UCLA Offense vs Col Defense - The Bruins are going up a CU defense that has struggled against the run and pass giving up a total of 444 yds per game and at 116th in the country 37.8 points per game. UCLA has not lost a game this season when they rush for 200 yards or more and should be able to do just that even with Mr. Glass at QB Kevin Prince. The question mark is whether CU will commit all out on the run just like Utah did last week shutting the Bruin run game down as Prince threw 2 picks. Prince generally has been a very inaccurate passer since his Freshman year as the shift to the Pistol has killed his footwork and accuracy. Still Coleman and Franklin should be able to get it going unlike the Utah game. CU doesn't have the personnel up front that Utah does and the Bruins should be able to move the ball enough on this squad.
Advantage: UCLA
Col Offense vs UCLA Defense - Is it even possible at this point to have faith in the UCLA defense? They may be one of the most disappointing units in the country, on either side of the ball. UCLA DC Joe Tresey has probably coached himself out of the college ranks... AGAIN. Colorado has a solid Senior QB in Tyler Hansen whose thrown for 18 td's and 7 picks on the season as well as the School's all-time leading rusher in RB Rodney Stewart. CU also has one of the top WR's in the PAC 12 in laptop thief extraordinaire Paul Richardson who is a bonafide deep threat as well as a threat to big-league your Macbook. This is still a team that dropped 48 on Arizona next week and the Bruins have only had 1 strong defensive performance all year (Cal) so they should not be overconfident for any reason but this is the same team that THIS! happened too so who knows what will happen with a Neuheisel squad.
Advantage: Colorado
Special Teams - UCLA P Jeff Locke is one of the top Punters in the Nation but the Bruins start soccer team manager turned walk-on Kicker Tyler Gonzalez who under the circumstances has done quite well, but would not be considered a major weapon. Even with ridiculously slow SR wideout Taylor Embree, son of Jon Embree CU Coach, returning punts the Bruins will have an advantage over CU who is only averaging a meager 8 yds on punt returns and 18 on kickoffs. Throw in CU transfer WR Josh Smith for UCLA and this one isn't too close.
Advantage: UCLA
Coaching - Expect to hear the announcers talk often about Neuheisel getting his start as a Head Coach at Colorado in 1995, where he was actually a pretty good coach going 33-14 at that time. Unfortunately he hasn't had the same success at UCLA leaving him in a must win and must win convincingly situation with the belief that if he doesn't beat CU and USC at the end of the year, he's a goner. Still he's got the advantage over Jon Embree, a 1st time Coach whose team has been blown out numerous times in his 1st season. Expect Rick with his coaching life on the line to pull something, anything out of his dear ole sweater vest.
Advantage: UCLA
Prediction - Amazingly as inconsistent and essentially pathetic at times the Bruins have been they have not lost consecutive games all year, a trend I would expect to continue. Look for the combination of Prince, plus Franklin & Bash (Derrick Coleman) to run for a combined 200 yds and the bend, bend, bend, and break some more UCLA Defense to get just enough stops to pull this one out.
BRUINS 27 BUFFALOES 20
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