Why UCLA Football will deny USC a statement win

UCLA football is hosting USC in a huge game on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl and here’s why the Bruins will deny the Trojans a statement win.

The Pac-12 conference is taking center stage this week in college football as there are two matchups of top-15 teams this week that will have a huge impact on the Pac-12 title race.

If USC knocks off UCLA football on Saturday night, the Trojans will wrap up a berth in the championship game since the other one-loss teams (Oregon, Utah) will be squaring off in Eugene. Washington also has two losses too, so don’t count them out just yet.

The loss last week was tough for UCLA football, especially because the Bruins just had one turnover, out-gained Arizona, and got 220 yards on the ground.

The pass defense struggled and it’s easy to see Caleb Williams having a solid game against the Bruins, with or without Jordan Addison. However, can the seventh-ranked Trojans punch their ticket to the Pac-12 title game?

Remember, UCLA isn’t out of it and if Oregon beats Utah, the Bruins would be part of a potential four-way tie with USC, Utah, and Washington — all teams the Bruins have beaten.

So a Pac-12 title is still well within the Bruins reach and here’s why they will deny USC a statement win on Saturday night.

USC injury woes

Charbonnet is probably having the most underrated season of any player in college football. He’s only played in eight games and has reached at least 100 yards in seven of those. The former Michigan transfer is averaging 7.5 yards per carry and also has 13 rushing touchdowns.

Charbonnet went off for 181 yards last week and every time he’s gotten 20 rushing attempts, he has hit 100 yards and against a weak USC run defense that allows 4.5 yards per attempt, Charbonnet is going to have a big, big day.

Injuries will hurt USC

Caleb Williams is as good as any quarterback in college football. He’s got 31 touchdown passes this season and only three interceptions. The UCLA defense is solid against the run but really struggles against the pass outside of forcing 1.4 turnovers per game.

If Addison is able to play, that will be huge for the Trojans but USC is going to miss Travis Dye, who averages six yards per carry before getting hurt.

Injuries are part of life, but it’s hard to be without some of your most important offensive players. Austin Jones and Raleek Brown are capable of filling in, plus Williams added two rushing touchdowns last week.

USC can win this game but it would have a better chance if it was full strength.

A draw at quarterback

Caleb Williams might get all the headlines and the Heisman Trophy mention, but Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been damn good this season and I think he’ll have one of his best games as a Bruin Saturday night in the Rose Bowl.

The UCLA football QB is completing 71.4 percent of his passes along with 20 touchdown passes compared to just four interceptions. He’s also run for 462 yards and seven touchdowns.

Williams is becoming more of a running threat, but Thompson-Robinson is already there and the ability of UCLA being able to pound the rock will make his job just a little easier.

The time of possession going in UCLA’s favor will also wear down the Trojans late and the Bruins win a high-scoring thriller late, sending them, not the Trojans, to the Pac-12 title game, if Oregon is able to beat Utah.

Otherwise, it’s a messy five-way tie.