The writers of Go Joe Bruin once again get together to discuss the UCLA Football team’s next contest which comes against the Stanford Cardinal.
The UCLA Football team is already having a roller coaster season after a 2-game high followed by a defeat to Memphis low. It doesn’t get any easier as the Bruins step into Pac-12 play with their first conference matchhp coming against the Stanford Cardinal.
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Though both teams enter this game unranked, it will still be a wild contest. Here is what GJB has to say about UCLA vs. Stanford:
Keir Chapman, Stanford 41 – UCLA 31
UCLA hasn’t been able to stop the run all season, allowing opponents to average 5.8 yards per carry and two touchdowns per game. Stanford RB Bryce Love has been unstoppable, and the Bruins don’t have the personnel to change that, especially with Jaelan Phillips questionable with an ankle injury. Josh Rosen will have a bounce back game however, as Stanford’s pass defense has allowed has allowed a 65% completion rate to opposing quarterbacks. They do average an interception a game, but two of those came against Sam Darnold, who has thrown six INTs in three games.
Although Rosen and the running game will face defenders in the backfield all game, UCLA’s offense will find themselves in scoring position enough to keep the game close. At the end of the day, Love will allow the Cardinal to open up their offense, wear down the Bruins defense, and eventually take the win on their home field.
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Michael Chavez, Stanford 28 – UCLA 21
Pains me to say but the improvements and good signs we saw in the run defense against Memphis were one thing but this is Stanford. The Bruins struggle to stop Love but I think they get creative up front with personnel. The Bruins are able to have success moving the ball against the Cardinal but get bogged down in the red zone and Mora wants to send a message by only looking for touchdowns.
Nathan Eberhardt, Stanford 35 – UCLA 31
Stanford’s corners limit Rosen’s receiving options, and their rebuilding front seven welcomes the chance to take a step forward against the UCLA pass protection. The Bruins struggle to get anything going on the ground, leaving Rosen to try to hit his tight ends or Darren Andrews out of the slot on every possession. The Bruin defense fails to bounce back as Bryce Love makes people forget all about Christian McCaffrey with a monster day.