UCLA Football vs. Washington 2017: Go Joe Bruin predicts the game!

The UCLA Football team faces off against the top team in the conference this weekend and the writers of Go Joe Bruin give their takes in this Pac-12 contest.

The UCLA Football team is coming off a much needed win against Oregon because the road ahead gets bumpy. This weekend the Bruins probably have to climb over their biggest bump as they travel north to take on the Washington Huskies.

Predicting this game seems like a no-brainer, but the writers of Go Joe Bruin tell exactly why we have come to these conclusions and some of it is quite promising.

Keir Chapman, Washington 42 – UCLA 24

PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Josh Rosen /

Josh Rosen is going against a stout Huskies pass defense that allows less than one passing touchdown a game. Furthermore, they average an interception a game, the same rate at which Rosen throws them. This isn’t to say Rosen won’t put up some numbers, but he will be relied on to be the team’s offense.

Washington’s run defense is even fiercer than their pass defense. Opposing rushers don’t get far, averaging 2.2 yards per carry per game against the Huskies. Soso Jamabo and Bolu Olorunfunmi have been a great duo, combing for 631 and nine touchdowns. It will be interesting to see if they can find success against Washington, although on paper it doesn’t look good.

UCLA’s defense will also be facing an incredibly efficient quarterback in Jake Browning. He has a completion percentage of 68.5 and has thrown only three interceptions to 14 touchdowns. Combine that with Myles Gaskin, who averages six yards per carry and has eight rushing touchdowns, and the Huskies’s offense is nearly unstoppable

Michael Chavez, Washington 35 – UCLA 24

The Bruins were able to take down Oregon much to everyone’s delight and surprise. Yet that Oregon team without Justin Herbert at QB is about 50%. They’ll take on a much more complete Washington team this week. The Bruins were aggressive on defense because the Ducks couldn’t throw. That’s not the case here.

Jake Browning will find the hole in coverage and hit it. If the Bruins soften the box to defend the air they’ll be gashed by Myles Gaskin and Coleman on the ground. The UCLA OL was good against Oregon but this Washington interior DL is massive with active LBs behind. This is going to be a major uphill battle and I have the Bruins going down while giving a good fight.

Nathan Eberhardt, Washington 38 – UCLA 27

More from Go Joe Bruin

Always the most likely loss on UCLA’s schedule, the key takeaway from this game will be how the Bruins approach the game defensively. After the Texas A&M game raised the question of whether the offense had turned a corner, the Hawaii game answered that in the affirmative.

Last week’s victory over Oregon does the same for the defense: have the coaches embraced a more aggressive defensive philosophy focused on pressuring the quarterback and disrupting the running game behind the line of scrimmage rather than minimizing risk and relying on a size and talent level that they do not currently have in the front seven?

Regardless of whether UCLA wins, their approach to stopping Jake Browning and Myles Gaskin will indicate whether the coaches have embraced the defensive flexibility necessary to make a bowl eligibility push.

David Goldman, Washington 49 – UCLA 34

The defense will take a step back from last week’s performance. They sell out to stop the run and Browning has a big day. Offense does enough to win the game but Browning, Pettis, and Gaskin are too much for a Bruin D still trying to figure out how to be consistent.

Andrew Goodman, Washington 42 – UCLA 20

UCLA was able to step up on D last weekend versus a depleted Oregon Ducks team. This Saturday will bring a whole new challenge as UW is one of the most complete CFB teams on both sides of the ball. More growing pains for the Bruins.

Muna Osisioma, Washington 30 – UCLA 15

Since Caleb Wilson went down for the season, the Bruin offense has been trending downwards. Darren Andrews and the rotating cast of wide receivers have found it more difficult to find openings in the defense as a result. Those struggles should continue against a disciplined Washington team. UCLA’s defense had some success recently but those successes were against teams that were decidedly unbalanced. The Huskies can pass and can run. Dante Pettis is a star and Jake Browning is dependable. UCLA has their hands full in this one.

David Rosenthal, Washington 51 – UCLA 27

After losing two weeks ago to ASU, the Huskies had a bye week to prepare for UCLA. Washington has the #2 rushing defense in the country so don’t expect the Bruins to run like they did against Oregon. The Huskies are also allowing about 11 points a game so UCLA will have to work to get on the scoreboard. I think Josh Rosen will still have his usual great game but the Bruins D will have a letdown after playing a weakened Ducks’ team last week.

Next: Know Your Opponent: UCLA Football vs. Washington Huskies

Mike Regalado, Washington 38 – UCLA 35

UCLA will most likely lose and I even think it might be a bit generous in having the Bruins lose by only 3. The fact is, UCLA’s defense still has lot of holes to fill and adjustments to make and they will have to stay on their toes against Washington. Rosen and the offense are going to continually chase Washington on the scoreboard, which they have done in every lose. Hopefully they have learned enough to keep it close.