UCLA hosts Colorado this Halloween Saturday at the Rose Bowl at 12pm PST. Although there will be no one watching the game on TV (thanks Pac-12 Network), the game will still count! Here are the Bruin’s Keys to Victory when they face the Buffaloes this Saturday night.
Don’t Blow a 17 Point Lead in the 4th Quarter – Last year, the Bruins visited Boulder after the Buffaloes were blown off the field in a record setting day against USC.
The Trojans took a 28-0 lead and never looked back. UCLA also jumped out to a big lead against the Buffs, taking a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and taking a 31-14 advantage into the 4th.
Colorado mounted a furious comeback and forced overtime only to be beaten by a Bret Hundley TD run in the second overtime. Coming off their first Pac-12 win in two years, the Buffaloes may not be as desperate as last year, but the Bruins had better not go to sleep in the second half of this game.
Sep 19, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) sets to pass in the second quarter of the game against the Brigham Young Cougars at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Run the Dang Ball – Although UCLA fans should be thrilled with the play of freshman Josh Rosen against Cal last Thursday, the Bruins next two games are against the Pac-12’s worst two rushing defenses (yes, even worse than the Bruins).
Colorado has given up an average of 271 yards per game and almost six yards per carry (both last in the Pac-12) so far in four conference games. Even with running back Paul Perkins dinged up, the Bruins should get the ground game established with the two freshman backs Soso Jamabo and Bolu Olorunfunmi.
If they are successful, Rosen will be able to pass at will anyway, the Bruins will protect the defense from being on the field too much and the game will end earlier so we can all enjoy a proper Halloween.
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Get Healthy – The Bruins are entering the lightest chunk of the conference schedule with back to back games against the two worst teams in the Pac-12.
Even without a bye week, this is an opportunity for the dinged up Bruin players to get healthy.
Conor McDermott, Paul Perkins, Devin Fuller, Deon Hollins, and Alex Redmond all need to get as healthy as possible before the ending the season with Washington State, Utah and USC. Perk and his peers can get some limited work in, but the young guys should be able to shoulder the load against the Buffaloes and Beavers.
Go Bruins