Oregon State @ UCLA preview

Oregon State at UCLA

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2011 ) UCLA 27, Oregon State 19

After rolling up 85 points and 1,299 yards of offense in its first two games, No. 19 UCLA showed off its opportunistic defense by forcing six turnovers in a 37-6 rout of Houston last week. The Bruins are 3-0 for the first time since 2009, when they proceeded to lose five straight conference games. In order to avoid heading down a similar path and run their record to 4-0 for the first time since 2004, UCLA will need to enjoy more success on offense against Oregon State on Saturday than Wisconsin did on Sept. 8. In that season-opening win, the Beavers held the Badgers to 207 total yards – including just 35 on the ground – in a shocking 10-7 victory.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN2. LINE: UCLA -8

ABOUT OREGON STATE (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12): The Beavers held Wisconsin’s Montee Ball to 61 rushing yards, which may be a good omen as they face another early Heisman Trophy hopeful in UCLA’s Johnathan Franklin, who leads the country in rushing. Coach Mike Riley will undoubtedly seek better execution from his team after Oregon State committed eight penalties and converted just 5 of 17 third-down attempts against the Badgers. Oregon State is in the middle of a stretch in which its faces three consecutive Top 25 opponents, having already defeated then-No. 13 Wisconsin. After this game against the ranked Bruins, the Beavers travel to No. 21 Arizona.

ABOUT UCLA (3-0, 0-0): One season after the Bruins rotated quarterbacks Kevin Prince and Richard Brehaut, redshirt freshman Brett Hundley’s impressive athleticism has enabled him to take a firm grasp of the starting job and lead a fast-paced offensive attack that ranks second in the country with 622 yards per game. Hundley’s running ability has also opened up the running lanes for Franklin, who is rushing for an FBS-best 180.3 yards per game. In its dismantling of Houston, UCLA intercepted five passes – including a school record-tying three from CB Sheldon Price – and recovered a fumble.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Bruins hold a commanding 41-15-4 advantage in the all-time series, but have won the last two meetings by a combined 11 points.

2. Since 2005, Oregon State has defeated 10 ranked opponents, although the win over the Badgers was its first in its last seven such games.

3..UCLA is just one of two FBS teams (Oklahoma State) averaging 300 yards rushing and 300 yards passing.

PREDICTION: UCLA 27, Oregon State 21