UCLA Football: 2017 Game-by-game predictions
By Zach Bigalke
It has now been a decade since UCLA took down Oregon, back when the Ducks were reeling from Dennis Dixon’s injury in 2007. Since that win, the Bruins have lost six straight in the series. That included the inaugural Pac-12 championship game, when the Bruins fell 49-31 at Autzen Stadium in 2011.
Like UCLA and several other Pac-12 teams last year, Oregon had a downswing in 2016 from which they hope to rebound this season. Sophomore quarterback Justin Herbert will develop over the course of the year and could go toe to toe with Josh Rosen in this mid-October duel. What Oregon has that UCLA lacks is a sound ground game, with returning Heisman hopeful Royce Freeman leading the way.
In the Rose Bowl, the Bruins secondary will bend but will also nab several interceptions off Herbert. The sophomore will shake off each pick and return to lead another scoring drive. UCLA’s defense will also hold the Ducks to field goals on three of their drives, but it will be a reversal of the Memphis win as the Bruins lose despite getting one more touchdown.
The two-point loss won’t be a major setback, and both teams could very well be ranked at this point of the season — both before and after the contest. UCLA will continue through its hardest stretch of the season still seeking that elusive sixth win.