Pregame Guesses: UCLA Bruin Football vs. Utah Utes

Welcome to Pregame Guesses, Week 8. It’s hard to believe that the college football regular season will be two-thirds of the way over after today’s game. College football goes way to fast. But perhaps UCLA Bruin fans can’t wait for this season to end and basketball season to begin. Hahahahaha.

UCLA is reeling after two tough losses on the road and the absence of its star quarterback, Josh Rosen. The defense continues to perform admirably, but the running game, quiet frankly, is non-existent. UCLA did not begin to move the ball last week at Washington State until it completely abandoned the run in the second half. As pointed out earlier this week by former UCLA player and coach, Rick Neuheisel, perhaps UCLA did not have the personnel to make the change this season from an up-tempo, zone blocking, read option style offense to a traditional set.

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This week’s musi(cal selection contains a lyrical refrain that, for me, is spot on concerning the predicament in which UCLA football finds itself at this point in time. The band is "Cults" (not to be confused with The Cult, who were featured in this piece a few weeks ago). Cults is an indie rock duo formed in 2010 (and now disbanded). The song is "High Road," their 2013 single that made some noise on some of the alternative charts and was consistently played on Sirius/XM’s "Alt Nation." I love the lead singer's voice and the catchy and atmospheric, yet haunting, sound of this tune. Wish they'd stayed together and put out more music

Should've taken the high road

Now it's such a long way back

Instead I take the long road

Figured I would simply be getting back

Should've taken the high road

Now my days have all turned back

Instead I take the long road

Figured I would simply be getting back

UCLA football in 2016 has certainly taken the long road, the days have indeed turned black for Bruin fans, and now it is a long way back for the UCLA football program being a program we can be proud of.

Maybe, like the now disbanded "Cults" the easiest way to "get back" would be to scrap the whole thing and start over.

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After two road games in which UCLA gained a total of 42 rushing yards (-1 against Arizona State and 42 against Washington State), UCLA now sits at #126 in the nation out of 128 teams in rushing offense. The Bruins average slightly more than 91 yards per game on the ground. Coach Mora has promised changes although, last I checked, Adrian Klemm still has a job. Will those "changes" affect anything this week as UCLA faces another tough rushing defense; Utah is ranked #27 in the nation against the run, allowing only 130.1 yards per game. PREGAME GUESS NUMBER 1 is a two parter. Will UCLA exceed its average rushing yards per game on the ground (will they get 92 or more rushing yards)? Will UCLA exceed Utah’s average rushing yards allowed (will the Bruins get more than 132 or more)?

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Josh Rosen has been reported to be a game time decision. UCLA fans need to be prepared to see Mike Fafaul start and play for the Bruins again. After a disastrous showing against Arizona State in relief, Fafaul played much better last week, especially in the second half, getting into a rhythm and making some nice throws. If only UCLA receivers would have caught not dropped a few more, the Bruins might have come away with a win. Now, the Bruin passing offense faces a passing defense that is significantly better than Washington State’s. Wazzou is #109 in the nation, allowing 278.2 yards per game through the air; Utah is #52, allowing only 211.9 yards through the air. Can whomever starts at QB for UCLA get the job done through the air? PREGAME GUESS NUMBER 2: This is another two parter. I am using Mike Fafaul’s numbers from last week to set the over/under. Will UCLA’s quarterbacks throw for more or less than 258 yards? Will UCLA’s quarterbacks throw for more or less than three touchdowns?

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Utah’s weakness might be its propensity for turnovers. The Utes are tied at #91 in the nation with nine other teams with twelve turnovers on the season. The Utes have eight fumbles lost and four interceptions through seven games. Last week, I opined that UCLA might need to win the turnover battle to have a chance to win. Instead, it was a UCLA fumble late in the 4^th quarter that doomed any chance for a Bruin comeback. PREGAME GUESS NUMBER 3: True or false? UCLA’s defense will force at least two Utah turnovers today and those two turnovers will directly lead to ten or more UCLA points (either due to a return or on the ensuing drive).

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After two close losses in winnable games, changing the Bruin season’s trajectory dramatically, will the UCLA fan base turn up at the Rose Bowl today to support the team? UCLA drew 63,712 against UNLV, 70,833 against Stanford, and 68,013 against Arizona. Neither of those games was a 1 p.m. PT kickoff though. BONUS GUESS: Predict the attendance at the Rose Bowl today.

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Thanks for reading pregame guesses today. Make your selections in the comment section.

Go Bruins!