UCLA QB Ty Dieffenbach on track for Michigan after arm and ankle scare vs. Illinois
UCLA coach Bob Chesney says Ty Dieffenbach's arm and ankle problems won't keep him out as the 10-0 Bruins head to Michigan on Saturday.
UCLA quarterback Ty Dieffenbach appears set to start Saturday's Week 12 game at Michigan. He got hurt late in the first half of Friday's 22-14 win over Illinois, and coach Bob Chesney played down both that injury and a lingering ankle problem. "Neither of them are enough to keep him off the field," Chesney said after the game, according to USA TODAY Sports.
Dieffenbach went down with 35 seconds left before halftime when he was tackled just after throwing downfield. He landed hard and needed two teammates to help him off the field. ESPN reported it as a shoulder injury. Chesney later described it as a jolt to the funny-bone area of his left arm, which is not his throwing arm. Dieffenbach stayed in the locker room when his teammates came back out after halftime, which USA TODAY Sports noted was a bad early sign. He came back midway through the third quarter and finished with 232 passing yards and two touchdowns, according to CBS Sports. The second score was a 26-yard throw to Semaj Morgan with 11:38 left that put the game out of reach.
What Dieffenbach means to UCLA
UCLA would struggle to replace him. The former Cal Poly quarterback opened the season third on the depth chart. He took over after starter Nico Iamaleava suffered a season-ending injury against Oregon last month. UCLA won that game and has won every start since. Dieffenbach had 986 yards and six touchdowns in four starts going into Friday, and he has given the Bruins a downfield threat. Five of his six November touchdown passes have covered 20 yards or more.
If he can't go, the job falls to Madden Iamaleava, Nico's younger brother. Madden had attempted one pass all season before Friday and went 0-for-2 in relief late in the first half. The offensive line in front of either quarterback has had its own injuries, and the staff has rotated linemen all season to build depth.
UCLA is 10-0 and No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings. USA TODAY Sports reports that a win in Ann Arbor would clinch a spot in the Big Ten championship game. Michigan is in its first season under Kyle Whittingham, who went 9-5 against UCLA during his years at Utah. The Wolverines have problems at quarterback too. Freshman Tommy Carr was benched for Bryce Underwood during a 31-7 loss to Oregon on Saturday.
What the market says
As of Sunday, UCLA is a 68% consensus favorite across the five sportsbooks and prediction markets on this game's odds page. The sportsbooks average 70% and the prediction markets 68%. FanDuel rates the Bruins highest at 70% and Polymarket lowest at 67%. Michigan is getting 7 points in the consensus, with venues ranging from +6.5 to +7. The total sits at 39.5, with a range of 37.5 to 41.5.
The best UCLA moneyline is -234 at Polymarket. Kalshi has UCLA at -239 and Novig at -245. The best Michigan price is +220 at FanDuel. On the prediction markets, Michigan is +203 at Novig, +198 at Kalshi and +193 at Polymarket. On the spread, FanDuel has the best UCLA number at -6.5 for -125, and DraftKings has the best Michigan number at +7 for -108. FanDuel lists the low total at 37.5 for -110 on the over. DraftKings has the high total at 41.5 for -110 on the under. These prices will keep moving until kickoff on CBS.
