Oregon @ UCLA preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 11, 2014 ) Oregon 42, UCLA 30

UCLA will try to beat Oregon for the first time since 2007 when the Bruins host the Ducks at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. Oregon has won six in a row against UCLA, its most recent victory coming in 2014 when eventual Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota threw two touchdowns and ran for two more in a 42-30 win in Pasadena.

The Bruins rank second-to-last among 129 FBS teams in rushing defense at 313 rushing yards surrendered per game, and the Ducks have one of the top ball carriers in the Pac-12 in Royce Freeman. He needs 140 rushing yards to surpass the career school record of 5,082 established by LaMichael James from 2009-11. UCLA has the second-best passing offense in the nation led by quarterback Josh Rosen, whose 2,354 passing yards are third-most in the FBS. He couldn't bail out the Bruins last week at Arizona, throwing for a season-low 219 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions in the 47-30 loss.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: UCLA -6.5.

ABOUT OREGON (4-3, 1-3 Pac-12): The Ducks have one of the top linebackers in the Pac-12 in sophomore Troy Dye, a Southern California native who led all NCAA freshmen in tackles last season. Dye is tied for fourth in the conference with an average of 8.9 tackles a game and should be tough on a UCLA running game that's already ranked ninth in the Pac-12 at 127.5 yards a game. Another linebacker that needs to be accounted for at all times is junior Jonah Moi, who comes in tied for fifth in the conference with 4.5 sacks and may cause Rosen to hurry some throws.

ABOUT UCLA (3-3, 1-2): Rosen's passing ability has enabled wide receiver Darren Andrews to emerge as one of the top pass catchers in the Pac-12. Andrews has caught 44 passes for 591 yards and seven touchdowns, all of which rank in the top three in the conference. The Bruins lost one of their other top targets when tight end Caleb Wilson sustained a Lisfranc injury to his foot three weeks ago against Colorado, and his replacements against Arizona didn't come close to matching his production.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oregon ranks third in the nation with 24 sacks and 11th with 15 takeaways.

2. A win by UCLA would be its 600th in program history.

3. UCLA P Stefan Flintoft has placed nine of his 19 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

PREDICTION: UCLA 47, Oregon 45