Oh, and P.S., we know that we're a Trojan fan at heart, so no need to remind us of the potential risks that poses for analyzing our school's second-biggest rival...
| WHY THEY'LL WIN |
 UCLA has one of the best defenses in the country. Coached by DeWayne Walker, the Bruin Defense has done what no school had in five years--hold the USC offense to less than ten points in an upset victory last year. The Bruin offense brings under-rated running-back Chris Markey to the table and will sport a duo of experienced quarterbacks in Ben Olson and Pat Cowan with big-game experience. The pressure is off Head Coach Karl Dorrell after beating USC in 2006 and now the Bruins can focus on winning again, week in and week out. |
| WHY THEY'LL LOSE |
 UCLA is still a "basketball school" no matter what the Sons of Westwood may tell you.Unless you slept through the month of December--or like most UCLA fans were already focused on College Basketball--you missed the San Francisco Emerald Nuts Bowl, where Florida State--who had combined for three total rushing yards earlier in the season with Miami--ran roughshod over the Bruin defense. The Bruins will have to figure out how to bring their "A" game week in and week out if they want to win in the Pac Ten. Practice reports show that the Bruin offense is struggling to learn the West Coast offense. UCLA also has to travel to the Coliseum this year, where no team has won in more than half a decade. |
| HOW TO BEAT THEM |
 UCLA doesn't seem to score alot of points. if you can contain Markey and keep Cowan or Olson in the pocket, then a mere nine points might be enough to do the job. Olson may have some psychological if not physiological effects from his knee injury in 2006, so pressuring Olson may lead him to make mistakes. Conversely, do not overpursue Cowan if he gets in the game as this guy can be as tough as he is squirrely running out of the pocket. When you have the ball, don't follow Lane Kiffin's script. I mean, don't be too predictable. If you stick to run, run, run and it doesn't work, then try mixing in a few down-field passing plays for once. |
| HOW TO LOSE TO THEM |
 Fail to plan and you'll plan to fail. UCLA has a good defense, but its reputation may be ahead of where the actual squad it. Sure they have a boatload of returning starters, but those starters got picked apart by Florida State and Notre Dame, so it isn't saying much. Defensive co-ordinator DeWayne Walker is good at game-planning and can put together defensive schemes to match opponents in the big games--however if you bring something new to the table, the Bruins will be more than beatable. |
| PROGNOSIS |
| UCLA basically has three big games on its schedule--Notre Dame, California and USC. They could win all three games, but are more than likely to drop two of them. Add to that challenging games from Oregon and Oregon State and upstart Arizona on the road and UCLA could win ten games or they could lose five. Nonetheless, they have a shot at staying in the comforts of Pasadena come Bowl season. |
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-15-2007 @ 3:27PM
TJ said...
They have to play USC at the coliseum, it's pay back time.
Reply
8-17-2007 @ 9:33PM
Isaac Abid said...
I'm not so sure the D got picked apart by Notre Dame... they gave up two TD's. Criticize their last stand, but they stifled that Offense on the road for most of the game.
If Norvell does for the O what Walker did for the D, look out. Otherwise, it could be another dissapointing season.
Reply
8-19-2007 @ 11:13AM
OB said...
Tell me how is it that UCLA is ranked so much higher than Florida State in preseason polls after
Florida State absolutely dismantled UCLA. I just dont understand it. I guess its the PAC-10 making all these polls up.
Reply