It's rivalry time... The 6-5 (5-3 Pac12) Bruins kick off against the 9-2 (6-2) USC Trojans tonight at 7 for the Victory Bell. UCLA has already locked up their spot in the PAC 12 Championship game next weekend as the South Champ since both Utah and Arizona State lost last night, oh and also cause that school across town CHEATS! making them ineligible for any post-season games. Bruin Coach Rick Neuheisel enters the game on an extreme hot seat with some saying he has to win in order to keep his job, I'm skeptical on this big time, UCLA is a public school, a cheap when it comes to football public school, and I just don't see them being able buyout a 1.25 million dollar contract when students are protesting tuition hikes on campus. This came comes down to two things 1) Can the Bruins slow down Matt Barkley? 2) Can they run the ball with the success needed to win (Over 200 yds)? This is Rick's last stand, his program needs this bigtime.
UCLA Offense vs USC Defense - The Bruins have the 3rd best rushing attack in the conference averaging over 199 yds per game with their three headed attack of QB Kevin Prince and RB's Jonathan Franklin and Derrick Coleman. They are going to need a huge game from these three in order to control the clock and keep the SC Offense off the field. Prince is going to have to hit a few deep balls to create space for the run game, looking out for the guy who did this, Senior WR Nelson Rosario. SC counters with the 3rd best rushing D in the Pac12 allowing only 110 yds per game on the ground, while starting 3 freshmen at linebacker in Hayes Pullard, Dion Bailey, & Lamar Dawson, an impressive feat for Monte Kiffin's D. If the Bruins are going to have any shot at winning they're going to need to get at least 200 yds tonight. Prince is going to have to play the best game of his career to get the upset.
Advantage: USC
UCLA Defense vs USC Offense - There's no other way to put this.. Matt Barkley is on fire right now. The guy is just putting up ridiculous stats this year throwing for over 3100 yds with 33tds and only 7 picks. The Bruins have the 3rd best pass defense in the Pac12 allowing only 216 yds a game through the air. The key for the Bruins will be to get pressure on Barkley with their front four led by DE Datone Jones and DT Cassius Marsh while still containing the SC running game of RB Curtis McNeal and Marc Tyler putting the team in 3rd and long situations. There's no other way to put this, the Bruins have flat out been crap defensively on 3rd down conversions allowing teams an over 49% conversion rate. Rick knows what this game means to his program, expect UCLA DC Joe Tresey to give SC a ton of looks but Barkley just might be too "en fuego" to stop.
Advantage: USC
Special Teams - Neither team is particularly great in the return game with both being middle of the pack in kickoff return average while the Bruins are dead last in punt return average thanks to super-slow returner Taylor Embree. While the Trojans have a better kicking game with Frosh K Andre Heidari going 15-18 the Bruins counter with one of the best Punters in the country in JR Jeff Locke. Not too much difference there.
Advantage - Even
Coaching - Lane Kiffin has proven himself as a collegiate coach this season to most, though his record is only 24-13 at this point, he's done a solid job of keeping his team playing hard even though they're on sanctions including the big win over Oregon last weekend on the road. Rick has struggled rebuilding the UCLA program since taking over for Karl Dorrell witha 21-27 record through four seasons. While USC has Legendaddy DC Monte Kiffin, Tampa 2 owner, UCLA's OC Mike Johnson has shown himself to be a good one. The difference between these two is Rick needs this game so much more than Kiffin and should come out with a win at all costs mentality, something similar to 2006.
Advantage: UCLA
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