Rocky Long will be in his ninth season leading San Diego State. In Week 2 against UCLA, San Diego State will likely be coming off a strong win over Weber State and teams usually make their biggest improvements on the season between Week 1 and 2.
With that said, San Diego State will likely be making its biggest jump between Week 2 and 3 due to Weber State not being a quality opponent in preparation for the Bruins.
The Bruins, on the other hand, will be coming off a confidence-boosting win over Cincinnati. Furthermore, playing in Pasadena will improve the odds for UCLA.
Lastly, San Diego State lost its best offensive weapon, running back Rashaad Penny, to the NFL two years ago. Penny was an incredibly explosive athlete for the Aztecs and was selected 27th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Last season, Juwan Washington fell short in filling Penny’s role. This caused the Aztecs to finish just fourth in the Mountain West Conference.
The Aztecs will continue to struggle on offense just as they will struggle to compete against UCLA.
Final: UCLA 31, San Diego St 14 (2-0)