Cal at UCLA football: Who has the edge?
Cal (5-6 overall, 3-5 Pac-12) at UCLA (7-4, 4-4)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Rose Bowl
TV/radio: ESPN / 570 AM
Line: UCLA by 9 points
Notable injuries: UCLA: QUESTIONABLE: QB Collin Schlee (upper body), PROBABLE: DT Jay Toia (leg), WR Titus Mokiao-Atimalala (undisclosed), LB Ale Kaho (undisclosed); CAL: QUESTIONABLE: WR Mason Mangum (Undisclosed), QB Sam Jackson V (undisclosed), OUT: DB Raymond Woodie III (undisclosed), RB Jaivian Thomas (undisclosed), DL Ethan Saunders (undisclosed)
What’s at stake?: A victory for the Golden Bears would make them bowl-eligible and become at least the seventh team in the conference to do so. UCLA has already become bowl eligible but a victory could help with bowl game placement. The game will also serve as a chance to send the UCLA upperclassmen out with a victory on senior night.
Who’s better?: The Bruins’ defense has proven to be elite and will have one final regular season challenge against Fernando Mendoza and the Golden Bears. UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu recorded two sacks against the rival Trojans and needs just four sacks over the next two games to become the Bruins’ all-time sack leader.
Matchup to watch: Cal’s backfield vs. UCLA’s defensive front. Sophomore Jaydn Ott will play at the Rose Bowl for the first time in his college career. The Norco High product has already produced over 1,100 rushing yards this season. Ott will face his biggest challenge of the season as the Bruins remain the top run defense in the nation, allowing just 64.6 yards per game. The Bruins allowed just 3 rushing yards last week against MarShawn Lloyd and USC. Latu and the defense had allowed just 1 yard in the first half.
UCLA wins if: The Bruins must run the ball effectively with TJ Harden and Carson Steele in the backfield. Each running back has rushed for over 140 yards in a game this season. When the Bruins have struggled to run the ball and not had either of those two running backs lead the team, it has resulted in a loss.
Prediction: UCLA 27, Cal 10. The Bruins will play confidently after last week’s victory and win the turnover battle to beat the Golden Bears in the longtime rivalry’s final conference meeting.