UCLA vs. San Diego State: Location, time, prediction, and more

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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UCLA Football
UCLA Bruins wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant (1) catches the ball and runs for a touchdown in the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Both teams enter this game undefeated as UCLA travels a short distance to San Diego to take on the Aztecs in week two.

San Diego State and UCLA have a history in football that expands longer than some may believe. The two universities are located only 120 miles apart from one another, and the two programs occasionally recruit against each other for student-athletes in Southern California.

The two programs first played each other on the football field in 1922, and they have played against one another a combined 23 times since the first time they faced off against one another. UCLA leads in victories in the all-time series, with an impressive record of 22-1-1.

The very impressive unbeaten streak of the Bruins against the Aztecs was during a long period of time between 1922 to 2009. UCLA won all but one game with one of the games ending in a tie in 1924. San Diego State though broke the Bruin’s unbeaten streak in 2019, with an Aztec 23-14 victory over UCLA.

Let’s begin to take a long at this week’s match-up between UCLA and San Diego State.

San Diego State is undefeated but has not looked overly impressive in their two victories. The Aztec’s offense statistically was able to move the ball in their week zero game against Ohio. However, they were only able to put up 20 points at home against an opponent from the Mid-American conference who had to travel approximately 2,200 miles to play the Aztecs.

In week one play, SDSU hosted an FCS opponent Idaho State from the Big Sky conference. The Aztec’s offense played well as they combined rushed for over 300 yards and put up 36 points against the Bengals. However, their defense allowed Idaho State to pass for over 300 yards and the Bengals scored 28 points, giving the Aztecs only an eight-point victory against IDSU.

UCLA didn’t have an overly impressive game against Coastal Carolina but the Bruins’ offense ran more efficiently when Dante Moore entered the game and the UCLA defense played well against a high-powered passing attack that we led by Chanticleers quarterback Grayson McCall.

The Bruins’ offense collectively put up over 400 yards of total offense and scored 27 points. They were balanced offensively with 264 yards through the air and 153 yards on the ground. Moore came into the game for starter Ethan Garbers and threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Carson Steele and TJ Harden both rushed for 76 yards each and J. Michael Sturdivant had an outstanding game catching five passes for 136 yards and a touchdown.

UCLA’s defense stepped up against the Sun Belt’s preseason offensive player of the year and held Coastal Carolina’s passing game to 289 yards and the Bruins’ defense forced three turnovers and two of them were interceptions. Darius Muasau led the defense with nine total tackles and Laiatu Latu had three sacks.