Pac-12: Week four predictions, previews, and picks against the spread
Sep 19, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) sets to pass in the second quarter of the game against the Brigham Young Cougars at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
UCLA Bruins at Arizona Wildcats
Tucson, Arizona
The Line: UCLA -4.5
An already interesting match-up got even more interesting with the news this morning that UCLA linebacker Myles Jack will miss this game and the rest of the season due to a knee injury.
This will be the third key starter out with injury in the Bruins’ defense, as Jack joins Eddie Vanderdoes and Fabian Moreau. Arizona, of course, is not sympathizing with the plight of UCLA given that their own talented linebacker, Scooby Wright, is probably going to miss the game as he continues to recover from a torn meniscus suffered in the season opener.
The missing defenders will probably cancel each other out, making this more of an offensive game. That certainly would seem to favor the Wildcats, who hung 77 points on an FCS school in week three. This game will be aired on ABC at 4:00PM, pacific time on Saturday.
Keys To The Game:
Last year the Bruins held the Wildcats to a season low seven points in a game that turned around the UCLA season. In that contest, Arizona was held to just 80 yards rushing on 31 carries while Anu Solomon was horrific as a passer, completing just 18 of 48 passes for a pathetic 175 yards. Solomon had an up and down season in 2014, and this was certainly his low point.
The young quarterback is known to be unpredictable, and this was one of the games where he clearly did not have his best stuff. Of course, that game was in Pasadena, and it featured a much healthier Bruins defense. On offense, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen needs to bounce back after a disastrous game against BYU where he threw three interceptions in the first half.
Look for UCLA to lean on their running game in this one, hoping that the defense can contain Solomon and company to keep it close. If Rosen has to start airing it out, that will be bad news for the Bruins.
The Prediction:
Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez has a history of pulling off bis upsets, especially at home. The Arizona Wildcats finally seemed to put a full game together in week three, and their confidence is sky high. Anu Solomon is a year older, and hopefully more mature. Scooby Wright is hoping to play, although it is doubtful. If he does suit up, it will represent an emotional lift for the Wildcat defense and present UCLA and their erratic freshman Rosen with an even tougher task. Look for the Wildcats to stun the nation again by piling on the points early and then hanging on for a season defining win.
Final score: Arizona 48, UCLA 38.
Next: Utah at Oregon