Bruins bring momentum vs. USC
What can Brown do for you?: Kedon Slovis connected with WR Amon-Ra St. Brown for four touchdowns in the first quarter (tied NCAA record for TDs in a quarter) of last week’s romp over Washington State. USC’s dynamic combination should be featured again against a UCLA defense ranked eighth in the Pac-12 in passing yards allowed (229.4 per game).
More Trojan turnovers: USC’s much-improved defense, led by safety Talanoa Hufanga (three interceptions) and defensive lineman Nick Figueroa (3.5 sacks), has 12 takeaways in four games this season. An extra possession or two for Slovis & Co. could be the difference. The Trojans are averaging 33.3 points per game to the Bruins’ 32.6 points per game.
Keys for UCLA
Play with swagger: The Bruins are playing as well as any Pac-12 team right now. For the first time in Chip Kelly’s three seasons, UCLA has a winning record and positive program momentum.
All of the pressure is on Kelly’s counterpart, Clay Helton, to keep the favored Trojans unbeaten and finally live up to expectations. The Bruins have played a more difficult schedule (losses were at Colorado, Oregon) and should show up at the Rose Bowl expecting to win.
Ride the DTR express: Dorian Thompson-Robinson returned from quarantine after missing two games to lead the Bruins to a win at Arizona State. The dual-threat UCLA QB finished with 241 total yards and two scores in the 25-18 victory in Tempe.
If RB Demetric Felton, who scored the game-winning touchdown but appeared to injure himself in the fourth quarter, is hobbled, Thompson-Robinson will have to outplay Slovis to win this crosstown rivalry game.
Prediction
UCLA 38, USC 37: The Bruins, who came through with a clutch last-minute TD drive at ASU, have outscored the opposition 36-9 in the fourth quarter this season and will finish the shortened regular season on a three-game winning streak with a mild upset of the Trojans.