Arizona State @ UCLA preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2014 ) UCLA 62, Arizona State 27

UCLA already has faced its share of challenges during the early portion of this season, but the No. 10 Bruins have cleared every obstacle heading into their Pac-12 game against visiting Arizona State on Saturday. The Sun Devils, meanwhile, have yet to play to their preseason expectations and seemed to take another step back in last weekend's loss to USC, committing four turnovers along the way.

The biggest hurdle for UCLA thus far has been replacing three injured starters on defense - linebacker Myles Jack, cornerback Fabian Moreau and defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes, all of whom have been lost for the season. The Bruins welcomed another starter back last weekend in defensive back Ishmael Adams, who returned from a three-game suspension and produced an interception that set up a touchdown in the 56-30 win at Arizona. Adams will try to make things difficult on Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici, whose performance has dropped off after a strong junior season in which he led the Sun Devils to wins over Stanford and USC. Fortunately, the ground game has improved for the Sun Devils as Demario Richard has recorded three straight 100-yard rushing performances with two touchdowns in each contest, and backup Kalen Ballage returned last week after missing the first three games with mononucleosis.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: UCLA -13.5

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12): The receiving corps for the Sun Devils should get plenty of attention as it is led by D.J. Foster, the team's leading rusher last season turned wide receiver who has recorded just one play of more than 20 yards this season. Gary Chambers has emerged as a first-down machine for Arizona State, and the senior is coming off his first career 100-yard receiving effort against USC. Devin Lucien was the third-leading receiver for UCLA last season but took advantage of the NCAA rule that allows graduates to transfer and become eligible immediately. He decided to team up with Bercovici at Arizona State but is off to a slow start after suffering a hamstring injury two weeks ago against New Mexico.

ABOUT UCLA (4-0, 1-0): Josh Rosen is just a freshman, but his numbers are very similar to Bercovici's, as both have thrown seven touchdown passes while completing about 60 percent of their throws. Rosen was outstanding in his college debut Sept. 5 against Virginia, took a step back the following week versus Nevada-Las Vegas and seven days later against BYU, but came back with a solid performance versus Arizona, completing 19-of-28 passes for 284 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Paul Perkins will be looking to rebound from his first ho-hum performance of the season, carrying the ball 24 times against Arizona but amassing just 85 yards, although he did score three touchdowns. On the receiving end, Jordan Payton has settled in as Rosen's go-to guy, and he's coming off his best game in nearly a year as he made seven receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown against Arizona.

EXTRA POINTS


1. Perkins is the older brother of Arizona State freshman QB Bryce Perkins.

2. The Bruins were 4-0 and ranked in the top 10 heading into last season's game against visiting Utah but were upset 30-28.

3. Arizona State defenders Salamo Fiso and Jordan Simone have recorded double-digit tackles in the last two games and are tied for second in the FBS at 7.8 solo tackles.

PREDICTION: Arizona State 28, UCLA 27