UCLA Bruins (4-5) vs. Washington State Cougars (1-8)
Saturday, November 14, 12:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: UCLA -18.0

Sam’s Take (43 – 16):

November in Pullman… does it get any better? Excuse the sarcasm, but the near-freezing temperature is just what the doctor ordered for a Cougar squad that is looking for any kind of advantage. UCLA is certainly not used to the cold, so it will be interesting to see how the Bruins handle themselves (especially if snow starts falling).

After a two-month drought, UCLA finally found a way to win their first Pac-10 game of the season by defeating Washington last week. The Bruins did everything they could to hand UW the game (committed five turnovers), but the win kept UCLA’s bowl hopes alive.

I’m sure Rick Neuheisel has been preaching ball security all week in practice, especially with less than ideal weather conditions expected for Saturday. I believe the only way UCLA can lose to WSU is if they turn the ball over frequently, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see Norm Chow go with a relatively conservative game plan.

QB Kevin Prince has been cleared to start this week, which is especially good news for Bruins fans considering the progress that Prince has made as of late. The freshman QB shouldn’t have much trouble dissecting the nation’s 118th ranked passing defense, unless Chow elects to primarily pound the ball on the nation’s 115th ranked run defense. Either way, Wazzu is probably in for a long day.

The Bruins may have to grind this game out for a little while, but I expect Rick Neuheisel’s club to return to sunny Southern California with a chance to become bowl eligible next week.

Prediction: UCLA 33 – Washington State 14

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: RB Derrick Coleman – Coleman will get the start this week in place of Jonathan Franklin, and he is the perfect “bad weather” tailback. I expect the 235-pound bruiser to be very effective Saturday.

Washington State Player to Keep an Eye On: C Kenny Alfred – I don’t spotlight o-lineman often, but Alfred is a difference maker who may actually be capable of containing the “unblockable” DT Brian Price.

Dave’s Take (46 – 13):

There isn’t much doubt that UCLA is in the bottom half of the conference; that much is clear because they’ve played everyone but USC in the top half.

Yes they head into this game against Washington State in 9th place in the conference, but the gauntlet of @Stanford, Oregon, Cal, @Arizona, and @Oregon State is the reason why. When they played a team at their level in the bottom half of the conference (Washington), they pulled off the win despite a very ugly game in which they lost the turnover battle 5 to 1.

This week, they play a team they are a level above. Washington State has proven that they simply can not compete in the Pac-10 at this point, and despite the fact that UCLA is not an upper-echelon team, it would take a perfect storm of UCLA at their worst, WSU at their best, and a ton of favorable bounces for the Cougars to walk away with the victory.

Needless to say, I don’t expect that to happen.

Prediction: UCLA 31 – Washington State 10

UCLA Bruins (3-4) vs. Oregon State Beavers (4-3)
Saturday, October 31, 1:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Oregon State -9.5

Sam’s Take (36 – 14):

Both Oregon State and UCLA suffered disappointing losses last week, but for far different reasons. The Beavers gave the Trojans everything they wanted plus some (OSU outgained ‘SC 482-429 yards), and a special teams breakdown may have been the only thing preventing OSU from a 3-1 record in the Pac-10. Meanwhile, UCLA found a way to lose to UA despite generating five turnovers, as the Bruins offense looked hopelessly lost.

It’s hard to envision a UCLA win here, especially with the way OSU’s Sean Canfield is playing (1,734 yards 11 TDs, 4 INTS, 68.2 % completions). Obviously, we know the Rodgers brothers will always get their yards, but when Canfield is throwing well the Beavers can pile up points on anyone. I have been most impressed by the offensive balance from Mike Riley’s team in the last few games, as players like WR Damola Adeniji, and TE Joe Halahuni have given the offense another dimension.

A strong argument could be made that RB ‘Quizz Rodgers deserves to go to New York for the Heisman Presentation. He has accounted for 1,089 total yards (810 rushing) and 15 TDs, including a 113 yard, 1 TD day against a Trojans D that ranks fifth nationally against the run. While UCLA features a stout front seven led by DT Brain Price, I don’t think any defense can stop ‘Quizz right now.

For UCLA, the offense has to find an identity this week. As strong as Oregon State has looked on offense, the defense has proven to be vulnerable (particularly against the pass). I am interested to see what Rick Neuheisel does at the QB position if Kevin Prince struggles early. Will we see QB Richard Brehaut take meaningful snaps in Corvallis? RB Jonathan Franklin has proven to be a reliable playmaker, but the overall lack of explosion in Norm Chow’s offense is very disconcerting.

I still have great respect for the UCLA defense, but until the offense can show some signs of life, the losing skid will continue. I look for Oregon State to come away with a workmanlike victory at Reser Stadium.

Prediction: Oregon State 31 – UCLA 20

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: S Rahim Moore – The highly-instinctive Moore has been a bright spot for the Bruins all season, and he enters Saturday’s game looking to add to his NCAA-best seven interceptions.

Oregon State Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Casey Kjos – Kjos only has six catches on the year, but he showed great route-running ability last week against USC and I believe he will contribute more and more as the season progresses.

Dave’s Take (39 – 11):

After yet another respectable game last week (albeit in a losing effort), Oregon State has firmly placed themselves in that “best of the rest” category with Arizona behind Oregon and USC. UCLA on the other hand looks completely lost; even with all of the turnovers last week, the offense never gave the team a chance to win.

As brilliantly as Sean Canfield has been playing, the real story in this one just might be UCLA’s inability to stop the run. Since conference play has started, UCLA has given up over 200 yards rushing in three of the four games they have played, with their “best” effort coming against Stanford where they gave up 174 yards rushing and Toby Gerhart had 134 yards and three touchdowns.

Since that Stanford game, UCLA has given up 719 rushing yards, good for just under 240/game. Going up against one of the premiere backs in the entire country in Jacquizz Rodgers, do you really expect things to get better this week?

Even if the Bruins can find some answers on offense against a less-than-stellar Beavers defense, I can’t see them finding any way to keep up with this offense, which has been outstanding in conference play and should continue to be this week. With two potentially winnable games at home against Washington and ASU as well as a road game against Washington State coming up, UCLA’s bowl dreams aren’t completely shattered just yet; but I don’t think the game in Corvallis is going to help any.

Prediction: Oregon State 34 – UCLA 17

UCLA Bruins 3-4 Overall (0-4 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Arizona 27 – UCLA 13

Next Week’s Opponent: @Oregon State

The Bruins are in a state of regression right now, and Rick Neuheisel will need to put together a substantial coaching effort for the Bruins to right the ship. After an encouraging 3-0 start to the season, UCLA is now staring at a potential 0-5 start to the Pac-10 season. To be fair, the Bruins have faced four of the conference’s best so far (Oregon, Cal, Stanford, UA), and with winnable games on the horizon it’s not time to panic yet.

At the top of the “to do” list for Neuheisel is figuring out the quarterback situation, and quickly. Let’s be honest…QB Kevin Prince is struggling. The freshman has not looked the same since breaking his jaw in the endzone of Neyland Stadium, and his performance in Tucson was especially disheartening (7/15 60 yards). Should Norm Chow consider giving QB Richard Brehaut a shot? I believe the answer is yes. I’m not saying it’s time to give up on Prince for good, as I still believe he can be a productive starter for UCLA. But right now he doesn’t seem to be playing with any confidence, and a change may spark the offense.

While there certainly needs to be more productivity at the quarterback position, UCLA has a variety of other offensive issues. The youth of the offensive line is starting to show, and the receivers have been terrible. I believed the Bruins had more quality depth at wideout and tight end than almost any other team in the conference, but where are the playmakers? I was also very disappointed in the running game against UA, as Jonathan Franklin and Co. were held to 65 yards rushing (2.8 YPC).

Defensively, the Bruins did some good things. While the ‘Cats moved the ball quite a bit on the day (456 yards), UCLA generated five turnovers, including two interceptions by the ultra-intuitive and opportunistic Rahim Moore (who now has an NCAA best seven on the year). I still believe that this Bruins D is good enough to keep the team in games, but its not good enough to win them by itself (defense had a hand in all 13 UCLA points).

UCLA travels to Corvallis this week for a date with another upper-echelon Pac-10 team. Upset the Beavers, and a four game winning streak is a strong possibility. But a lopsided loss could kill the demeanor of the team, as well as the bowl hopes.

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 3-2 Overall (0-2 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Oregon 24 – UCLA 10

Next Week’s Opponent: California

This one hurts, plain and simple. Rick Neuheisel’s club outplayed Oregon at many points throughout the game, but everything came crashing down within the first four minutes of the second half.

For the second straight week, UCLA put together a very disappointing offensive effort coupled with uncharacteristically poor rushing defense. The Bruins had their chances against Oregon, but QB Kevin Prince and the rest of the offense could never capitalize in the key moments of drives. UCLA fans are still probably sick to their stomachs over the goal line failure, but that was one example of many disheartening moments for Norm Chow’s offense.

Would a TD on that drive have changed the game? It certainly would have had an impact, but there is no reason to believe that the offense could have produced much more than 17-20 points against Aliotti’s D. One thing that has become painfully clear is that the UCLA offensive coaches need to place a heavy emphasis on fixing the red zone offense.

Is there now a QB controversy in Westwood? Many Bruins fans might think Richard Brehaut is the future (I have stated in the past that I feel that way), but Neuheisel and Chow remain adamant about sticking with Prince.

“For the immediate future, we’re going to stay with Kevin Price and believe in him” Neuheisel said.

The defense played fairly well, but I am having trouble understanding how a unit led by DT Brian Price and LB Reggie Carter can allow two teams in a row to gash them in the running game (Oregon went off for 221 yards rushing altogether). Clearly the offense cannot be trusted to win games right now, so this Bruins D has to be great, not just good. I am by no means blaming the defense for this loss, as the unit only gave up 10 points to a high-powered offense, and actually scored the only UCLA TD (what a play by Ayers!). That said, I would like to see the unit generate a few more turnovers, because the Bruins offense needs a short field to score these days.

The next four weeks will make or break the Bruins season, as Cal, UA, OSU, and UW are all capable of beating the Bruins and sending them to 0-6 in the conference. To avoid that fate, UCLA will have to rally around Prince, establish a consistent running game, and play relentless defense for all four quarters. We should find out quite a bit about the will of this team against the Cal Bears this Saturday.

Oregon Ducks (4-1) vs. UCLA Bruins (3-1)
Saturday, October 10, 12:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Oregon -3.5
*AllPac10 Game of the Week*

Sam’s Take (25 – 12):

Oregon has been firing on all cylinders for the last two weeks, but this Saturday’s game is not taking place in the friendly confines of Autzen Stadium. Remember the last time Oregon played a road game?

The Ducks may have to overcome more than just a rowdy Rose Bowl crowd, as it remains to be seen if QB Jeremiah Masoli can play Saturday. Nate Costa certainly has the tools to be successful, but can he lead the Ducks to a meaningful win in his first career start (especially on the road)? The Ducks will also be without CB Willie Glasper, who was supposed to fill the void left by Walter Thurmond III. Now the Ducks are without their two best corners for the rest of the season, and Norm Chow will likely test the secondary early in the game.

Chow may have the services of starting QB Kevin Prince (broken jaw), who has recently resumed practicing with the first team offense. Prince can make all of the deep throws that Kevin Craft can’t, which means there should be plenty of opportunities for the Bruin receivers against the inexperienced Oregon corners.

I believe there are many reasons to pick the upset here, but something tells me Oregon will find a way. Costa understands Chip Kelly’s system well, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him flourish (just as LaMichael James has been great at RB in place of Blount). The UCLA run defense is good, but Stanford proved that it is not impenetrable. I also love the way Oregon’s defensive front seven is playing, so Prince (or Craft) may be in for a very long day if the pass rush looks like it has over the past couple of weeks.

I see the resilient Ducks pulling this one out in Pasadena.

Prediction: Oregon 30 – UCLA 24

Oregon Player to Keep an Eye On: TE Ed Dickson – Whether Costa or Masoli plays Saturday; #83 should be a feature part of the passing game.

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: DE Korey Bosworth - Bosworth will be a key to disrupting the timing of Oregon’s misdirection spread attack.

Dave’s Take (29 – 8):

For the Halloween matchup between the USC Trojans and the Oregon Ducks to be the Pac-10 Game of the Year that it is currently looking like it might be, both teams are going to have to actually get there without anymore missteps; and the first challenge for the Ducks comes this Saturday in UCLA.

UCLA’s generally stout defense was exposed last Saturday, especially on the ground; playing against Toby Gerhart can do that to defenses. While there isn’t a whole lot of doubt that the Bruins defense is strong, Luck and Gerhart’s big days are definitely cause for concern; how will the D hold up against stronger offenses? San Diego State, Kansas State, and even Tennessee (with Crompton at the helm) didn’t really give us a good indication.

Oregon’s offense has found its groove, but now Jeremiah Masoli’s status is in question, and a defense like UCLA’s on the road isn’t the first start I want to see Nate Costa get as a Ducks fan. Heading back on the road for the first time in over a month is hard enough; doing so completely demolished by injuries (Glasper, Thurmond III) is even worse.

With the return of Kevin Prince and home field advantage, the Bruins will be extremely focused and geared up for the upset. Beating Oregon would help them avoid falling to 0-2 in the conference and would also establish their presence in the conference.

Even with the injuries, I think Oregon has what it takes to win this game. What it really comes down to is mental toughness, something the Ducks didn’t show a whole lot of the last time they headed out on the road. I’m going to trust them to get the job done this time around; but it’ll come down to the wire.

Prediction: Oregon 27 – UCLA 23

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

San Diego State Aztecs (0-0) vs. UCLA Bruins (0-0)
Saturday, September 5, 4:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: UCLA -19.0

Sam’s Take (0 – 0):

The Aztecs head to Pasadena looking for their fist win in series history against UCLA (all-time series: UCLA leads 20-0-1). I don’t see win number one coming this Saturday, but the Bruins must NOT overlook this game in anticipation for the trip to Rocky Top. Sure SDSU seems unimposing if you look at almost any game film from 2008 (2-10 record), but the Aztecs will feature a first-class coaching staff full of former Bruins.

New head coach Brady Hoke (led Ball State to 12-2 record in 2008) has put together a staff that includes offensive coordinator Al Borges (mastermind of the Cade McNown offenses at UCLA and the Jason Campbell offense at Auburn that went 13-0 in 2004), and DC Rocky Long (led UCLA D during ’97 Pac-10 title season).

I believe the most important thing to watch for in this game will be the performance of QB Kevin Prince against the unorthodox and often frustrating 3-3-5 defense that Long will feature. Expect non-stop blitzing from SDSU, as this D will bring pressure about 80% of the time.

The Bruins may opt to keep the ball on the ground for most of the game, especially considering the Aztecs had the 118th ranked run defense last season. In the end, I think Norm Chow will solve the blitzing after a couple of drives, and the UCLA offense will wear down an undersized SDSU defensive line. Also, expect the Bruins defense to be dominant against an inferior SDSU offense.

Prediction: UCLA 38 – San Diego State 13

San Diego State Player to Keep an Eye On: QB Ryan Lindley - Borges is a great QB developer, and Lindley has some nice physical tools. This offense will go as far as these two take it.

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: QB Kevin Prince - He will have to play his first game against a very unconventional D so we should learn a lot about his poise.

Dave’s Take (0 – 0):

All eyes are on QB Kevin Prince in his first game under center for the UCLA Bruins.

This game really isn’t going to tell us anything we don’t already know. UCLA’s defense should be one of the best in the conference this year, and they might end up outscoring the Aztec offense with an ill-advised decision or two. No reason the defense and special teams shouldn’t be solid.

As far as the offense goes, we won’t really learn anything; if they do well, we’ll still need to see it against a better defensive team. If they do poorly, it will cast doubt on the offense; doubt that most of us already have.

So what this game really comes down to is what Kevin Prince makes out of it. If he comes out of this game feeling confident and looking good, while it may not convince anyone that they can do it against tougher teams just yet, it will get the offense to build some confidence and rally behind the guy, which could go a long way.

I’m expecting the Bruins to be in control for the entire game thanks to their defense, but I’m not expecting any fireworks just yet. I hope to be pleasantly surprised.

Prediction: UCLA 27 – San Diego State 6