UCLA @ Oregon preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 21, 2017 ) Oregon 14, UCLA 31

UCLA and Oregon will try to rebound from poor performances when they meet Saturday afternoon at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. The Ducks came into last weekend ranked 21st in the coaches' poll, but were dismantled 44-15 at Arizona on Saturday, a day after UCLA experienced its worst home loss (41-10) in eight years against Utah.

The Bruins will need to improve their tackling and show better hands in the passing game if they hope to knock off Oregon in a tough environment. UCLA coach Chip Kelly told reporters that he counted 24 missed tackles against the Utes and six dropped passes, both of which heavily contributed to the 31-point loss. Oregon needs better focus and execution on offense after rushing for 78 yards against an Arizona run defense that ranked 102nd in the nation coming into the contest. Oregon junior quarterback Justin Herbert missed the UCLA game last season with a broken collarbone, and after starting this week in the concussion protocol after getting injured late against Arizona, he returned to participate in individual drills in practice Wednesday but his status for Saturday remains unclear.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Oregon -12.5

ABOUT UCLA (2-6, 2-3 Pac-12): The quarterback situation at UCLA seemed up in the air earlier in the week, but senior graduate transfer Wilton Speight practiced with the first team on Wednesday after starting against Utah, leading many to believe he'll start again. Speight won the starting job out of camp and started the season opener against Cincinnati, but was unable to finish the 26-17 loss because of a back injury. Dorian Thompson-Robinson started the next six games and appeared to be finding his groove when he went down with an injury in a 31-30 win against visiting Arizona on Oct. 20.

ABOUT OREGON (5-3, 2-3): Three different running backs for the Ducks have posted 100-yard rushing performances this season, but none seem to be on a rollheading into this game. CJ Verdell leads the team with four 100-yard efforts, but the freshman didn't start against Arizona and was then held to 14 yards on six carries. Tony Brooks-James started the season as the No. 1 running back, sustained an ankle injury Sept. 22 against Stanford and then moved back into the starting role against Arizona, only to be held to 20 yards on five carries and eventually give way to Verdell.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oregon LB Troy Dye has reached double figures in tackles the past four games, the first Oregon player to accomplish that feat since Joe Farwell in 1990.

2. The Ducks have eight interceptions in the past four games.

3. UCLA WR Theo Howard caught six passes last week to become the 25th player in program history with at least 100 catches in his career.

PREDICTION: Oregon 35, UCLA 21