UCLA (4-5 overall, 3-4 Big Ten) at Washington (5-5, 3-4)
When: Friday, 6 p.m.
Where: Husky Stadium, Seattle
TV/radio: Fox (Ch. 11)/570 AM
Line: Washington by 4
What’s at stake? These are two teams trending in opposite directions with UCLA winning three in a row and Washington dropping three out of its past four games. A victory would bring the Bruins to a .500 record after a 1-5 start, erasing the negative energy that clouded the team during the first half of the season. The Huskies need a win to become bowl eligible.
Who’s better? Both teams have an identical conference record, but Washington lost to Rutgers and Iowa, two teams UCLA defeated. In addition, Washington’s offense started the season hot but has cooled off of late. The Huskies average 398.8 yards of offense per game, but that has dropped to 295.3 total yards in their last three games. It’s been the inverse for the Bruins, whose offense is on an upward trajectory. UCLA has averaged 417.7 total yards during its three-game winning streak, compared to its season average of 321.1.
Matchup to watch: UCLA’s defense will face senior quarterback Will Rogers, who hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in three games and has three interceptions in that span. Rogers has been significantly better at home, throwing nine of his 13 touchdown passes at Husky Stadium, one of the reasons UW is unbeaten at home. UCLA’s defense has five interceptions in its last three games, and the Bruins will need to force Rogers into turnovers to overcome Washington’s home-field advantage.
UCLA wins if: The Bruins’ running game can set the tone early. UCLA has struggled rushing the ball this season, but the problem finally came to a head last week against Iowa. T.J. Harden had his best statistical game of the season with 125 rushing yards on 20 attempts, with the team rushing for 211 yards. The team’s previous season high was 139 yards against Nebraska. Washington’s defense has played well against the pass this year but has struggled against the run, allowing 163.1 rushing yards per game (84th in the nation).
Prediction: UCLA 31, Washington 23. UCLA is playing its best football of the season and riding a wave of momentum, while Washington is backpedaling. UCLA’s ground game is coming together at last and that plays into Washington’s weakness. Harden, Keegan Jones and Jalen Berger should be able to operate in between the tackles and find the end zone multiple times.