Finally Turn the Corner at UCLA?

If the hot seat under Kelly isn't already warmed up, another losing season will have it on the maximum setting. UCLA returns 19 starters in Kelly's fourth year as he looks to revamp both sides of the ball to a style and pace he's more accustomed to having. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was very productive, throwing for 12 TDs to just 4 INTs in 2020, while also rushing 55 times for 306 yards and 3 scores.

The Bruins averaged 36.3 points per game in 2020, 19th in the country a season ago. They'd like Thompson-Robinson to take advantage of downfield opportunities, as UCLA only passed for 224.4 points per game.

Right now, the Bruins are 17-point home favorites against Hawaii with the total at 69.5. That's the highest projected total on the Week 0 slate, with Connecticut vs. Fresno State a full 7.5 points behind at 62. WynnBET has the Bruins' projected win total set at 7 wins this year.

As for the Bulldogs, they ranked fourth in the country in passing yards/game a season ago, but were a bottom 20 team in rushing on a per game basis.

The line for UCLA at -120 seems reasonable when you consider both the total and their returning talent. While Fresno State should run all over Connecticut, the massive 27.5-point spread would likely indicate they take their foot off the gas pedal with reserves towards the end of the game.

Are you buying a bounce back for UCLA this year? Make your pick over at WynnBET!