Week Four: UCLA vs Stanford

Chaos is a ladder. College football is chaos, the Pac-12 is chaos and UCLA is chaos. UCLA (2-1) will bring their chaos to Stanford (1-2) and try and break an eight-year losing streak.

All Bruins fans should be nervous for this game. Both teams are trying to rebound from gut-wrenching losses last weekend. Stanford is coming off an uncharacteristic loss to San Diego State 20-17. Their quarterback, Keller Chyrst, is coming off what may be the worst performance by a Stanford quarterback in the past 6 years. Chyrst went 9-20 for only 72 yards and two interceptions, that stat line makes me want to puke. On the other hand, UCLA quarterback, Josh Rosen, is coming off an extremely polarizing game. Rosen went 34-56 for 463 yards, four touchdowns and two costly interceptions.

Each quarterback has questions over them but the main concern for the Bruins will be their defense and stud running back, Bryce Love. Love took the reins from Christian McCaffrey and has not taken a step down in production. Love ran for 184 yards, two touchdowns on only 13 carries. Love might run for over 250 yards against the Bruins and every time he touches the ball I will be terrified.

UCLA’s defense was an absolute dumpster fire against Memphis. 398 yards passing and 190 rushing is simply unacceptable against Memphis. Jim Mora and company must stop the run to have a chance to break Stanford’s winning streak. It’s simple, if Bryce Love runs wild then UCLA has no chance. On top of all that, Jaelan Phillips, Jaleel Wadood, and Kenny Young are all on the injury report and are questionable as of now. Phillips is day-to-day with an ankle injury, Wadood has head trauma and is hopeful to return, and Young also may return this week with head trauma. The defensive line has to improve, the secondary has to make tackles, everything just has to get better.

The offense has been stellar in all three weeks. Rosen has been a top three quarterback in the nation but, the two interceptions against Memphis took the Bruins out of the game. Rosen tried doing too much on each of his interceptions and has to learn to live another day to keep the Bruins in close games. The running game was exceptional but, Stanford will provide a stout defensive challenge.

My optimism has ran out with this Bruins team. The defense has too many questions for me to pick them against a solid Pac-12 team like Stanford. 35-24 Stanford, Bryce Love runs for over 200 yards and three touchdowns.