UCLA Football: 2017 Game-by-game predictions
By Zach Bigalke
Last year, Josh Rosen was injured in the first half against Arizona State. He headed to the locker room to get his right leg checked out, and the offense stalled with Mike Fafaul guiding the unit. Then Rosen returned to the field in the second half and nearly pulled the Bruins to victory. He ended the game with 400 yards and two touchdowns in the losing effort.
The game ultimately hinged on a couple of missed J.J. Molson field goals that would have put UCLA ahead in what was ultimately a 23-20 loss to the Sun Devils. Last year the Bruins defense managed to hold Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage to just 86 combined rushing yards in the defeat.
Containing Arizona State’s ground game will be critical again this season as UCLA looks to move further up the Pac-12 South standings. Rosen could have another 400-yard game and throw for three or four touchdowns against the Sun Devils this year. Molson will have the chance to redeem himself and will respond well, kicking three field goals that prove the difference in the final score.
With its seventh win, the Bruins could potentially rise back into the College Football Playoff selection committee’s Top 25 in its third release of the year. All that will be left now is to see whether the Bruins can emerge victorious from either of their big rivalry games.