UCLA Bruins (3-3) vs. Arizona Wildcats (4-2)
Saturday, October 24, 3:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Arizona -7.5

Sam’s Take (31 – 14):

UCLA and Arizona are heading in opposite directions right now. The Bruins have looked lost as of late, and last week’s beatdown at the hands of Cal was especially disheartening. Meanwhile, Arizona is quietly putting together the best offense in the Pac-10, led by a rising star in QB Nick Foles.

Arizona has been a part of two thrillers in a row, losing a heartbreaker in Seattle and then mounting an incredibly exciting comeback against Stanford. This week, I think Mike Stoops will be able to breathe a little easier but this game is by no means a lock.

A strong argument could be made that QB Nick Foles is the best signal caller in the Pac-10, as his numbers have been nothing short of remarkable (1,152 yards passing 9 TDs 2 INTs, 73.9% completions on the season). The rise of Foles has now made the ‘Cats as balanced as any offense in college football right now, as the running game is still extremely potent with three all-conference caliber performers in the backfield. Nic Grisby appears to be fully healthy, so the UCLA defense will have its hands full this Saturday.

For UCLA, there is some reason to believe the offense can come through this week. Schematically, Norm Chow does a lot of the same things as Stanford, particularly in his use of tight ends and fullbacks. Jim Harbaugh’s club exploited a talented UA secondary last week, so the blueprint is there for Chow to take advantage of. If QB Kevin Prince can make good decisions, UCLA will have a puncher’s chance. I would also like to see RB Jonathan Franklin get the ball more this week, as he is the most explosive threat right now for the Bruins.

As good as CB Alterraun Verner and S Rahim Moore are, the other half of the UCLA secondary could be in for a long day against a dynamic UA passing attack. I believe the ‘Cats offense is going to be a little bit too versatile for UCLA’s D this week, and that will be the difference in the game.

Prediction: Arizona 35 – UCLA 27

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: TE Logan Paulsen – Paulsen’s play was a bright spot from the Cal game and I think he is the perfect mismatch option for Prince because of his big frame and deceptive speed.

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Juron Criner – Any one of six UA receivers could be the player to keep an eye on this week, but Criner seems to be surging right now.

Dave’s Take (35 – 10):

Looking ahead to this game a few weeks ago, it was looking like a clash between UCLA’s stingy defense and Arizona’s high powered offense. Arizona has kept up their end of the deal, slashing through conference opponents on offense ever since Nick Foles has taken over at QB; but what happened to UCLA’s defense?

The Oregon game was not the defense’s fault, considering the fact that they only gave up one offensive touchdown in that one. But that had a lot to do with Nate Costa’s ineffectiveness; the running defense has been awful for three straight games, giving up a woeful 228 YPG since conference play has started. The Cal game was a complete disaster defensively as the Bears just ripped off big play after big play in routing the Bruins at home.

After seeing what I saw last week, I just don’t believe that UCLA is going to magically re-find themselves on defense on the road against one of the conference’s most explosive offenses. The Bruins might also see a healthy dose of Nic Grigsby, Greg Nwoko, and Keola Antolin if they can’t do anything to prove they can stop the run. And if the rushing attack establishes itself and sets up this passing game… oh my.

Offensively, the Bruins took some nice strides last week; and the Wildcats defense has been less than stellar of late. I wouldn’t be surprised to see UCLA put some points up this week; but I don’t see them slowing down Arizona’s attack, and they won’t be able to keep up with it.

Prediction: Arizona 34 – UCLA 20

UCLA Bruins 3-3 Overall (0-3 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Cal 45 – UCLA 26

Next Week’s Opponent: @Arizona

It feels like forever ago that the Bruins triumphantly marched into Tennessee and upset the Volunteers for the second straight year, doesn’t it?

After a perfect 3-0 start, the Bruins have come out of the bye week with three straight losses. While Stanford, Oregon, and Cal could all very well end up in the top half of the conference, it doesn’t do much to lessen the sting of the losing streak.

The defense has surprisingly been a major concern for the Bruins during conference play, especially in the running game. After giving up 174 yards on the ground to Stanford and 221 to Oregon, the Bruins had another awful day against the run vs. Cal, surrendering 289 yards.

UCLA gave up six touchdowns Saturday, all on huge plays. Marvin Jones had two TD grabs for 43 yards and 24 yards, Jahvid Best had a 51 yard touchdown catch and a 93-yard run, and Shane Vereen had a 42-yard scoring run. But it isn’t just the defense giving up the big plays; for the second straight game, Kevin Prince has thrown a pick-6, this one returned for 68 yards.

The Bruins lost the turnover battle 2-0, and both turnovers led to touchdowns. This team simply cannot afford to turn the ball over.

If there was a positive to take from Saturday’s game, it would be amassing 448 yards of total offense. With the exception of the pick-6, Kevin Prince had a nice day, going 21/41 for 311 yards. Jonathan Franklin had 101 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, and Logan Paulsen led the receiving corps with five catches for 96 yards.

It was good to see the offense come alive a bit; but not good enough. The defense will have to find its form in a hurry if the Bruins are to have any chance of beating Arizona this weekend.

UCLA Bruins (1-0) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (1-0)
Saturday, September 12, 1:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Tennessee -9.0

Sam’s Take (8 – 1):

I see a lot of similarities in the Vols and Bruins. Both teams feature very good defenses full of all-conference performers, and both offenses are loaded with young, explosive skill-position talent.

In my opinion, the big difference between the two programs is at the quarterback position. Tennessee QB Jonathan Crompton is an experienced senior that has looked outstanding from the day Lane Kiffin and Co. arrived in Knoxville.

Certainly his performances in past seasons have driven Vols fans crazy, but after an excellent spring and an encouraging five-touchdown day against Western Kentucky, Crompton really has the look of a brand new QB. Now he will have to prove how far he has come against a great defense that fared well against him last year.

The Bruins, on the other hand, will send a freshman QB into one of the most hostile environments in the country. There is no denying the talent of Kevin Prince, but this game will be a tall order for him, especially since the UCLA offensive line is still a work in progress. It is critical that he resists the urge to force throws into tight spaces, as he is facing an elite, ball-hawking secondary. He has plenty of weapons (Embree, Austin, Rosario, Paulsen etc.), but his decision-making must be better than it was last Saturday. This game will be a great opportunity for Prince to show what he’s made of.

I expect both teams to use a lot of freshmen on offense. Vols fans got a taste of what heralded true freshman RB Bryce Brown could do (104 -rushing yards, one TD), and I was also impressed with freshman RB David Oku. Both tailbacks should see time behind starter Montario Hardesty. I am also impressed by freshman WR Marsalis Teague, who has Tennessee fans raving about his ability.

For UCLA, I expect to see freshmen Jonathan Franklin, Milton Knox, and Damien Thigpen all involved at running back along with sophomore Derrick Coleman. Norm Chow may also use lightning fast WR Randall Carroll (also a freshman) in order to stretch the Vols D.

As mentioned before, both defenses are excellent. UCLA started slowly against SDSU, but they were exceptional after the first quarter. Obviously Tennessee is also strong on D, especially now that defensive genius Monte Kiffin has installed his famous “Tampa 2” system. I expect S Eric Berry to be even better than he has been because of Kiffin’s system, so the Bruins must be aware of his presence at all times.

In the end, I expect a game effort from the Bruins, but the margin for error is very small for Prince. I think the Vols will be a little too tough at Neyland Stadium, and a few UCLA mistakes should be the difference.

Prediction: Tennessee 31 – UCLA 20

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: CB Courtney Viney - With Aaron Hester sidelined with an injury, Viney will need to step up this Saturday. Crompton may look to attack him early.

Tennessee Player to Keep an Eye On: The Entire Offensive Line - This is a massive front that routinely sprung the talented stable of running backs last week. It is critical that DT Brian Price and the rest of the Bruins d-line hold up in this battle.

Dave’s Take (8 – 1):

Tennessee is buzzing after a dominant 63-point performance last week, but let’s calm down Vols fans, it was just Western Kentucky. Tennessee’s offense will have a substantially tougher time putting points on the board against this stout UCLA defense.

Obviously the defense can’t afford to get off to a slow start like they did last week. Down 14-3 at home against San Diego State is quite a bit different from being down two scores on the road against Tennessee.

With last year’s game really setting the tone for a disastrous season last year, the revenge factor will definitely be pumping in Tennessee’s favor this time around. But the real story here will be quarterback Kevin Prince.

This looks like it will be a very difficult day for Prince. It’s hard enough to go into an extremely hostile environment, but to do so with a battered up offensive line against a tough defensive line, as well as having one of the absolute best in the nation in Eric Berry up against you? Not exactly a fun way to get your career started on the road.

I expect Tennessee to do a good job defending against the run and forcing Prince to try to beat them, which could spell trouble. He’s got a bright future ahead of him, but expecting a mistake free day this Saturday might be asking too much.

I see Tennessee having difficulty putting points on the board as well, especially if UCLA’s defensive line can control the tempo. This game should be one of those ugly battle-for-every-inch types, with Tennessee’s home field advantage and thirst for revenge giving them the edge.

Prediction: Tennessee 20 – UCLA 13

Listed below are all of the Pac-10 players who were included on the national lists. The only two awards not listed are the Heisman Trophy and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The Heisman Trophy does not release a preseason watch list, and the Unitas Award, which is handed out to the nation’s best senior college quarterback, had no Pac-10 players on their watch list.

Congratulations to the players named, and good luck taking home the hardware!

After a dismal 2008 campaign, Chow and Neuheisel hit the recruiting trail hard. Their efforts seem to be paying off, especially at the wide receiver and tight end positions. As a result, the Bruins will feature an intriguing mix of youthful promise and veteran talent in the receiving corp this fall. Incoming quarterback Kevin Prince should have some weapons to work with, and Norm Chow may finally have a chance to fully showcase his heralded pro-style offense.

The top three receivers from last year’s squad are back, including sure-handed sophomore Taylor Embree.

The 6-3 194 pound Embree burst onto the scene last season, setting school records for receiving yards (531) and receptions (40) among freshmen wideouts. His 531 receiving yards led all Bruins in 2008 and his 40 catches were second on the team. Embree’s fantastic freshman season garnered national attention as he was named second team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News. He played in all 12 games, and started eight.

Terrence Austin returns a kick for big yards

Embree is a possession-receiver in the best sense of the term. The Overland Park (KS) native is an exceptionally gifted route-runner and possesses rare instincts that allow him to separate from defenders. Those instincts could make the cerebral sophomore Kevin Prince’s emergency option whenever a play breaks down.

Embree does not shy away from contact, and routinely ran dangerous “across-the-middle” routes last season. He uses his big frame very well, and has tremendous hands that seem to catch everything, especially for first downs. Embree enters the season as one of the premier offensive threats for the Bruins.

Joining Embree as a starter will be senior Terrence Austin. Austin led the team in receptions as a junior with 53. He finished second on the team with 461 receiving yards and one touchdown. The 5-11 173 pound flanker is a multi-talented athlete that can hurt the opponent in a variety of ways. He set a school record last season with 1,878 all-purpose yards, which broke Maurice Jones-Drew’s mark of 1,863. Austin also became the first Bruin ever to eclipse 1,000 yards on kickoff returns (1,109).

Austin is very effective on reverses and trick plays, giving the ultra-creative Norm Chow a speedy playmaker to utilize in 2009. Last season, Austin had 13 carries for 90 yards (6.9 YPC). Teammates and coaches alike have praised the Long Beach Poly (CA) product for his leadership qualities, and he was voted as one of the team captains at the end of spring. Austin will be a key contributor for the Bruins in 2009.

One of the Bruins biggest targets is sophomore Nelson Rosario. The 6-5 214 pound receiver played in nine games last year, catching 11 passes for 169 yards. He has tremendous leaping ability, finishing third in the 2009 Pac-10 Championships for the long jump.

Rosario also has very soft hands, making him an ideal red-zone target. In his first game as a college wideout against Tennessee, Rosario made a clutch 14-yard grab that helped keep the Bruins game-winning drive alive. The Oceanside (CA) native will be Taylor Embree’s primary backup, and should be on the field a lot more than he was in 2008.

Senior Gavin Ketchum gives the Bruins another experienced receiver. At 6-5 210 pounds, he is an excellent blocker with good hands as well. Last season, he played in 11 games catching six passes for 61 yards. For his career, the Oak Park (CA) native has 27 receptions for 322 yards and two touchdowns. He will start the season as Terrence Austin’s main backup.

There is a lot of excitement surrounding true freshman Randall Carroll. The day Carroll enrolled at UCLA, he became one of the fastest players in the conference. The 5-11 184 pound speedster won back-to-back CIF state track titles in 2008 and 2009 for the 100 and 200 meters. He recorded the fastest 100 meter time in the state in 17 years with a lightning-quick 10.30 at the Del Rey League finals earlier this summer.

The Inglewood (CA) product also excelled on the football field while at Cathedral High School. Rivals.com gave him 4-stars and rated him the #4 athlete of the 2009 class. He was a U.S. Army All-American selection and SuperPrep All-American as well. As a senior at Cathedral, Carroll caught 31 passes for 564 yards and four touchdowns as well as running for 543 yards and two scores. He could be the Bruins x-factor on offense this season.

Tight Ends

Ryan Moya leaps to make the grab

Senior Ryan Moya will be a primary contributor at the tight end position this fall. The 6-3 247 pound Moya was second-team All-Pac-10 in 2008, and made an impressive recovery after missing all of the 2007 season. He finished last season with 38 catches for 364 yards and three touchdowns.

Moya is a versatile player that can catch and block equally well. As a result, the El Dorado Hills (CA) standout will spend a lot of time lining up at the H-Back position in Norm Chow’s offense. He has battled a few nagging injuries and was held out of spring drills, but should be healthy for the fall.

Moya will share time at tight end with senior Logan Paulsen. The 6-5 268 pound Paulsen was a Mackey Award candidate last season before missing basically the entire season with a foot injury. He is a tremendous blocker with great receiving skills as well, catching 42 passes for 526 yards and one touchdown in his career.

Paulsen is an exceptional leader and his teammates selected him as one of the squad’s team captains for 2009. The veteran from West Hills (CA) has started in 26 games, and will look to have a productive final year with the Bruins. If he can prove that he has recovered from the foot surgery, Paulsen will be an integral part of the offense this season.

The most exciting young player on the UCLA offense besides Carroll is true freshman Morrell Presley. The 6-4 222 pound tight end could be the Bruins’ best pass-catcher at the position since Mercedes Lewis. Scout.com gave him 5-stars while Rivals.com gave him 4-stars. Presley’s size allows him to be a physical blocker, but his real strength is as a receiver. He has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40, and could be used as a mismatch option this season.

Other receivers and tight ends that could see time are: freshmen Ricky Marvray and Jerry Johnson, and sophomores Antwon Moutra, Cory Harkey and Nate Chandler.

My Take

There are certainly plenty of receiving options for this UCLA coaching staff to choose from. In fact, on paper it looks like a very exciting unit that could make some noise this season. QB Kevin Craft and the offensive line were so dreadful last year that the receivers never really had a chance to shine. A repeat scenario is obviously possible, but if Prince has time to find some of these talented athletes, the Bruins may surprise the conference with their offense.

I think Embree has all-conference ability and should enjoy a very productive sophomore year. Austin is an exciting return man, and is a great receiving compliment to Embree with his ability to stretch the defense. The two veteran tight ends are also solid players and will help Prince a lot as blockers and receivers.

If you are a Bruin fan, start getting excited about Carroll and Presley. It looked like both freshmen were headed to USC for most of the recruiting process, but having them in Westwood is going to be huge for the next few years.

Even if the passing offense doesn’t click this season, there is a solid foundation to build around with young players like Embree, Rosario, Carroll, and Presley.