UCLA Football: The Implications of USC vs UCLA.

The Bruins have come a long way this year and beating the Trojans would make things even sweeter. With many questions surrounding Mora, he’s quiet his haters and has coached this young, talented team to its full potential.

UCLA is 8-2 (5-2) while Southern Cal is 7-3 (5-3). These past couple years, this rivalry game didn’t mean much because UCLA was struggling and they really weren’t playing for much besides bragging rights and the Victory Bell. Oh how the tides have turned. “This game means everything” said senior running back

Mandatory Credit: James Snook-US PRESSWIRE

Johnathan Franklin. Not only is this for bragging rights, but it’s for a sure trip to the PAC-12 Championship Game. Let me remind you that USC was preseason no. 1 coming into this year, but coaching errors and in-game mistakes have killed them this year. Not taking anything away from them, cause they are a darn solid team. The Bruins on the other hand, built from the ground, up. They got a whole new coaching staff, new offensive system and a very different defensive schemes. They finally got the quarterback of the future in Brett Hundley, he and Johnathan Franklin have unarguably carried this team throughout the year. Credit needs to be given to Jim Mora, Adrian Klemm, Lou Spanos and Noel Mazzone.

Last year, USC murdered UCLA by a final tally of 50-0. The Bruins need to use that as motivation to go out and beat these Trojans if they want to make a case that they’re relevant again. UCLA and USC have both struggled on the defensive end, especially in the secondary. We should see a lot of points being put up on the scoreboard this weekend. Although they have Matt Barkley, I give the edge to UCLA. The Bruins love to spread the ball out to every receiver on the field, added with a bevy of halfback screens, draw plays and simple handoffs. Barkley loves, and I mean loves throwing to Marqis Lee. Let’s be honest, Lee is a stud. That being said, he hasn’t targeted Woods that much and their run game is a little suspect. Franklin out rushes Silas Redd and Curtis McNeal combined.

Undoubtably, both teams will be more than fired up to play. The Bruins have all the momentum in the world and they know that they control their own destiny. They need to come out with a huge bang and knock the Trojans off their feet and to really get the home crowd fired up.