UCLA Football vs Oregon 2017: Go Joe Bruin predicts the game

It is once again time for Go Joe Bruin to predict the game as the UCLA Football team returns to the friendly confines of the Rose Bowl to take the Oregon Ducks, a team the have it faced in three years.

The UCLA Football team is 3-3 this season and needless to say, halfway through the season, it has already been a rough ride.

The Bruins have had a very impressive offensive output, but the defense has not played to the best of their ability. With that being said, the writers of Go Joe Bruin expect a shoot out, and not one that ends well for the Bruins.

Michael Chavez, Oregon 45 – UCLA 41

Without Justin Herbert the Ducks lean heavily on one of the best backs in the PAC-12 in Royce Freeman. This Oregon OL isn’t excellent in pass protection yet given UCLA’s inability to consistently pressure QBs, it won’t matter even with Jaelan Phillips back. Rosen gets into a shootout but has to do all the heavy lifting while facing a team with 24 sacks on the season so far. The Bruins drop another one and the heat only intensifies on Mora.

Nathan Eberhardt, Oregon 49 – UCLA 40

There was nothing to draw from Saturday’s performance that would lead me to believe this team is capable of out-producing Royce Freeman and Co. Oregon 49-40, and it won’t be that close.

David Goldman, Oregon 41 – UCLA 30

Burmeister and the Ducks have trouble throwing the ball but it doesn’t make much of a difference as all they have to do is hand the ball the Royce Freeman and let him do his thing as he gashes the Bruin D for over 200 yds and 2 TDs. The offense keeps up with Oregon for most of the game but a late turnover ultimately dooms Rosen and the Bruins once again.

Andrew Goodman, Oregon 48 – UCLA 42

Oregon provides another problem for the Bruins’ D. Royce Freeman must be licking his chops over this matchup with UCLA’s poor run defense. Oregon also has 2 of the best defensive lineman in the country, which provides a giant task to UCLA’s mediocre offensive line. Oregon’s defense is shotty, but certainly not as bad as UCLA’s. UCLA won’t have a problem scoring on the Ducks, but they won’t be able to stop them.

Michael Hanna, Oregon 42 – UCLA 31

It’s another game for UCLA’s defense against an elite runner. This time, Royce Freeman is the guy who’s gonna be running all over the Rose Bowl as a fierce Ducks rushing attack carries Oregon’s true freshman QB Braxton Burmeister and co. to a victory that compounds Jim Mora’s misery by sending the Bruins under .500 with the roughest stretch of the schedule still looming.

Mike Regalado, Oregon 45 – UCLA 38

It is apparent that all you have to do against this Bruin defense is run the ball. Even if Tom Brady is your quarterback and a 5’8”, 160 lbs. running back is in the game, RUN THE BALL. UCLA has not shown the ability to stop the run and has let teams dominate them on the ground. But there are problems all over the defense as UCLA gave up just over 600 total yards. Josh Rosen did not have a great game either, though I expect him to bounce back. Still, it won’t be enough to surpass Oregon’s offense which will have a field day against the Bruins, giving UCLA their first home loss of the season.

David Rosenthal, Oregon 45 – UCLA 40

UCLA’s run defense will once again let them down as RB Royce Freeman tears it up at The Rose Bowl. Backup QB Braxton Burmeister has thrown 4 INTs with just 1 TD so I would expect him to feed Freeman all day. No reason to throw the ball when the Bruins are giving up 6.6 yards a carry.

When the Bruins are on offense, expect the same we’ve seen all season: a lot of Josh Rosen with a bit of running. Rosen should have another great game throwing the ball.

Next: UCLA Football position group midterm grades

IF Rosen can avoid throwing multiple interceptions to Ducks like Ugo Amadi or Thomas Graham and IF the Bruins defense can force a turnover or two and IF UCLA’s 2nd worst rushing D in the country can make a few stops, the Bruins may squeeze out a victory. Unfortunately when you’re a struggling team, a lot of IFs need to go your way to win.