UCLA vs. Colorado Prediction, Game Preview

Fresh off important wins, the UCLA Bruins (5-2) and the Colorado Buffaloes (4-4) will try to make it two straight this week. Check out the UCLA vs. Colorado prediction and game preview.

UCLA vs. Colorado Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 31
Game Time: 3:00 ET
Venue: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Network: Pac-12 Networks

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Why You Need To Care

Don’t count out UCLA just yet. The Bruins answered back-to-back unsightly losses to Arizona State and Stanford with a nationally televised rout of Cal last Thursday night. A turning point, perhaps. UCLA has a chance to go on a run before closing at Utah and USC in games that will decide the Pac-12 South. While Colorado isn’t in the division hunt, it’s still reveling in last Saturday’s win in Corvallis that snapped a 14-game conference losing streak. At .500 on Halloween for the first time in seven years, the Buffs remain mathematically alive for bowl eligibility.

Why Colorado Will Win

The Buffaloes won’t be playing the same UCLA team that opened against Virginia. The Bruins continue to be ravaged by injuries, most recently star RB Paul Perkins, who’s questionable for this week’s game. Colorado can flash balance on offense behind a diverse backfield and the passing of Sefo Liufau to Nelson Spruce. Defensively, tackles Justin Solis and Jordan Carrell are doing an underrated job of clogging the interior on opponents.

Why UCLA Will Win

The Buffs probably aren’t going to stop Bruin QB Josh Rosen regardless of who joins him in the backfield. Rosen was razor-sharp against Cal, completing 34-of-47 for 399 yards, three touchdowns and no picks. Plus, his main receivers, Jordan Payton and Thomas Duarte, will be able to outmuscle the Colorado defensive backs. On the flip side, Liufau must contend with a UCLA secondary leading the Pac-12 in pass defense.

Player Who Matters

If Perkins is scratched, which is probably a wise cautionary move this week, expect to see more of blue-chip rookie Soso Jamabo, especially since backup Nate Starks is dinged as well. Jamabo has a tremendous future in Westwood, which he began to demonstrate last week, coming off the bench to rush for 79 yards and a score on 18 carries last week.

What’s Going To Happen?

UCLA has new life now that it’s beaten Cal and Utah has finally fallen. The Bruins will carry their Week 8 momentum into this Saturday, riding the arm of Rosen and their superior defensive personnel to a comfortable win. If Perkins is out, the all-rookie backfield of Rosen and Jamabo will provide an intriguing glimpse of the future in the Pac-12.