Colorado @ UCLA preview

THE STORY: It is hard to believe UCLA still controls its own destiny in the Pac-12 South Division as it hosts struggling Colorado. If the Bruins defeat the Buffaloes and USC next week, UCLA will play in the inaugural Pac-12 championship game. Colorado notched its first Pac-12 victory in school history last week, but has mostly suffered through its initial season in the conference. The Buffaloes, who have lost 23 straight games played outside the state of Colorado, have no shot at a bowl berth, so they can only play the role of spoiler down the stretch.

TV: Versus. LINE: UCLA -11.

ABOUT COLORADO (2-9, 1-6 Pac-12 North): The Buffaloes are 0-5 on the road this season but got the monkey off their back in the conference with a solid performance in a 48-29 victory over Arizona last week. Arizona destroyed UCLA earlier in the season, but Colorado rushed for 273 yards and gained 500 total yards against those same Wildcats. Rodney Stewart scored three touchdowns and ran for 184 yards as Colorado notched a season-high in points.

ABOUT UCLA (5-5, 4-3): A win makes the Bruins’ bowl-eligible which is an accomplishment considering their mostly shoddy play. The fact that they’re still in the hunt for the conference title game berth is nearly unfathomable. After UCLA was hammered at Utah last week, the Bruins needed Washington State to knock off Arizona State to remain in control of the division lead, and the Cougars did the trick. UCLA will still be huge underdogs next week against USC, which is ineligible to play for the title. Utah’s John White ran for 167 yards and two scores against UCLA in a game that was played on a slick field after heavy snow had fallen. The Bruins certainly appeared out of sorts in the conditions.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. The reward for the Pac-12 South Division winner appears to be Oregon after its win over Stanford last week.

2. Colorado has won the last two meetings in the series but the teams have not met since 2003.

3. UCLA senior safety Tony Dye will return to the lineup. Dye had the chance to red-shirt the season, but opted to play the final two games of the season to try to get the Bruins into the Pac-12 title game.

PREDICTION: UCLA 30, Colorado 21 - Nothing comes easy for the Bruins this season, but they have too much talent for the Buffaloes.