Know Your Enemy: UCLA Desperate For Win Vs. Cal
Cal had a bye week come at a good time. After losing on the road at Utah, the Golden Bears are back in action this week against UCLA down in Los Angeles. The Bruins are coming off two straight losses in Pac-12 play and bring one of the top pass defenses into the game, making for a difficult test for Cal after a week off.
Series History: UCLA leads 52-32-1
The Bruins hold a decisive edge in the all-time series between the two California institutions. First played in 1933, UCLA has won 52 times to Cal's 32 victories. The rivalry began in the old Pacific Coast Conference and continued in the Athletic Association of Western Universities and Pac-8, which evolved to become the Pac-12. UCLA has won three of the last four meetings with Cal, including last season's 36-34 victory in Berkley.
Cal's last win against UCLA in L.A. came in 2009 with a 45-26 victory.
UCLA Head Coach: Jim Mora (fourth season, 33-13 overall)
After a career in the NFL, Mora's tenure at UCLA has been a promising one, yet he has fallen short of taking UCLA to the next level the program has been trying to reach for some time. Mora's Bruins have won 10 games each of the past two seasons, which have included a pair of bowl victories to end the season on a positive note. Mora has coached UCLA to a Top 25 finish each of the past two years and has taken the Bruins as high as No. 7 in the national polls.
UCLA at a Glance
UCLA enters this week's matchup with Cal looking to shake off a quick two-game losing streak. The bruins have lost back-to-back games against Arizona State and Stanford, each coming by at least 15 points. The Bruins are still bringing plenty of offense to the field by averaging 34.8 points per game, but the defense has been exposed in the aftermath of losing linebacker Myles Jack to a season-ending injury (and the NFL).
UCLA's offense returned a good number of starters this season, but the biggest question was how quickly freshman quarterback Josh Rosen would be able to step up and lead the Bruins. Rosen had a positive impact on the offense and continues to show off great potential, but he still has some growing to do. Rosen completed no more than 55 percent of his pass attempts against Arizona State and Stanford and was picked off three times. He did, however, toss five touchdowns in the losing efforts. Running back Paul Perkins has been solid on the ground, running for eight touchdowns this season.
The Bruins should also be a little desperate for a win for another reason. UCLA already trails Utah by two games in the loss column in the Pac-12 South standings and can't afford taking another loss. UCLA's defense will have to be up to the task of slowing down Cal's high-flying offense in order to make that happen. Fortunately for UCLA, they own the Pac-12's leading pass defense with just 176.2 passing yards allowed per game.
Outlook
Cal will be entering dangerous territory this week. UCLA won't be holding anything back looking to snap a losing streak and the Bruins have to win to keep within reach of the Pac-12 South. UCLA has played very well against the pass, so Cal will have to avoid allowing the Bruins to make plays. Cal will hope the week off to recover from its loss at Utah will be good for quarterback Jared Goff, who was picked off five times by Utah's defense. Cutting down on those mistakes will be critical if Cal is to get out of southern California with a win.
Kevin McGuire is a Philadelphia area sports writer covering the Philadelphia Eagles and college football. McGuire is a member of the FWAA and National Football Foundation. Follow McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB. His work can be found on Examiner.com.