Fresno State at UCLA Line

Written by Jack Jones

Fresno State will try to improve on their No. 25 ranking in the polls when the Bulldogs head to the Rose Bowl to take on the struggling UCLA Bruins this Saturday. The experts must think that the Bruins struggles will continue as Fresno State is favored by 6.5 points .

Head coach Pat Hill likes to schedule as tough of a non-conference schedule as he can for his team in order to get them ready for the WAC conference. This year has been no different as the team has traveled to Rutgers and beat the Scarlet Knights and then hosted the Wisconsin Badgers, losing a close one 13-10. UCLA was supposed to be a third tough test, but if the Bruins keep playing like they have over the last two weeks, that won’t be the case.

It seemed like a lot of people were jumping on the Bruin band wagon after they beat No. 18 Tennessee in overtime on opening weekend. The win got the Rick Neuheisel era off to a fast started and vaulted UCLA up to No. 23 in the polls, but then came a drubbing at the hands of BYU, 59-0. The Bruins were down 42 at halftime and gave up seven passing touchdowns. Last week it was Arizona blowing the Bruins out 31-10 in front of the home crowd.

Quarterback Kevin Craft threw the ball 31 times in the game against the Wildcats but only gained 81 yards. This also marked the second straight weeks UCLA was held without an offensive touchdown. Defensively it doesn’t get much better with the 38 ppg they are allowing after three games ranking the Bruins down at 110th nationally.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 55-54 double overtime victory over Toledo, which has the mood decidedly brighter for Fresno State fans than those of UCLA. Quarterback Tom Brandstater continues to impress after going 22-for-28 with 231 yards and four scores. The running game also chipped in their part, getting 80-yard games out of Ryan Mathews and Anthony Harding.

The Bulldog defense did not do as good of a job against Toledo as they did the week before against Wisconsin, but the unit came up big in the second overtime when they stopped the Rockets’ 2-point conversion attempt that would have won them the game.

Still, for Hill a win is a win, and he’s proud of his guys for going on the road and coming out on top in a tough game against any opponent, and he’s hoping the Bulldogs can build on that success this week when they head to the Rose Bowl. Hill’s teams have gone on the road to play the Bruins twice, and are yet to win. This time things should be different as they are the favorites to come away with the victory.

Football score predictions: Fresno State 27, UCLA 20

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