Chin up, UCLA head coach Jim Mora, the Buffaloes are on deck. (AP Images) |
UCLA (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12) at Colorado (1-3, 1-0 Pac-12)
Kickoff: Saturday, 6 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network)
Spread: UCLA by 20
Watchability: Not a whole lot. The Buffaloes may be riding high coming off a last-second win over Washington State, but the Bruins should be able to defeat Colorado handily for a rare conference road win.
Shining stars: UCLA: Freshman Brett Hundley did not just capture the UCLA starting quarterback position, he has run away with it. Hundley is lighting up the scoreboard for the Bruins, coming off yet another 300-yard performance, and it appears the team finally has the star quarterback it has sought. Colorado: Chidera Uzo-Diribe has become a true force for the Buffaloes. If offensive guard Jeff Baca shows some wear as he returns from injury, Uzo-Diribe could be the prime benefactor.
Who could steal the show: UCLA: Junior wide receiver Shaquelle Evans had a big game against Oregon State and appears to have gotten over an early season funk. Evans had 148 yards on six catches with a 65-yard touchdown against the Beavers and should feast on a beleagured Buffalo defensive backfield. Colorado: Tony Jones just might have won his mojo back. The running back, who ceded way to impressive freshman Christian Powell, had four carries against Washington State but made the most of them, racking up 105 yards, including an 84-yard touchdown run.
You going? Ranking the road trip: Boulder is one of the better college towns in the Pac-12, but Colorado plays there, so you win some, you lose some.
Magic number for UCLA: .13. The Bruins converted just 2 of 15 third downs against Oregon State, and if you need to know what doomed the offense, look no further. UCLA should improve this week; if they don't ... uh-oh.
Magic number for Colorado: 1,268. The Buffaloes have allowed 1,268 passing yards this year, 119th out of 120 FBS teams. Hundley has thrown for 1,199 yards, seventh in the country. This is a wild one waiting to happen.
This game comes down to: UCLA's ability to stretch the field. With Evans emerging as a threat opposing Jerry Johnson, the mammoth Joseph Fauria and promising young targets in Steven Manfro, Devin Lucien, Jordan Payton and Kenneth Walker, the Buffaloes might be backpedalling all day.
Prediction: UCLA 44, Colorado 24
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