BYU vs. UCLA Complete Game Preview
A pair of freshmen phenoms at quarterback meet at the hollowed grounds of the Rose Bowl in a big clash between ranked opponents that may have College Football Playoff ramifications down the road.
No. 10 UCLA closes out their nonconference slate by facing their stiffest test of the season on Saturday, returning home from an easy road win against UNLV to face a red hot No. 19 BYU squad. The two teams have played a handful of times over the past few years, but the Bruins will no doubt head into this late night clash looking for a bit of revenge after the Cougars rolled them, 59-0, back in 2008.
On the flip side, BYU is looking to keep things going after a 2-0 start to the season that has seen both wins come in the final minute of play thanks to a pair of Hail Marys from new starting quarterback Tanner Mangum. The 22-year-old starter has plenty of weapons on offense but has mostly shown a knack for livening up the crowd with his trademark heaves downfield.
That may be a bit of a challenge this week, however, as UCLA’s defense is as fast and as physical as they come out West.
It should be another great West Coast matchup featuring plenty of big plays, huge hits and plenty of points.
Date: Saturday, September 18
Time: 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
TV: FS1
Radio: Sirius/XM Ch. 81, Bruin IMG Radio Network, Cougars IMG Sports Network
Line: UCLA -14.5, according to OddsShark.com
BYU Keys to Victory
1 of 5
Harass Josh Rosen
UCLA’s starting quarterback, Josh Rosen, has looked like a Heisman Trophy contender in his first two starts, but it’s important to keep in mind that he is just a freshman and is still subject to some growing pains. With a physical defensive line that can create pressure, harassing Rosen into creating some turnovers offers a way for the Cougars to keep this game manageable and give themselves a shot.
Keep the bombs coming
The Hail Mary has been BYU’s preferred method of winning games this season, but that does not mean the ol’ heave-ho has to be limited to the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. With 6'6" wide receiver Mitch Mathews already showing he can go up and get it, the Cougars offense would be wise to keep attacking smaller corners with downfield throws.
Run the ball
You would think a team that likes to win in the trenches and be physically punishing like BYU would have a good ground game, but that hasn’t really been the case so far this year. Tailback Adam Hine got the bulk of the carries the past two games and has flashed potential but hasn’t been able to crack the 100-yard mark.
In order to pull off the upset for the third week in a row, BYU will need to establish a reliable ground game, and Hine has to help sustain drives on the ground.
UCLA Keys to Victory
2 of 5
Limit turnovers
The Bruins have been balanced on offense and have done a relatively good job of taking care of the ball. Still, they have a true freshman at quarterback and will be facing the best overall team on their schedule so far in the season. With that kind of pressure, taking extra precautions when it comes to ball security is an absolute must.
Win the trenches
Defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes is lost for the season, but the Bruins are still loaded along the defensive front seven thanks to budding star Kenny Clark. New defensive coordinator Tom Bradley hasn’t shown a ton of unique looks so far in the year, but that could change against a nonconference opponent that could be ripe for unleashing linebacker Myles Jack.
Still, it’s up to the front to control the line of scrimmage and limit the Cougars run game first.
Bat down the football
Seriously, UCLA better be practicing the Hail Mary defense for at least a full period every practice this week. When it comes down to it—because we all know BYU is going to launch one at some point—we’ll figure out if the Bruins defensive backs have learned some lessons that Boise State and Nebraska defenders did not.
BYU Players to Watch
3 of 5
QB Tanner Mangum
The toast of college football, Mangum has replaced the injured Taysom Hill and begun to write his own legacy with a pair of upset wins thanks to his strong arm and ability to find a receiver on Hail Marys. He’s got a strong arm but is impressively mobile and has a knack for escaping pressure. For just a freshman, albeit a 22-yard-old one, he’s got incredible poise and will be somebody to keep an eye on with every snap.
WR Mitchell Juergens
Juergen is coming off a spectacular game against Boise State in which he had four receptions for an eye-popping 172 yards and two scores (including the Hail Mary at the end that proved to be the go-ahead touchdown). He provides a nice compliment out of the slot to his taller counterpart, Mathews, and gives UCLA a vertical threat to worry about.
S Kai Nacua
The veteran defensive back was the easy player of the game in the team’s upset last week as he came down with three interceptions, including returning the last one 50 yards for a touchdown. While he can certainly roam around on the back end in coverage, don’t forget that Nacua can bring the wood when it comes time to lay a big hit too.
UCLA Players to Watch
4 of 5
QB Josh Rosen
The Chosen One, as he is known to some UCLA faithful, has stepped into the shoes of Brett Hundley and looked just as sharp, if not more so, in his home and road debuts this season. Flashing a strong arm, a prodigious mind that is able to quickly read defenses and an ability to step up in the pocket, this signal-caller has not looked like a true freshman.
RB Paul Perkins
Perkins may not even be the most well-known running back in his own positional meeting room, but make no mistake, he’s one of the best on the West Coast and a Heisman dark horse in his own rise. He’s a threat to score any time there’s an opening, but he really shines in his ability to stay on the field for all three downs.
LB Myles Jack
The aptly termed “runningbacker” for the Bruins is the team’s star on defense as a tackling machine at linebacker and a short-yardage master near the goal line who has a knack for finding the end zone. While he may be a better tailback talent, Jack is simply as versatile as they come on defense and will play a big part in limiting the Cougars offense.
Prediction
5 of 5
Is this where BYU’s fairy-tale start to the season comes to an end? Yes, you might want to brace yourselves for that possibility, Cougars fans.
The Bruins have showed they are a legitimate threat to crash the College Football Playoff and win the Pac-12 as it appears the one question most people had about them—how will their quarterback play be?—has been answered with the stellar play of Rosen and the coaching staff’s faith in his ability. Make no mistake about it, UCLA is talented, experienced and deep.
While one cannot count out BYU making this a game (and then winning it late) given their history, it still remains to be seen if it can keep up with a Top 10 team. There are talent mismatches all over, and it will take close to a perfect game to pull off a big road upset. The Cougars are plenty capable of pushing their SoCal opponents, but there's a reason the spread in this game is so high.
For UCLA and head coach Jim Mora, Saturday's showdown offers the perfect test before Pac-12 play begins and a title chase commences. BYU has proved to be an offense one can't take lightly, and its defense is opportunistic and strong in the trenches. Don't be surprised if it takes both squads a little time to get into a rhythm before the home team eventually pulls away late.
.jpg?w=600 "Every NFL team's strength of schedule")