Go Joe Bruin Predicts The Game: UCLA vs. USC

Here we go! The last game of the regular season! That means it is once again time for Go Joe Bruin To Predict The Game: UCLA vs. USC.

Brian Canup UCLA 41 – USC 28

USC offense should be able to put up some points in the first half due to their talent-loaded roster. If Juju Smith-Schuster is healthy (he is, I don’t buy the reports), he could have a few big plays because our lack of a true shut down corner. But our D-Line should be able to dominate their depleted offensive line. Look for Kenny Clark to have a monster game vs their 3rd string center.

Josh Rosen is a freshman, but not really anymore. He knows the magnitude of this game and has looked so poised this year. USC’s weak secondary leaves plenty of room for Rosen to shred them apart, not unlike Vernon Adams did last week. Paul Perkins will be his normal self and rush for a quietly great game of ~100 yards and a touchdown. We are going for 4 straight and hope to see you guys in the Coliseum! Go Bruins!

RELATED: UCLA’s Road Through The Pac-12 South

Michael Hanna

UCLA 38 – USC 20

After a vital road victory in which UCLA managed to reign in its self-destructive instincts for the most part, they face rival USC in a game with more riding on it than we can adequately do justice here. It’s a flat-out massive game that is going to require UCLA to do what it did, especially in the 2nd half, against Utah: stop the run and win or draw the turnover and field position battles. If UCLA can do that, then the Bruins’ advantages on both lines of scrimmage should propel them to a 4th straight victory over the hated ones. We’ll go for a repeat of last year’s score (in pretty much the same manner): 38-20 Bruins over the Trojans.

Jan 2, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim L. Mora looks onto the field during the first half of the 2015 Alamo Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Merrifield

UCLA 31 – USC 17

UCLA is peaking right now. On offense they are playing as well as they have been all year. As long as Josh Rosen does not have a freshman moment, I think they will keeping on humming. On defense, it is the most stable they have been all year, so I would like them to continue with that. Defensive Coordinator Tom Bradley, should not go conservative but continue having the bend-but-don’t-break strategy. He has also mixed in some very timely blitzes as well and they are finally reaping the benefits of having an experienced DC.

Matt Wagner

UCLA Bruins

UCLA 35 – USC 14

It’s been impossible to predict the Bruins this season, but UCLA played well last week, particularly on defense, in their slugfest win over Utah in Salt Lake City.

Now they head into a battle with the hated ones, looking to clinch a berth in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

USC has been plagued by inconsistency this season along with UCLA. Things looked as if they were turning the corner with Clay Helton at the helm, before getting humiliated and trashed by Oregon — for all across the nation to see — 48-28.

Look for USC’s humiliation to continue on Saturday. The Bruins will come out firing offensively, and UCLA should be able to put a lot of pressure on a helpless Cody Kessler all game. After all this is over, USC will sit in silence, as Pat Haden decides to move his team out of the NCAA and into NAIA.

USC fans, meanwhile, will wonder how it all went wrong, reflecting on yet another failed season, as the last bit of what remains of the Trojan football dignity fades into the night.

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

Mike Regalado

UCLA 35 – USC 28

The emotions will be high in this game. Not only is it the annual heated Crosstown Showdown, but it is once again a game that means something. Winner goes to the Pac-12 Championship Game.

One thing that worries me is the UCLA run defense. USC has a spunky freshman RB in Ronald Jones that could light up the Burin front seven, but if they make key stops against the run, like they did against Utah last week, the Bruins should be in excellent shape.

Expect Mora, who has not lost to USC yet, to once again have this team focused, prepared and ready to  take on the Trojans in his fourth straight victory.

Next: Coaching Josh Rosen - Utah Edition

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Kickoff between UCLA Football and USC will be at 12:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on ABC. Go Bruins!