In the 2015 season, UCLA shut Arizona State down in the first two games of the conference series of the season in May. Let’s take a look at a few players who will be key in helping the Bruins do so on Saturday. This is an offense that likes to stretch the field, motioning players and using overload formations to take advantage of one-on-one matchups. The Sun Devils now rank 104th in turnovers given up with 2.2 per game. The quarterback, Mike Bercovici, and the running back, Demario Richard, have next-level potential, and the O-line is solid.
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The Bruins placed Arizona, 56overvallen30, as Rosen fulfilled 19-of-28 goes for a couple of touchdowns and no interceptions. UCLA scored 62 points and racked up 580 yards last season in Tempe….
Much of this misery has been self-inflicted, as the Sun Devils have proven almost incapable of holding on to the ball. “We’ve been third in the country in taking care of the football in the last three years – that’s in the nation, not in the conference”.
Upon closer inspection, the Wildcats ran virtually at will against the Bruins defense, but UCLA came away with the all-important win and might just be capable of absorbing personnel losses that would undoubtedly send most programs tumbling out of the national rankings. But for UCLA defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, the statistics don’t tell the whole story. “If you’re minus-two, you’re going to lose majority”. “They have an explosive football team so we’ll have to understand how they will attack us”. He also added his first rushing touchdown of the season. He’s second on the team behind Jordan Payton with 12 catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns.
UCLA is a 13-point favorite against the Sun Devils.
DEPTH CHARGE: UCLA lost Myles Jack, Eddie Vanderdoes and Fabian Moreau to injuries in the first month of the season, but the Bruins are unbeaten heading into October thanks to the depth built up by coach Jim Mora’s staff in his four seasons. Paul Perkins is leading the offense with 514 rushing yards and six touchdowns while true freshman Josh Rosen has thrown for 964 yards and seven touchdowns.
After being suspended indefinitely for allegedly robbing an Uber driver of their cellphone to start the season, Adams was reinstated ahead of last week’s game against the Arizona Wildcats. But if he wants to replicate his performance against Virginia, Rosen will have to contend with another wrinkle – ASU’s constantly changing retinue of defensive fronts.
Spread: UCLA is favored by 4.5 points. Arizona has struggled to stop the pass against weaker competition.
The Titans will travel to Phoenix, Arizona to compete in a double-header against the Sun Devils this Friday and Saturday.
#1 Megan Kufeld (Goalkeeper, Redshirt Senior) – There aren’t too many people who can say their name is ahead of the best keeper in the world in the record books, but Megan Kufeld can. “(This is) a fluid defense with people moving … and will be a great challenge for Josh”.
Now, Arizona State is coming off a 42-14 loss at home to USC, leaving what Graham had called his best team yet looking like Pac-12 fodder.
RUN THIS WAY: The Bruins have rushed for at least 100 yards in 24 consecutive games, but Graham said run defense is “a strong point” for the Sun Devils.
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This plays right into the hands of UCLA, which boasts one of the deepest backfields in the conference.
