UCLA Bruins Week 2 Preview: UNLV Rebels

Everyone, just take a second and breath. It’s going to be okay. UCLA could have started their season in worst ways than losing on the road against an SEC opponent. UCLA comes home this week to face a UNLV in what seems to be a cupcake game for the Bruins. All things point to an easy UCLA victory as they go into the game as a 26-point favorite in the game. Let’s take a look at what UCLA should improve to help them going forward.

First of all, the offensive line did as expected against Texas A&M. They gave up five sacks and made Josh Rosen’s life very difficult. Jim Mora and company absolutely most use this game as a teaching tool to improve line play as a whole. Rosen is a special talent and the whole season will go down the drain if something happens to him. As long as Rosen is upright in the pocket the Bruins have a chance to win every game. If the offensive line continues to struggle, then the team as a whole will struggle. Another area of focus for UCLA will be their pass catchers. At several points of the game wide receivers dropped passes that kill momentum of the drive or even cost the offense points. All the skill positions must be sure handed today; what happened against A&M must not happen again if UCLA wants to win the Pac-12. I fully expect the offense to have limited drops this week as their offense has a big game against the Rebels.

Now, not everything was gloom and doom against A&M. The running game was much better than expected given the quality of A&M’s defensive line. Soso Jamabo and Bolu Olorunfunmi lead the charge totaling 125 yards and a touchdown from Olorunfunmi. Jamabo’s 91 yards was a large help to the offense and for the Bruins sake this should keep up and improve against a poor defense. The UCLA defense was the most impressive section of their game. Only giving up two touchdowns in one quarter against A&M and limiting them to under 100 yards in the fourth quarter. This should continue against UNLV; the only concern is that the Rebels scored 63 points last week, but it was against Jacksonville State. If UNLV scores more than 20 points against UCLA I will be shocked.

This game should be a walk in the park for the Bruins and I expect them to cover the 26-point margin. I predict the game being 45-10 Bruins as they prepare for the Pac-12 season and next week game against a tough BYU team.