UCLA Can Win This

UCLA’s season has been one of streaks. Win the first three, including a win at Tennessee. Lose five in a row, including getting blown out by Cal at home. Come back and win the next three and become bowl eligible (6-5).

UCLA is hot again… just in time to face struggling USC. And a win could change the complexion this rivalry has had the past seven years.

The Trojans (7-4) have not set foot on the field since being embarrassed at the Coliseum by Stanford. The Trojans’ defense has been exposed, the book is out on how to move the ball on them. They struggled to stop the run against Stanford and Oregon. UCLA knows what to do, the question is if they can do it — UCLA’s 114 yards rushing per game this season is ninth in the Pac-10. Freshman quarterback Kevin Prince is also going to have to make some plays.

What UCLA will rely on is their defense — they allow 20.6 points per game, the lowest amount in the Pac-10. UCLA does it with turnovers and tackles for losses, it is an aggressive team defense that goes for the big play. UCLA had two defensive touchdowns in beating Arizona State last Saturday.

Teams like that always have a chance. A couple key turnovers, keep the score low, and a suddenly confident UCLA team sees it can win while USC’s players are thinking, “Oh no, here we go again.” Things start to snowball.

This year’s cross-town rivalry is not about the Pac-10 championship or BCS bowl implications this year — both teams are going to minor bowls, the only question left is where. UCLA with a win may go to a Pac-10 affiliated bowl, but would certainly be going somewhere. With a loss, their fate becomes a numbers game of teams with seven wins and drawing power. UCLA likely would land somewhere, but it would not carry a lot of prestige. USC will be going somewhere, but a loss to UCLA will mean the same thing — very little prestige wherever they land.

What this game is about is the hearts and minds of Los Angeles. This has been USC football territory since Pete Carroll came to town, UCLA has been an afterthought. Rick Neuheisel promised to change that when he came to Westwood. A win on Saturday would be a big step in that direction.

And with UCLA coming in the hot team, it could happen.