Preview: #12 UCLA vs. Texas
Date: 9/13/2014
Time: 8:15 PM ET
Television: FOX (National)
Spread: UCLA -8
Players to Watch
Brett Hundley, Quarterback (UCLA)
Hundley is an incredibly athletic, dual-threat quarterback, who should be able to thrive against Texas’ defense that has struggled to contain similar quarterbacks, especially Taysom Hill from BYU, who has torched Texas for 358 yards and 6 touchdowns over the past two seasons, and Marcus Mariota from Oregon, who rushed for 133 yards against the Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl last season. Hundley is also an efficient passer, but his legs will be the biggest concern for the Longhorns this weekend.
Myles Jack, Linebacker (UCLA)
David Ash is out indefinitely, according to Texas coach Charlie Strong. Therefore, sophomore Tyrone Swoopes will be quarterbacking the Longhorns. The key for UCLA’s defense will be to rattle the young quarterback, and Jack is their best pass rusher. He is quick off the edge, and has the athletic ability to bend the edge against offensive linemen and get pressure on the quarterback.
Jonathan Gray/Malcolm Brown, Running Backs (Texas)
As mentioned earlier, Tyrone Swoopes will once again be starting at quarterback, so taking the pressure off of him will be paramount, especially against a team, as highly ranked as UCLA. Gray and Brown have a lot of speed and great vision, and will be able to find holes in the Bruin defense to put Swoopes in manageable situations.
Steve Edmonds, Linebacker (Texas)
Edmonds is the middle linebacker in the Longhorns’ defense that has struggled against the run the past couple years. Edmonds will play a huge part in the game plan to stop Hundley, as he will need to play smart in coverage and containing Hundley and not letting him run free.
UCLA’s Offense vs Texas’s Defense
Texas struggles against strong running games. UCLA has a very strong running game. It’s very clear on this side of the ball, that UCLA has the advantage. Hundley and running back Paul Perkins project to have strong games carrying the ball, unless defensive coordinator Vance Bedford can drastically change their defensive game plan in the course of one week. The Bruins do have a solid passing attack with Hundley and receivers like Jordan Payton and Devin Fuller, but the Longhorns match up well against them, as they currently rank eighth in the country in pass defense in this young season.
Key players to help stop UCLA’s offense for the Longhorns will be Edmonds, linebacker Jordan Hicks and defensive linemen Malcolm Brown and Cedric Reed, who was recently called out by Bedford, saying Reed needs to “pick it up.”
Texas’s Offense vs UCLA’s Defense
UCLA has a penetrating defense with Jack and defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa each making homes in the backfield so far this season. And Texas has not done much to stop penetrating defenders, averaging only 3.27 yards per carry on the season, and have given up five sacks.
The Longhorns have run a very balanced offense this season, attempting 75 rush attempts and 65 passes early on. Keeping this balance will keep the Bruins on their toes, and potentially open up opportunities for Swoopes to make plays. However, the Horns will go into this week without both of their starting tackles, Desmond Harrison and Kennedy Estelle, who are among the many players coach Strong has suspended since he's been on campus.
Game Preview
On paper, it looks obvious that UCLA is a heavy favorite. They have the advantage on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Especially with the suspension of the Texas tackles, the Bruins will overpower the Longhorn offensive line and stop the running game, forcing them to ride the young Tyrone Swoopes to win the game.
Implications
Nationally, this game is important for the Bruins as they work out the kinks in their offense before they head into conference play. They have the clear advantage, and should win easily. However, if they were to lose, they could take themselves out of contention for the Playoff.
For Texas, it will be important to see how they respond after the beating BYU gave them last week. It will be a test for coach Strong and the coordinators to see how they adjust their gameplans to be contenders in the Big XII moving forward.
Final Prediction: UCLA- 38, Texas- 17