Game Preview: UCLA Looks to Avenge Embarrassing Loss

UCLA returns to the Rose Bowl on Saturday looking for redemption after last week's embarrassing loss to the #19 Stanford Cardinal.  The "true blue and gold" will face their second-straight Top 25 team, the Houston Cougars, in a must-win home game for the Bruins.

THE REVIEW/PREVIEW:

REVIEW: If you're not a Cardinal fan then you probably don’t want a review of last week’s game. Let’s just say: The Bruins (0-2, 0-1 Pac-10) can only improve. The 35-0 drubbing was the first time the Bruins were held scoreless at home since a 17-0 loss to Cal on Oct. 16, 1999.

On the bright side, the halftime score was only 13-0. The Bruins took the second-half kick and marched down the field on an impressive 13-play drive.  The drive stalled out as the Bruins witnessed their All-American kicker, Kai Forbath, do something he rarely does; miss. If the Bruins could have punched that drive in cutting the lead to just one score, they would have put all the pressure squarely on the shoulders of the Cardinal making it anyone’s ballgame. However, after the miss, the Cardinal answered with an equally impressive 18-play drive that ended with a touchdown and a totally worn out Bruins' defense.

PREVIEW: Unfortunately, things don’t get any easier for the Bruins as they face off against an offensive team polar opposites of the Stanford Cardinal in style but just as good. As much as the Cardinal wanted everyone to fight it out within close proximity, the #23 Houston Cougars (2-0, 1-0 C-USA) want to create space for their athletes and use every inch of the field.

The Cougars are 1st in points in the NCAA averaging 61 points a game. They are 9th in passing yards averaging 347 yards a game. And if that isn’t enough, they are 23rd in rushing yards averaging 230 yards a game. However, Case Keenum, the Cougars’ senior quarterback and Heisman hopeful, was roughed up last game and suffered a mild concussion and is still listed as "day-to-day" (pssst, he’s going to play).

THE BRUINS KEYS TO A VICTORY

Take a Step – The Bruins installed the “Pistol Offense” over the off-season and the once-hopeful fans have turned and are clamoring for change. The Bruins are only averaging 11 points per game and their offense is anemic at best ranking 105th overall in the NCAA (out of 120). However, in practice, you cannot simulate real game intensity and speed no matter how hard you try. Kevin Prince and the Bruins offense had two weeks to work the kinks out and now must "take a step" with their offense and overall game. The Bruins need time to find their bearings but there should be a stark improvement over last week.

Third Down Efficiency – Last week, the Bruins were 1 of 9 on third down attempts. The one conversion happened during their big third quarter drive when Forbath missed the field goal. If the Bruins have any chance to win this game they must convert on third downs and keep the potent Cougar offense on the sideline. That means, UCLA must be aggressive on the offensive side of the ball and open up the playbook for quarterback Kevin Prince to see if he can lead the Bruins.

This is for sure, after this game, the Bruins' fans will know if the Pistol is their offense and the Prince is their quarterback.

The Importance of the Details – Fans can forgive a lot of things if players are engaged in the details and hustling every play. There were too many times last week where players gave up on plays – sustaining and finishing blocks, completing routes at full speed, fighting for receptions. There were even multiple times the Bruins had the wrong personnel on the field and were forced to waste timeouts. The effort seemed to be lacking for the Bruins and that is unforgivable to most fans. Luckily, unlike the offensive woes, "lack of effort" is a simple fix for the Bruins and fans can expect to see a different team this week at the Rose Bowl.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“[Stanford is] better than we are at this point. We have a lot of good young players that have to grow up and stop making silly mistakes, and we have also got to make tough decisions as coaches for who is ready to play and who isn't. Young men have to understand that that's just the consequence. You can't be on the field unless you are ready to play. That's the responsibility of everybody on the team.” – Rick Neuheisel, after last week’s loss.

WHY IS THIS A “MUST-WIN”:

The Bruins made it to a Bowl game in nine of the last 10 seasons. With the “team across town” unable to participate in post-season competiton, the only hope for Los Angeles football is the Bruins. However, and this is a HUGE "however," they have to win six games in order to become eligible to play in one of the million seemingly insignificant Bowls (see Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl). With a loss against the Kansas State, the number of winnable games on the Bruins schedule is down to three. If they lose Saturday, they can kiss their post-season trip to a Bowl game good-bye.

This is a must-win for the Bruins to keep the Bowl hopes alive.

MAKE ME LOOK SMART:

You want to look like you know what you’re talking about? Then, pull this nugget out after Prince fails to complete a pass and be ready to impress.

“Hey, do you know that Coach Neuheisel holds the UCLA single-season record for completion percentage? I think he completed almost 70 percent of his passes in 1983. During a game that season, he went something like 25 of 27. I think it was against the Huskies.”

The Real Stats – Neuheisel completed 185 of 267 passes (69.3%) for 2,245 yards in the 1983 season. He set a then-NCAA record when he completed 25 of 27 passes (92.6%) in a game against Washington.

BRUINS FAN, GET INVOLVED

There are two ways for you to get involved:

1. Leave a comment and share your two-cents worth on what the Bruins need to do in order to grab a win against the Cougars.  If we like it, we just might post it in our game wrap-up.
2. Send pictures of you and your friends tailgating, in your Bruins gear or at the game to isee@nbclosangeles.com or upload them directly.

GAME DETAILS:

UCLA v. Houston (Rose Bowl) 7:30 p.m. Kickoff

MY PREDICITONS:

SEASON PREDICTIONS
	@ Kansas State UCLA 22 - Kansas St. 31		The Bruins need this to go bowling at the end of the year. Bruins 17 - Wildcats 13
	vs. Stanford UCLA 0 - Stanford 35		Stanford's offense will be too much for the Bruins. Bruins 10 - Cardinal 34
	vs. Houston Sat., Sept. 18th - 7:30 p.m.		UCLA will not be able to keep up with Houston's offense. Bruins 24 - Cougars 38