Sure things are down for the UCLA Bruin football team, but they are definitely not out! UCLA has two unfortunate losses at home to Utah and Oregon, though the Bruins have a lot of things to figure out, they have had their small successes the season. Currently they are 4-2 which is not bad, but considering those two loses were in conference and at home certainly makes it not good. But there is a glimmer of hope and it comes in the form of a battle with University of California rival, the Cal Golden Bears. What makes this game intriguing is the fact that the Bruins have performed better away from the Rose Bowl this season and overall since Jim Mora got to Westwood. With that, it is time for the UCLA Road Warriors to grind out another win.
Sep 25, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley (17) flexes his arm as he reacts against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. UCLA defeated Arizona State 62-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
What ever your opinion is on the Bruins in regards to the quality of their play, the fact of the matter is that this team is doing their part when they play away from the home. This season, the Bruins edged Virginia in Charlottesville, found a way to beat Texas in Dallas and romped Arizona State in the desert. So can UCLA keep it going?
This season has thrown off the balance a little in regards to the home vs away record, but there is no denying the Bruins are playing better when on the road. Here is the breakdown of UCLA’s home and away records in Jim Mora’s tenure:
Betsided
2012
Home: 5-2
Away: 4-3
2013
Home: 5-1
Away: 5-2
2014
Home: 1-2
Away: 3-0
Overall – Home 11-5, Away 12-5
Here is something else to think about: the Bruins have not lost away from the Rose Bowl in their last six games with the last defeat coming at Oregon on October 26, 2013. Since then, the Bruins have beaten Arizona, USC, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Texas and ASU. These are not elite teams, but they are also no cupcakes. Additionally, the Bruins have won those games by an average of 17 points.
This Saturday, UCLA will head to Berkeley to face a Cal team that is in transition. What was turning out to be a breakout season, so to speak, has become an awakening for the Golden Bears as they are still trying to find a solution against the top teams in the Pac-12. Behind QB Jared Goff, the Bears have a potent offense, the problem is that they have no defense. That was evident in the mauling at the hands of Washington in a 31-7 home loss.
The last time UCLA beat Cal in Berkeley was 1998. Since 1976, an unranked UCLA team has won in Berkeley twice. UCLA opened -8 at Cal.
— Max Meyer (@TheMaxMeyer) October 12, 2014
For the Bruins, that bodes well for them, but history does not. The last time UCLA won a game at Memorial Coliseum was in 1998. Two years ago in Brett Hundley‘s redshirt freshmen year, he was on a roll with the Bruins heading into Berkeley. UCLA was 4-1 and had just cracked the Top 25. Unfortunately, a 4-interception performance hindered any chance at victory as UCLA lost 43-17 in what was only one of three victories for Cal that year.
It will not be so easy this year as the Bruins are coming off two straight losses, but UCLA is looking for redemption and a way back into the Pac-12 race. It will be difficult for the Bruins, but a win at Cal, which does not seem to far fetched, will start that process immediately. UCLA might be in a bind, but winning their seventh road game in a row will help stop the bleeding.