UCLA vs. Colorado Complete Game Preview

When: Saturday, Oct. 25; 2 p.m. ET

Where:  Folsom Field; Boulder, Colorado

TV: Pac-12 Networks

UCLA is out of its losing skid and back in the Associated Press Top 25 at No. 25 following a dramatic Week 8 win at Cal.

Marcus Rios’ interception of Cal quarterback Jared Goff completed the Bruins’ first win at Memorial Stadium since 1998, which was also the last season UCLA won the conference championship. 

"

Controversial interception in the #Cal-#UCLA game: https://t.co/SwEPTyyYtU

— Marshall Cherrington (@MWCherrington) October 18, 2014"

A good omen, perhaps?

UCLA has plenty of work to do to contend for the Pac-12 South title and berth into the conference championship game, as it still trails Arizona, Arizona State, USC and Utah in the loss column.

Nevertheless, the Cal win was an important first step toward getting the Bruins back on course to what quarterback Brett Hundley said was a very much attainable goal: the Pac-12 championship.

The Bruins’ next step is a road trip to last-place Colorado. The Buffaloes are winless in Pac-12 play but played Cal and Oregon State within a possession each.

However, the Buffs return home to Folsom Field reeling from a 56-28 blasting at USC.

UCLA can add to Colorado’s woes Saturday and get back on the right side of .500 in the conference with a road win.

Keys to Victory for UCLA

USA TODAY Sports

Avoid Turnovers

Few things fuel an upset bid quite like turnovers. Giveaways very nearly cost the Bruins at Cal, as UCLA coughed up the ball three times—two of which were committed on its own side of the 50-yard line.

While UCLA has been generally good about avoiding turnovers—it has just 10 all season—turnovers committed in its own territory have been problematic.

The Bruins conceded the first points in their loss to Oregon when Hundley was sacked for a fumble that the Ducks recovered at the UCLA 10-yard line. Likewise, Memphis forced a fourth-quarter tie when Hundley threw a pick-six in Week 2.

Setting up Colorado on short fields and allowing the Buffaloes to build momentum off turnovers is the most effective way UCLA can negate its advantages over this inexperienced Buffaloes bunch.

Get Up Big Early

Colorado built first-half leads in competitive games against Cal and Oregon State. And while the young Buffaloes were unable to hold onto those advantages, both the Golden Bears and Beavers had to scrap to the very end to win.

Conversely, USC inundated Colorado with a 28-point, first-quarter deluge that removed any hope for an upset the Buffs may have had.

UCLA has had difficulty getting off to fast starts this season. Saturday is a prime opportunity to reverse that trend.

Look for Hundley to attack Colorado’s No. 98-ranked pass defense through the air early and often. The Buffaloes are susceptible to giving up big plays via the pass, having surrendered 22 passing touchdowns on the air.

Conversely, Colorado has just three interceptions all year.

This is the ideal matchup for Hundley to test the long ball in the early phases.

Keys to Victory for Colorado

USA TODAY Sports

Catch UCLA Napping

Saturday’s kickoff is set for noon local time in Colorado. The combination of an early kickoff, travel and the highest elevation in which UCLA will play all season—5,430 feet—could leave the visiting Bruins with a feeling-out period early.

The Buffs must take advantage and come out firing.

Quarterback Sefo Liufau will not shy from slinging the ball against a UCLA defense that ranks No. 105 against the pass.

Colorado must convert some big-yardage plays early and put together a few scoring drives in the first and second quarters.

Get Aggressive

A requisite of attacking UCLA from the outset is, well, attacking.

Colorado cannot afford to come out tentative, particularly given aggressive play-calling has given UCLA some problems this season.

Memphis, for example, came at the Bruins with a multifaceted and unique rushing strategy that put the UCLA defense back on its heels. Colorado must employ its own diverse offensive scheme with Liufau spreading the ball around the field to test the Bruins.

On the opposite side of the ball, the Buffs must dictate the tone by bringing consistent blitzes. Pursue the big play on the defensive end as well as the offensive.

UCLA Players to Watch

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Offense

QB Brett Hundley

Hundley may have fallen out of the Heisman Trophy discussion after UCLA’s consecutive losses to Utah and Oregon, but the quarterback bounced back with a monster game at Cal.

He rushed for a team-high 95 yards with a touchdown, but not at the expense of his passing. He threw for 330 yards, his best output since the rout at Arizona State, and scored another two touchdowns.

Hundley rolls into Colorado with the spotlight off of him but playing at a starring level.

RB Paul Perkins

Paul Perkins’ string of consecutive 100-plus-yard rushing games came to an end at Cal, as the sophomore running back finished with 88. However, his team-leading 75 yards with two touchdowns serve as a reminder that the breakout sophomore is a breakout star.

Whether by ground or air, Perkins will set the tone for UCLA’s offense once more Saturday.

Establishing a ground attack should not be a problem; Colorado is allowing 5.2 yards per carry.

Defense

DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa

Owamagbe Odighizuwa’s return from a hip injury that sidelined him the entire 2013 season was eagerly anticipated. The talented defensive end had to wait another half-season before he got his first sack since 2012, as he got to Cal’s Jared Goff in last week’s win.

Odighizuwa’s sack was one of three for UCLA on the day, the best such effort the Bruins defense has had all season. Now that the pass rush is clicking both for Odighizuwa and UCLA, expect the flood gates to open.

DB Anthony Jefferson

His position might change, but Anthony Jefferson is an important constant for the UCLA.

Jefferson has played both cornerback and safety and, no matter his role, is a potential difference-maker. Much as in Week 8 when his seven tackles led the team, Jefferson will see plenty of opportunities against Colorado’s pass-happy offense.

Colorado Players to Watch

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Offense

QB Sefo Liufau

Talented young quarterback Liufau was in the early phases of his career as Colorado’s starter when the Buffs visited the Rose Bowl last November, but UCLA head coach Jim Mora already knew the potential Liufau had.

Mora followed and recruited Liufau as a prospect coming out of Tacoma, Washington’s Bellarmine Prep. Less than two years later, Liufau is putting together and impressive resume.

He threw seven touchdown passes against Cal, and his 21 scores on the season are fifth most among all Football Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks.  

WR Nelson Spruce

Colorado might have been blown out in its visit to USC, but wide receiver Nelson Spruce took the national lead in touchdown receptions with his second-half score last Saturday.

Spruce now has 11 scores on the season to go with 801 yards, eighth best in the FBS.

Obviously, Spruce is one of the most dangerous weapons not only in the Pac-12 but all of college football.

Defenses have keyed on him the past two weeks, however. Oregon State and USC held Spruce to 35 and 69 yards, respectively, Colorado’s last two times out.

Getting Spruce in one-on-one coverage is crucial for the Buffs to unleash the big plays it will need to in order to challenge UCLA.

Defense

DT Juda Parker

UCLA’s struggles on the offensive line this season are well-documented, and Colorado will try to add to the Bruins' problems with a consistent blitz.

Defensive end Derek McCartney is Colorado’s leader in sacks with four and will be the Buffs’ primary pass-rusher. But to free McCartney, Colorado needs veteran tackle Juda Parker to occupy UCLA up the middle.

Interior blocking has been problematic for the Bruins, so if Parker can bring pressure up the middle with regularity, the Buffs can harass Hundley. 

What They're Saying

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

UCLA 

Hundley on the Cal win getting UCLA back on track, via CalBears.com: 

"

We just had to come out with a win, basically. That’s what we did today. It was a hard-fought battle, but we had to. Everything that happened, we had to win. We don’t put excess pressure on ourselves, but the harsh reality is we are 5-2. That’s good, but we still had stuff in front of us that we could get to. If we win out and do what we’re supposed to do, we can still get to the Pac-12 Championship. As long as we’re winning games, everything will be fine.

"

Linebacker Myles Jack on playing without pressure, via Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times: 

"We look at it like we have nothing to lose. There is no pressure us. Nobody cares what we do anymore. We're just go out there and play."

Colorado

Spruce on the loss at USC, via Tom Kensler of The Denver Post: 

"I don't think there is much to take away from this game. We just need to wash it from our memory."

Head coach Mike MacIntyre on playing from behind, via CUBuffs.com: 

"

You kind of get out of balance and you have to go for it on a lot of fourth downs and that’s the only thing you can do. You can kick a field goal or punt, but you’re just saying you’re not trying to win, just to keep the score respectable so to speak. So you try to get hot there and make something happen. In the second half we come back and they stuffed us on the first drive.

"

Prediction

Eric Risberg/Associated Press

You may have felt a gush of wind mid-afternoon Saturday. Don’t be alarmed: That was probably just the collective exhale of the UCLA football team when Rios snagged the Bruins’ game-winning interception.

Had Goff completed the last of his 41 pass attempts, UCLA would have likely dropped its third straight and been effectively eliminated from Pac-12 South contention.

But now the Bruins head into a winnable matchup with an inexperienced Colorado team and have new life that's been breathed into their championship aspirations.

Following a practice last week, Bruins linebackers Deon Hollins and Eric Kendricks talked about playing looser. With the weight of a losing streak off its shoulders, expect UCLA to play with renewed swagger this week.

Prediction: UCLA 41, Colorado 24

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited. Statistics courtesy of CFBstats.com.