UCLA Football: 3 Reasons Bruins Will Not Make the Pac-12 Championship Game

UCLA has always been a basketball school; yet they have the Rose Bowl. They are also in control of their BCS destiny and these Bruins have put together a formidable program at times past.

Still, while their football team has so far taken advantage of the weak Pac-12 South, UCLA still has an uphill climb in their quest for the Rose Bowl.

However, quarterback Kevin Prince does not lead a formidable team and this is not a UCLA football dynasty. The Stanford-Oregon game is stealing all the headlines, and UCLA can't do anything about it.

Here are three reasons why UCLA has no chance of making the Pac-12 Championship Game.

Reason 1: Tough Opponents

The Bruins have hung with tough opponents and they don't look like that guaranteed W anymore to Oregon and Stanford. However, tough opponents still wear UCLA down.

Stanford struggled to take off like a Air Force One jet, but in the end, they demolished the Bruins; and while UCLA played No. 11 Houston tight, UCLA benefited form a bit of luck to keep that one close.

USC is obviously no easy opponent, and while they struggled to fight off Minnesota, Utah and Arizona, these Trojans have the firepower of a true talented team, with a Curtis McNeal fumble preventing USC from beating the Stanford Cardinal.

The Trojans, as well as Utah, look like tough obstacles on UCLA's schedule. The Bruins and Arizona State are tied for first place in the Pac-12 South, and right now, Arizona State has the edge.

Wins at Utah and USC look tough to come by, and right now, even Utah seems to have an advantage over UCLA. USC will be doing everything to prevent UCLA from an extra trip versus Stanford or Oregon.

Reason 2: Kevin Prince

Kevin Prince simply isn't a great quarterback.

Sure, his school may be 5-4 and in control of its BCS destiny, but when a Rose Bowl is three big road wins away, the accomplishments seem a lot less significant. Simply put, Kevin Prince hasn't done much.

The Bruins do have a great rushing attack, and Nelson Rosario is a great receiver, which makes Prince's job a whole lot easy, but against opponents like USC, the quarterback makes all the difference.

UCLA is 3-3 with Prince, and while he looked sharp against Arizona State, the Devils should rack up three easy wins, and the bar is raised to a pair of obvious challenges for UCLA.

If Prince can't find his rhythm, even with a strong running game, UCLA won't be able to do squat.

Reason 3: Defenses Can Stop the Pistol

Jonathan Franklin and Derrick Coleman are weapons any school in the nation would love.

Still, the Bruins haven't completely found their rhythm with a balanced attack; the Utes, Buffaloes and Trojans will pick up the run, and Prince will have to come through.

UCLA is vulnerable, and if the two Pac-12 newcomers don't pick it up, arch-rival USC will. UCLA has a low chance of winning the Pac-12, and although the magic number has been reduced to three, it is more difficult than it appears.

The Bruins will get stuffed at some point during the regular season, and the pistol offense will become a bust for UCLA. They will lose a game, Arizona State will run off with the Pac-12 South, and the Las Vegas Bowl will be open to the Bruins.

Once the Bruins' unique game plan is picked up and stuffed, they will be dwelling in the cellar, unable to keep pace (even in the meager Pac-12 South).

Ultimately, nothing is left for head coach Rick Neuheisel.