Pregame Guesses: UCLA Bruins Face Arizona Wildcats in the Desert

The UCLA Bruins football team (1-3, 1-0 Pac-12) pulled off the miracle comeback last Saturday night (early Sunday morning for me) in a #Pac12AfterDark affair. All seemed lost with about 5 minutes left in the third quarter and UCLA down 49-17, but the Bruins managed to score 50 points from there on out to edge Washington State, 67-63.

Now, almost a week later, UCLA fans are left wondering: can the Bruins actually make a season out of this? They’ve already faced the two toughest offenses they’ll see this season. But, on the other hand, the UCLA defense is . . . um . . ., not good. As in, bottom ten in the nation in scoring defense and total defense. There are definitely questions on that side of the ball.

On the offensive side of things, has the proverbial light come on for Dorian Thompson-Robinson? Or is the Washington State defense just not that good? Mike Leach teams are not exactly known for their defensive prowess and the 2019 Cougar unit is #82 in scoring defense and #91 in total defense.

So many questions . . .

I am pretty sure that I’ve chosen this song before. If so, sorry, I am going to do it again. That UCLA comeback still has me celebrating. This song makes me want to celebrate. it always has. Woo hoo! It’s Blur’s 1997 alternative hit “Song 2”:

Holy crap, that one is 22 years old! Time to move on the the guesses . . .

Remember when I said that the Cougar defense was not that good with their #82 ranking in scoring defense and #91 ranking in total defense? Well, the Arizona Wildcats’ defense is worse. The ‘Cats are #120 in total defense (UCLA is still worse at #125) and #105 in scoring defense (UCLA, also worse at #122). Is this going to be another track meet? The over/under on this game is 71 points. PREGAME GUESS NUMBER ONE: Do you take the over or the under?

UCLA’s return game looked better than it had in decades last week against the Cougars. Both returns were epic. Demetric Felton really showed off what he could do sliding by and gliding past defenders before turning on the jets in his 100-yard return. Kyle Phillips, a player who is really growing on me, recorded UCLA’s first punt return since the days of Karl Dorrell, when Maurice Jones Drew, then known as just Maurice Drew showing how long ago it was, took one to the house on a punt return. PREGAME GUESS NUMBER TWO: Will UCLA score a special teams touchdown against Arizona?

Has the light truly come on for DTR? Five passing touchdowns and the most passing yards of his career; and two rushing touchdowns and the most rushing yards of his career. All in one game. How will he follow it up in the desert? Two weeks ago I asked you to predict Jalen Hurts’ dual QB stat line (passing completions, passing attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns). Yes, a seven part question. Some of you didn’t like it. Too bad, it won’t Hurts so bad this time since you’ll get to do it for your own guy. PREGAME GUESS NUMBER THREE: Predict Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s stat line (passing completions, passing attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns) for Saturday’s game versus Arizona.

That’s a wrap for this week’s PGG. It felt better to be a Bruin fan last week. Will it last another week? We’ll see tomorrow night at another #Pac12AfterDark game . . .

Guess away in the comment section!


Go Bruins!