Pac-12 Perspective: How Will UCLA Football Do In The Pac-12 This Season?
With four weeks of the season and three UCLA football games of 2014 already in the books, how do the Bruins stack up against the Pac-12 with their first conference game coming up this coming Thursday? UCLA was ranked #7 in the preseason and has dropped five spots in three weeks despite a 3-0 record. Now is UCLA worse than people have perceived or have the Bruins just not blossomed yet? We take a look at a conference in a realistic Pac-12 perspective.
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Things got a lot more complicated during UCLA’s last game when Heisman hopeful Brett Hundley left the game against Texas in the first quarter with a hyperextended elbow. The seriousness of the injury will not be revealed until kickoff on Thursday night.
Now that is UCLA, but what about the rest of the Pac-12? There have already been some surprises as well as some things we already knew about some Pac-12 football teams. With that being said, we will now look at how UCLA will realistically stack up against their next three Pac-12 opponents: Arizona State, Utah and Oregon.
Arizona State
Sep 13, 2014; Boulder, CO, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back D.J. Foster (8) runs with the ball for a touchdown during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field . Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The biggest news on the Sun Devil front is that they are without their highly-touted quarterback Taylor Kelly who left the game in the fourth quarter against Colorado a week ago. Kelly went to the locker room and emerged on crutches and in a big boot. ASU has confirmed that Kelly will not play against UCLA in their Thursday night contest. That is not good for ASU’s passing game, but does not make them dead in the water.
The Sun Devils have an impressive offensive line that is opening massive holes for D.J. Foster who is 8th in the nation in rushing with 510 yards and five touchdowns. He is averaging 9.4 yards per carry which translates to 170 yards per game.
The Match-up With UCLA: If Brett Hundley is able to not only play, but play with out pain or restrictions, UCLA should have a massive advantage going into Tempe. The Sun Devil defense is not very good and can be exploited. Colorado put up 545 yards on them, which UCLA could possibly do. It is ASU’s running game that UCLA might have a problem with. The Bruins have been so-so in their first three games and if Arizona State finds the Bruins sleeping, it could be a long night in Tempe for UCLA..
Utah
Sep 20, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Utah Utes quarterback Travis Wilson (7) looks to pass in the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The Utes have shocked and awed. Utah is averaging 47 points per game (7th in the country) and are delivering both through the air and on the ground. We have seen Utah put up a fight in the last few years since joining the Pac-12, but have not been able to move out of the South Division cellar. That may change this year behind QB Travis Wilson (if he does not get knocked out of a game – again – for making questionable diving plays were his head is exposed) who has 618 passing yards and 7 touchdowns. He is getting massive help on the ground from Devontae Booker and Bubba Poole who have 179 and 136 yards on the year, respectively.
As for the Ute defense, they are allowing only 17 points per game. That is impressive, but then again, not very. Utah’s opponents have a collective 4-7 record on the year, so it is hard to say what the Utes can do when they play a good team. Still, at 29th in the nation, Utah is only allowing 327.7 yards per game, which pretty scary.
The Match-up With UCLA: It is almost two weeks away until UCLA has to face Utah at the Rose Bowl, but it is already looking like a tough match-up. UCLA’s defense has the tools to beat Utah, but are they going to be ready? They came out strong against Virginia, flat against Memphis and solid against Texas. If UCLA can stay consistent, they should have a shot at stopping the productive Utes. As for overcoming Utah’s defense, if Hundley is alright by game time, the advantage should be in UCLA’s favor.
Oregon
Sep 20, 2014; Pullman, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) scrambles out of the pocket against the Washington State Cougars during the second half at Martin Stadium. The Ducks beat Cougars 38-31. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Oregon is Oregon, but they got exposed in their match-up against lowly Washington State. The Ducks offensive line in hobbling as they have several significant injuries. It showed as the Cougars were able to get at Marcus Mariota seven times while the O-line could only watch. Oregon was able to power past the WSU offense, but their defense could not handle the air raid attack lead by Cougar QB Connor Halliday. With little to no running game, Halliday carved up the Duck defense through the air and made it a tough game the entire way.
The Match-up With UCLA: This may be the best shot UCLA has had in a long time to get the “W” over Oregon. Oregon will always be dangerous no matter how many injuries they have, but it is now apparent that there sting could be dulled for the next several weeks. If UCLA’s front seven can get after Mariota, things should shift in UCLA’s favor with that game at the Rose Bowl.
On the offensive side, if Hundley is healthy, he could have a field day. They need to take a cue from Washington State and keep firing at the Duck defense. Just as well, UCLA’s running game has been improving since the start of the season which could help in attacking Oregon.