UCLA Football: 5 Bold Predictions for Bruins' Bowl Game

The UCLA football team will play in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2 against the Kansas State Wildcats. 

Led by famed coach Bill Snyder, the Wildcats are a tough, fundamentally sound and hard-nosed football team. Playing a quality team from the Big 12 Conference provides head coach Jim Mora and his squad with a huge opportunity. 

This piece will make five bold predictions in relation to the contest. Four of the five proclamations will directly deal with the game itself, while a fifth deals within the realm of recruiting. 

Surely, UCLA will look to begin its 2015 season on a positive note. 

*UCLA vs. Kansas State will begin at 3:45 p.m. ET on Jan. 2. The game can be seen on ESPN. 

Brett Hundley Will Have 350 Yards of Total Offense

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Signal-caller Brett Hundley.

In likely his last collegiate game, Brett Hundley will rebound from a poor effort vs. Stanford and come up with some big statistical numbers versus the Wildcats. 

Hundley hasn't looked to run the ball very much in recent weeks. With some time to recuperate and rest his body, I'd expect the signal-caller to be fully fresh for the tilt.

He should be able not only to impact the game on scrambles when the play breaks down but more importantly on quarterback-designed runs.

In the passing game, UCLA should have some success. Kansas State ranks No. 76 in pass defense. Expect the Bruins to test the Wildcats secondary down the field.

UCLA Will Slow Down Tyler Lockett

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Elite wide receiver Tyler Lockett.

Tyler Lockett is far and away Kansas State's most dynamic offensive weapon. 

The slender wideout leads the Wildcats with 93 receptions, 1,352 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. Lockett is used in a myriad of ways—which includes running the football on sweeps and reverses and also making an impact in the return game. 

Simply put, UCLA will not let Lockett dominate the game. The Bruins will cover exceptionally well on punt situations and will look to minimize the amount of touches Lockett has. 

Nelson Agholor is perhaps the best comparison to Lockett in the Pac-12. When UCLA played Agholor and the Trojans, the Bruins held the talented receiver to only three catches for 24 yards. Myles Jack particularly did a fantastic job in coverage. 

Look for the Bruins to employ a similar amount of focus on Lockett. 

Deon Hollins Will Introduce Himself to the Rest of the Country

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Linebacker Deon Hollins.

Texas native Deon Hollins will return to his home state and make his name known to all watching the contest. 

Hollins led the team with 6.0 sacks on the season. His quickness and motor truly became a thorn in the sides of virtually every signal-caller he faced this season. Although his numbers don't necessarily suggest it, the impact Hollins had on every game was immense.

I expect the undersized defensive end/linebacker to play with a chip on his shoulder. He'll also want to play well in front of both family and friends in attendance.  

In other words, Hollins will introduce himself to K-State quarterback Jake Waters early and often. 

A Win

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Mora getting in a good mood.

UCLA will beat Kansas State in the Valero Alamo Bowl. 

The Bruins traditionally thrive under Mora in an underdog role. According to Odds Shark, Kansas State is a 2.5-point favorite. The thought of UCLA "not getting up for the game" shouldn't be a factor, considering the prestige and credibility surrounding the K-State program. 

UCLA will want to atone for an embarrassing effort vs. Stanford at the end of the regular season. Hundley will play well, Paul Perkins will control the ground game and the UCLA defense will be able to curtail the efforts of both Lockett and Waters. 

A win here will give UCLA a 10-win season for the second time in three years. Another interesting factoid: UCLA has never lost a game in the state of Texas under Mora. 

The Win Will Pay Dividends in Recruiting in the State of Texas

Credit: 247Sports

Soso Jamabo is one of UCLA's biggest targets.

Assuming UCLA wins the contest, this game should have considerable recruiting implications from within the state of Texas. 

Mora and his staff have greatly prioritized the state since taking over in 2012. Starters Jake Brendel, Eldridge Massington, Deon Hollins and Caleb Benenoch all hail from the Lone Star State. 

The 2015 class is no different. UCLA already has a commitment from Texas product William Lockett. The Bruins are also heavily pursuing the likes of Soso Jamabo, Ryan Newsome, DeAndre McNeal and Malik Jefferson, among others. 

Interestingly enough, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl occurs at the same venue (the Alamodome) the day after UCLA plays Kansas State. One would think many—if not all—of the recruits playing in the game would come and watch the Bruins and Wildcats play in person. 

This provides UCLA with an opportunity to put on a show and impress some prospects in person.