UCLA Football: 3 Keys to a Victory over the Arizona Wildcats

UCLA Bruins at Arizona Wildcats

Kickoff time: 6 p.m. PT

Tucson, Ariz.

With the season halfway through the UCLA Bruins find themselves 3-3 (2-1) and on the bubble for a bowl game this season.

Each remaining game is absolutely critical for the Bruins’ chances at making this an above-.500 season, and UCLA can’t afford a loss to the worst team in the Pac-12 conference.

In order for the Bruins to come away with a victory, UCLA must accomplish these three tasks.

Force Arizona into Field Goal Situations

There has not been a team in all of FBS football with as many kicking issues as the Arizona Wildcats—even worse than the Bruins. In last season’s finale, the Wildcats missed two extra points to make it three losses in a row to finish the season.

In 2011, the Wildcats have the lowest extra point percentage (14-of-19, .737) in all of college football, just behind UCLA. Field goals have been just as much of an issue, only converting 2-of-6 (.333) for the third-lowest field goal percentage in major college football.

If the Bruins can hold the explosive Wildcats offense into field goal opportunities instead of touchdowns, the Bruins will be in good shape.

Make the Wildcats Run the Football

It’s hard to find words that accurately describe how bad the Wildcats are at running the football. When your offensive line replaces all five starters from last season you’re expected to take a big step back, but nobody could have seen this coming.

It became clear by Week 3 that Mike Stoops and the Wildcats had completely given up on the run game and allowed quarterback Nick Foles to control the offense. The Wildcats rank No. 3 in the country in passing offense with nearly 400 yards per game through the air, but the run offense ranks No. 117 with only 73.8 yards per game.

If the Bruins can stop the passing attack of the Wildcats and make Arizona run the football, UCLA’s defense should have a good game.

Establish a Solid Pass Game

The Bruins feature one of the most balanced offensive attacks, with almost identical rushing and passing yards per game. The Bruins have one of the better running backs in the Pac-12 in Jonathon Franklin, but their quarterback play has been inconsistent.

The Wildcats pass defense is one of the worst in the entire conference, and the Bruins will have to use that to their advantage. A one-dimensional offense will not be enough to even beat a team as bad as the Wildcats.