UCLA Football: 2017 Game-by-game predictions
By Zach Bigalke
By this point of the year, the Trojans should be knocking on the door of the Pac-12 South crown. UCLA will be comfortably bowl eligible, but looking up at their crosstown rivals in the division standings. Last year Southern California had its way with the Bruins, rolling up 527 yards of offense in a 36-14 road victory at the Rose Bowl.
This year the Bruins have to travel across town to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the Battle for the Victory Bell. The storylines will center on the divergent storylines of Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen, who could be in the discussion for the top pick in the 2018 NFL Draft at this point of their respective campaigns.
Darnold and Rosen will both top 300 passing yards and will each throw at least three touchdown passes. But USC’s defense will prove far better than the 2017 edition UCLA brings to the Coliseum. Rosen will toss a couple of costly picks, including one returned for a touchdown. The Trojans ground game will grind out the clock and ensure a trip to the Pac-12 championship game.
Meanwhile UCLA will fall right back out of the polls after their fourth loss of the year. The defeat will put a ceiling on their bowl destination as well. Only one final November opportunity will remain, and the Bruins will have to turn around from the USC defeat for a Black Friday showdown on a short week.