UCLA vs. Arizona State: Complete Game Preview

When: Thursday, Sept. 25, 10 p.m. ET

Where: Sun Devil Stadium; Tempe, Ariz.

TV: Fox Sports 1

Every UCLA vs. Arizona State encounter of the last three seasons was decided on the final drive. Each of the last two meetings was central to the conference championship race.

UCLA’s road to the 2012 Pac-12 Championship Game included an instant classic at Arizona State—a 45-43 Bruins’ victory that included three lead changes and over 1,000 yards of total offense.

In 2013, Arizona State scored revenge in the Rose Bowl, 38-33. The Sun Devils jumped to a 35-13 lead in the first half and squashed UCLA’s rally effort on the Bruins' final possession.  The win clinched the Pac-12 South title for the Sun Devils.

Needless to say, Thursday’s tilt at Sun Devil Stadium could tell us a lot about the 2014 Pac-12 South title race. That should be no different this time around, when the No. 11-ranked Bruins face the No. 15-ranked Sun Devils.

UCLA Keys to Victory

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Play a Complete Game

UCLA’s defeat of Texas in Week 3 was the closest the Bruins have been to playing a complete game this season. However, head coach Jim Mora said on last week’s Pac-12 coaches conference call that his team still had plenty of ground to cover before putting together a truly complete effort.

 “It had to happen that way for us to have a chance [to beat Texas],” Mora said of the Bruins’ final defensive stand, punt return and subsequent scoring drive. “I’m not sure I can say we put a complete game together, but we sure put a nice sequence together.”

The Bruins have that final stretch against the Longhorns on which to build in preparation for Arizona State.

Don’t Dig a Hole

In each of two UCLA vs. Arizona State matchups since Mora and Arizona State head coach Todd Graham arrived in 2012, the Sun Devils jumped out to multiple-touchdown leads.

Arizona State was dialed in last year at the Rose Bowl, going ahead three scores before halftime.

UCLA has not show it’s prepared to weather that kind of storm yet this season—particularly not against a team the caliber of the defending Pac-12 South champions.

With the Arizona State faithful encouraged to “black-out the Bruins,” the last thing UCLA can afford is to give the raucous Sun Devil Stadium crowd reason to get louder.

"

[VIDEO] Back. For. More. #BlackOutBruins http://t.co/ljBMNoljmC

— Sun Devil Athletics (@TheSunDevils) September 22, 2014"

Arizona State Keys to Victory

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Play to Strengths

The Sun Devils are without dual-threat quarterback Taylor Kelly, who injured his foot at Colorado in Week 3. But the offense should be just fine since they have two outstanding weapons in running back D.J. Foster and wide receiver Jaelen Strong.

Foster and Strong are two of the best at their positions in the Pac-12. Offensive coordinator Mike Norvell need not get too cute in how he adjusts his play-calling to new starting quarterback Mike Bercovici.

Arizona State must go to Foster and Strong early and often.   

Attack the UCLA Offensive Line

This should be no problem for the Arizona State defensive coaching staff, headed by coordinator Keith Patterson. The Sun Devils have been one of the most aggressive, blitzing defenses in the Pac-12 since Graham and his staff arrived.

Last year against UCLA, Arizona State racked up an incredible nine sacks.

UCLA’s offensive line woes are well-documented. With 11 sacks surrendered in three games, the Bruins rank No. 111 nationally.  

Arizona State can put the pressure on UCLA’s quarterback—whoever that might be—to dictate the tone early.

UCLA Players to Watch

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OFFENSE

Quarterbacks

Mora is mum on the Bruins quarterback situation. Preseason Heisman Trophy contender Brett Hundley injured his non-throwing elbow in UCLA’s Week 3 win over Texas, but backup Jerry Neuheisel stepped up big in the clutch.

Mora said last week that the entire playbook is open to Neuheisel, should UCLA go in that direction. But Hundley is the obvious leader of the UCLA offense.

Hundley’s dual-threat playmaking ability is the catalyst for the Bruins’ attack. If he’s healthy and starting Thursday, he gives UCLA its best chance to win. But if Neuheisel is back behind center, offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone must tailor his scheme accordingly.

RB Jordon James

Before facing Texas, Mora said establishing a balanced run game was central to the UCLA offense reaching its potential.

The Bruins delivered with their best rushing attack this season. Paul Perkins, a breakout star through three games, recorded a career-high 126 rushing yards against the Longhorns and hauled in another 69 yards receiving.

But UCLA also got the best performance it’s had from Jordon James since he suffered an ankle injury early into the 2013 season. James averaged 8.6 yards per carry for 69 yards total, giving the Bruins a nice one-two combination out of the backfield.

“Each week, it seems like someone is going to emerge. The first three weeks, it was Paul, and hopefully he continues to do that,” Mora said. “But we think Jordon is a really good back, and we hold him in high regard. We want to see him continue to improve.”

DEFENSE

LB Eric Kendricks

UCLA’s defensive leader has been dynamite through three games, and Eric Kendricks may need his best performance yet against Arizona State.

Kendricks’ sideline-to-sideline run pursuing abilities make him uniquely qualified to face Foster, Arizona State’s multi-purpose weapon.  

LB Myles Jack

UCLA is in the unique position to combat the fire of Arizona State’s multi-dimensional offense with the fire of the Bruins’ own multifaceted defense.

The Sun Devils feature some of the most athletic playmakers in the Pac-12, and UCLA counters with similarly skilled talent. Myles Jack is one of the top linebackers at both stopping the run and dropping back into pass coverage.

The Bruins will need him to do both against Arizona State’s spread attack. Jack could see opportunities covering Strong, as well as pursuing Foster on the periphery.

Arizona State Players to Watch

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

OFFENSE

QB Mike Bercovici

Rarely do quarterbacks who are beat out for a starting job remain in the same program. Bercovici is one such quarterback, opting to remain at Arizona State despite losing the competition with Kelly before the 2012-13 campaign.

Bercovici’s decision means Graham has a veteran well-acquainted with the offense to slide into Kelly’s starting spot, and a quarterback the Sun Devils head coach has “all the confidence in the world” in.

“We’ve got a lot of confidence in Mike,” Graham said. “We felt in camp, and coming out of camp…that we had one of the best one-two quarterback combinations in the country. Mike’s got a tremendous throwing arm. Tremendously smart guy.”

RB D.J. Foster

Foster emerged as Arizona State’s primary running back last season against UCLA. He stepped in for the Sun Devils’ previous No. 1, Marion Grice, who has injured early into that game.

In July at Pac-12 media days, offensive lineman Jamil Douglas told me that the Arizona State offense is perhaps more explosive with Foster in the backfield full-time. Foster’s pass-catching ability is a constant threat for opposing defenses, and he’s averaging nearly 10 yards per carry as Arizona State’s featured running back.

DEFENSE

S Damarious Randall

One of the few holdovers from Arizona State’s starting defense a season ago, Damarious Randall has taken up the leadership mantle quite well.

He’s the Sun Devils’ leading tackler with 27 through three games, to go along with a team-high four tackles for loss. Randall’s hard-hitting style has also produced a fumble.

Perhaps more than any other member of this Arizona State defense, Randall embodies the aggressiveness that characterized the Sun Devils in each of Graham’s first two seasons as head coach.

What They're Saying

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UCLA

“Self-scout. Going back after three games and seeing the areas where we’re struggling, and figuring out ways to improve immediately, and then preparation for Arizona State,” - Mora on UCLA’s use of the bye week.

ARIZONA STATE

“It’s nice to have extra days to get ready for the biggest game of the year,” - Graham on having a bye week before facing UCLA.

“There’s things we’ll do to adapt to his skills that I think will be some things that are tough for people to prepare for,” - Graham on the difference game-planning for Bercovici, more of a traditional passer than the dual-threat Kelly.  

Prediction

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Preseason Pac-12 South favorite UCLA has following somewhat out of national media’s favor despite starting the season 3-0.

The Bruins have not racked up style points, but those are meaningless in the conference championship race. Ultimately, winning the Pac-12 title will mean a lot more for UCLA’s College Football Playoff chances than the final score of a Week 1 game at Virginia.

Of course, knocking off the defending champion is critical to UCLA’s season-long aspirations. And as the last two meetings proved, this matchup is a cornerstone for the South champion’s season.

The nighttime crowd at Sun Devil Stadium should be rocking, which could prove overwhelming for the UCLA offensive line. If Hundley’s back behind center, he’ll provide the Bruins the calming influence they need to deal with the charged-up crowd.

Arizona State’s defense lost nine starters from a season ago and is largely untested so far into 2014. The Bruins can make a statement early with a quick scoring drive.

Coming off the bye week, UCLA should be fresh and motivated. The Bruins should reclaim some of that national spotlight with a big road win to open Pac-12 play. Expect another thrilling, high-scoring affair with the Bruins’ collective experience making the difference down the stretch.

Prediction: UCLA 42, Arizona State 38

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited. Statistics compiled via CFBstats.com unless otherwise noted.