Know Your Opponent: UCLA at Stanford

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Nov 28, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver Devin Lucien (15) is tackled by Stanford Cardinal cornerback Alex Carter (25) during the second half of the game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Outlook

So far 2015 is shaping up like a deja vu of previous years. Mora’s Bruins have never lost a non-conference game (excluding bowls, UCLA is 12-0 out of conference under Mora), but they have also dropped two early conference games in each of his first three seasons. The Bruins have also repeatedly failed in measuring stick games against the powers of the Pac-12 North (0-6 vs Stanford and Oregon).

. . . Stanford has been Jim Mora’s nemesis in chief at UCLA . . .

The case could be made that Stanford has been Jim Mora’s Pac-12 nemesis in chief. UCLA has played Stanford and lost four times under Mora, losing the Pac-12 Championship in one of those losses (2012) and getting knocked out of the Pac-12 Title Game in another (2014).

At some point the Bruins need to win one of these games, and motivation will not be lacking this Thursday. Simmering for twelve days on the loss to ASU along with the long losing streak and memory of last years under-performance against the Cardinal will definetly have UCLA’s antennae up. Expect to see the Bruin’s best effort tomorrow night. The only question being: will it be enough?

Know Your Opponent: UCLA at Stanford

By Jake Merrifield | Oct 14, 2015

Outlook

Prediction

UCLA 24 – Stanford 20

Go Bruins

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