Know Your Opponent: UCLA vs USC

UCLA vs USC, The Rose Bowl, Saturday 5pm

Series History

UCLA is 30-44-7 against USC alltime. USC is the only Pac-12 school with a winning record against the Bruins.
The 1st 2 games in the series were so lopsided (USC won by a combined score of 128-0) that the series was suspended for 5 years.
The games became much more competitive when the series resumed in 1936 as the Bruins were able to tie the Trojans in 3 of the next 6 meetings.
The Bruins 1st victory in the series took place on 12/12/1942 in a 14-7 win.
The Bruins longest streak in the series was the 8 game streak in the 90’s. The Trojans longest streak was 7 games (1999-2005), but it was shortened to 5 when the NCAA vacated the 2004 and 2005 games for the Reggie Bush violations. USC matched the 5 game streak again from 2007 to 2011.
Jim Mora is undefeated so far against the USC, and he will be facing his 3rd Trojan Head Coach in as many years this Saturday (Lane Kiffin, Ed Ogeron, Steve Sarkisian).

"Partially Fabricated USC Fun Fact: Did you know that a former USC President & Chancellor may have been a Nazi? Rumor has it that Rufus B. von KleidSmid (USC’s president from 1921 – 1946 and USC’s chancellor from 1946 – 1964) was “somewhere between liking Germans and being a Nazi.” Now you know why a victory against the Trojans always feels like a victory for freedom and justice (and the Allies)."

The 2014 Matchup

You could make the argument that both teams are playing their best football coming into this Saturday’s game. USC has put up a combined 82 points in its last two games in dominating performances against Washington State and California (USC was up 38-16 on Cal in the 4th quarter before giving up 2 late TD’s). UCLA has won 4 in a row and is coming off two of its best played games of the whole season. Neither teams lacks for motivation as both are at least technically alive to win the Pac-12 South (UCLA controls its destiny, USC would need help). Surprises are always no surprise in a rivalry game, so if the Bruins want to win for the 3rd year in a row they will have to contend with the following:

USC Defense

The Trojans arguably always have the best talent in the Pac-12 from year to year, and the USC defense certainly shows it. For the 2nd game in a row, the Bruins are taking on one of the premier defensive linemen in the NCAA. Last game it was Washington’s massive Nose Tackle Will Sutton, this week it will be USC Defensive End Leonard Williams. Williams can dominate offensive linemen one on one, neutralize double teams, penetrate the backfield and rush the passer. The success of the Bruin offense will likely start or end with their plan against Williams.

USC has another dynamic play-maker in linebacker/Safety Su’a Cravens, who can and will make plays all over the field for the Trojans. Cravens is currently ranked #11 in the conference in sacks, #5 for tackles for loss, #6 in interceptions and #7 in passes defended. Senior Hayes Pullard and Freshman Adoree Jackson are also dangerous play-makers that can hurt the Bruins if they slip up.

USC Offense

USC is a team that can move the ball both on the ground and through the air, but although the Trojans chose to speed up the pace this year and add some non-traditional formations, USC is not a spread option team in any sense. Buck Allen, currently the PAC-12’s leading rusher, runs the ball with force and sets the table for Cody Kessler and the prolific USC passing attack. Kessler is mainly a very dangerous drop back passer, and unlike Brett Hundley, Kessler making plays with his feet will be rare (his longest rush of the year has been 13 yards). Kessler’s favorite target as of late is Junior Nelson Agholor (who had 16 catches for 216 yards against Cal last week), but the Trojans boast threats all over the field.

USC Special Teams

Both teams have terrific return men, but the Trojans have had success more recently. Agholor is currently the #1 punt returner in the Pac-12 with an 18 yard average and 2 TD’s. Adoree Jackson is the Trojan’s best weapon on kick returns, averaging 30 yards per return with 1 TD. The Bruins gave up their first kickoff return of the Jim Mora era last week against Washington, and the USC return men will offer no breaks.

"Didn’t You Always Think USC Fans Were the Worst?: Well guess what? Former UCLA All PAC-10 LB Reggie Carter agrees with you. In the Latest What’s Bruin Podcast, Reggie describes how USC fans are terrible. . .and disrespectful. . . and just foul in general. . ."

How Will It Go For the Bruins?

If UCLA wants to notch a 3rd consecutive victory against the Trojans, they will need to play every bit as good as they have the last two games. Brett Hundley and the offense must continue to be balanced and unpredictable. Paul Perkins must soften up the defense on the ground and Hundley needs to distribute that ball to the Bruin playmakers across the field to set up longer throws. If USC has to keep chasing the ball, they will not be able to properly contain Hundley when he decides to improvise on the ground.

…the Bruins are primed for a big game and should be up to the challenge…Brett Hundley will not be denied in his last rivalry game…

Even more important for the Bruin Offense however is continuing being friendly to the UCLA Defense by not sabotaging them with short 3/out drives or turnovers. Out of 45 drives in the month of October, the UCLA Offense had 27 drives that put the defense in a negative position (missed FG, turnover, 3/out, 4th down failure, or non-scoring drive of less than a minute). The Bruins have had only 3 such drives out of 26 total drives in their 2 November games. If the Bruin Offense is anywhere close to that generous to the defense this Saturday, the Bruins will win.

OJ thinks the Trojans may be in trouble again this year . . .

On defense the Bruins need to stop Buck Allen and then stop him again and again. The running backs that the Bruins have had the most trouble with have come from spread offenses and the dual threat of a RB and QB ground attack (UCLA’s troubles against Utah began when Travis Wilson was replaced by Kendal Thompson‘s fresh legs, and the troubles against Oregon were similar). As stated above, Kessler will not be a threat to run the ball, so the Bruins need to slow Allen down and turn the Trojans into a one-dimensional attack (as they did against Washington). Former Bruin players Jarrad Page and Bruce Davis also think that if Allen can be slowed down sufficiently, the Trojans will abandon the run altogether as they have previously in the year (hear their opinions on the UCLA Huddle Report). If the Bruins can hold down Allen, the next priority will be to prevent deep plays and try hit Kessler as much as possible. If the Bruin Defense can’t stop Allen or get pressure without having to blitz every down, UCLA will be in trouble.

Prediction

The Bruins are primed for a big game and they should be up to the challenge. Now that UCLA has regained control over its own destiny after losing it with back to back losses to Utah and Oregon, the Bruins will not squander the opportunity again. The Trojans will challenge the Bruins early, but Brett Hundley will not be denied in his last rivalry game.