UCLA Football: Will Bruins get back on track against Stanford in Week 8?

UCLA football has dropped its last two games and four out of its last five. Will the bye week bring new energy to the Bruins to take down Stanford?

UCLA Football and Stanford face off in a Thursday night Pac-12 conference game in Palo Alto, Calif. We should see two teams that are struggling to find their identity play with nothing to lose as they start the second half of their respective seasons.

The Bruins are coming off of a bye which they have had multiple key personnel get healthy and none more important than quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He is a pivotal part of this Bruins offense with over 1,200 yards passing in just four games and looks to continue the momentum that UCLA had before he sustained a leg injury.

Stanford is coming off of two great wins against Oregon State and No. 15 Washington. Stanford stunned the Pac-12 taking down Washington who was rising in the polls and thought of as one of the best conference teams that could challenge Oregon for a championship.

The Cardinal have struggled on offense all year but now come into the game playing one of the worst defenses in the country in UCLA. The Bruins have given up over 500 yards a game through the first six games and really have had a hard time trying to stop the passing attack from the high-flying offenses.

This game will feature two teams that are vastly different from each other with very different styles of play.

Here’s how you can watch:

Date: Saturday, Oct. 17
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Palo Alto, Calif
Venue: Stanford Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to Victory

UCLA is getting their star quarterback back from injury which will help the offense move the ball down the field if Thompson-Robinson is fully healthy. No matter how many points the Bruins score, they will have to get some pressure on the quarterback at Stanford Stadium or else it could be a long night for the secondary. Stanford is known for its tough offensive and defensive fronts, UCLA will have to match up accordingly.

Stanford has only scored 20 points a game on average in their first six games. They have been able to keep their .500 record intact with great defense and game management from their QB’s. We should see Stanford try and open it up a bit as the UCLA defense has struggled a ton in the secondary. Look for quarterback Davis Mills to air it out and try to catch the Bruin defense sleeping.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of Bovada

Spread: Stanford -6.5
Over/Under: 45

Prediction

Stanford just shocked the No. 15-ranked Washington Huskies at home a week ago, and although the UCLA Bruins are not world-beaters, they may have trouble with a creative offense with Chip Kelly. Stanford is coming into the game as 6.5 point favorites and chosen to take this one easily at home. With DTR back for the Bruins, this could change the whole complexion of the game in California.

Coming off of a bye, the Bruins should be able to put together a good game plan and figure out the Stanford defense. This game is going to come down to the wire, but UCLA has enough talent to overtake the Cardinal on the road even as underdogs.

Final Score: UCLA 28, Stanford 21