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UCLA, Pac-12 Seek to Make Statement vs. SEC in Season Opener

By Ashley Tellier

September 5, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers running back Taquan Mizzell (4) is brought down against the UCLA Bruins defense during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
September 5, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers running back Taquan Mizzell (4) is brought down against the UCLA Bruins defense during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the UCLA Football season opener gets closer, Go Joe Bruin takes a look at what’s at stake this Saturday.

College Football is here, and I can just smell the bad Pac-12 Ref calls in the air. No matter what some people might say, this is the most exciting time of the year—beating out a Super Bowl scandal, Christmas, and even the airing of another Game of Thrones season.

Related Story: UCLA vs. TAMU: GJB Predicts the Game

This year, we have not one, but two Pac-12 vs. SEC opening matchups. The USC Trojans and the Alabama Crimson Tide will be heading to Arlington, TX, while the UCLA Bruins will be visiting the Texas A&M Aggies at College Station.

Oct 31, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Soso Jamabo (1) celebrates with his team after running in for touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Rose Bowl. The UCLA Bruins won 35-31. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Soso Jamabo (1) celebrates with his team after running in for touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Rose Bowl. The UCLA Bruins won 35-31. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

At first glance, it’s easy to look at these two games and simply get excited about the high quality of football going on in Texas this Saturday. But there’s more at stake on these season openers than just good showdowns.

For some time now, there has been a heated debate as to which college football conference is the best. In particular, the debate has been centered on whether the Pac-12 is better than the SEC.

Now, Pac-12 and SEC football teams don’t usually play one another. This is partly because the SEC loves to schedule cupcakes for non-conference games. But also, because the Pac-12 had a hard time getting to the BCS National Championship Game, and it’s now struggling to clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff.

No matter the reasons, two Pac-12 teams have a unique opportunity this year to earn some bragging rights for the rest of the season, and perhaps, allow the (*ahem* Pac-12) fans to claim their conference is better.

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Both Pac-12 teams will be headed into enemy territory. Although the USC vs. Alabama game will be played in a neutral location, everyone knows there’s nothing neutral about Texas when it comes to the SEC. Thus, the SEC clearly has the home advantage.

The outlook for USC though isn’t great. The Trojans, ranked 20th in the AP preseason poll, and trying out a new QB, play the top ranked team, which is also trying a new QB. Yet, every expert out there is picking Alabama to roll in Texas. This is not a difficult pick given Alabama’s ranking and the fact that the Trojans are down 5-2 in series history.

The Bruins, on the other hand, are the favorites against the Aggies. This, of course, makes sense given UCLA’s talent versus TAMU’s. But this is one of those games that can be a complete trap for Jim Mora’s team.

Whoever wins this game, will get advantage in the series, as these teams are currently in a 2-2 tie.

UCLA and USC have the unique opportunity this weekend to represent the Pac-12 and perhaps skew the SEC bias. Will the Bruins and Trojans be up to the task? We’ll find out in less than 48 hours.

Next: UCLA at Texas A&M: Aggies Like to Talk

Go Bruins! #BackthePac