UCLA BRUINS (3-4, 0-4) at OREGON STATE BEAVERS (4-3, 2-2)
TIME: 4:00 PM ET.
DATE: October 31, 2009
LOCATION: Reser Stadium, Corvallis, OR
LINE: Oregon State – 9 ½
OVER / UNDER: 47 ½
TV: FOX SPORTS NET
The UCLA Bruins visit the always tough Oregon State Beavers this weekend, in a game that will feature two teams who are out of contention for a PAC 10 Title. While one dream has died, the Beavers have proved they’re a team who deserving of a bowl game and team that is dangerous to Top 25 teams but can’t seem to get over the hump as a college football elite.
Entering a Saturday home game against UCLA, OSU is 0-3 against the top 25 teams they’ve played, and 4-0 against the rest of the schedule. The two league losses are to teams each 3-1 in the Pac-10, while OSU’s two victories are over teams that are a combined 6-4 in league games.
UCLA is still seeking a first league win after four defeats with an offense that ranks ninth in the Pac-10 in scoring and yards, and 113th in the nation in passing efficiency.
Oregon State is in the hunt for a fourth straight bowl appearance, so this game against the Bruins becomes nearly a must win. “We are getting to those more defining moments for the year,” Beavers’ coach Mike Riley said.
This part of the season has certainly been that way for the Beavers in recent years. Including a 2-1 record in October this season, OSU is 24-6 since 2006 in games played after Sept. 30.
“It’s a pivotal deal,” Riley said of the final October game. “We’ve got to improve in some areas. It becomes for us, what can we do this week to get better?”
The Oregon State offense features one of the best backs in the nation in Quizz Rodgers. Rodgers is hobbled by a sprained ankle so the Beavers may have to focus on the passing game more than they would prefer. Quarterback Sean Canfield has been very good in reading defenses, and making the correct choice in where to throw the football.
On defense, the Beavers will have to do a better job stopping the running game. Last Saturday at USC the Trojans ran for 227 yards against the Oregon State defense. The Bruins have been far from being considered an offensive power. So this could be a good week for the Beavers to gain confidence.
The Bruins have struggled in Norm Chow’s offense and head coach Rick Neuheisel plans start sharing time between redshirt at the quarterback position between redshirt freshman Kevin Prince and true freshman Richard Brehaut.
“Richard Brehaut deserves some meaningful time, not just at the end of ball games, to show what he can do,” Neuheisel said Monday at his weekly press conference. “Earlier, I said I’d hoped, or I’d like to be able to. Now I’m making sure it’s going to happen. I’m going ahead and saying it this time.”
Brehaut has played in four games, completing 9 of 15 passes for 114 yards, with one interception. He played on the final series last week against Arizona, completing 2 of 3 passes for 11 yards with the Bruins down by two touchdowns.
Prince was ineffective against the Wildcats, pulled in the third quarter for senior Kevin Craft, who didn’t fare much better. For the season, Prince has completed 70 of 133 passes for 729 yards, with two touchdowns and four interceptions. He has started five games (missing two because of a broken jaw).
Prince hasn’t been able to take control of the position, which has opened the door for Brehaut.
“There’s an old adage if you play two quarterbacks it means you don’t have one. I know there are a lot of coaches in that school of thought,” Neuheisel said. “Given the youth of the two youngsters, it might be beneficial. We can give each a part of the plan they can concentrate on.”
The quarterbacks aren’t the only players who deserve blame for UCLA’s recent struggles. The running backs have been inconsistent as well. The rotation at tailback will no longer include Christian Ramirez, who was the projected preseason starter but then missed games because of injuries. He started last week at Arizona, but that was because Johnathan Franklin missed a team meeting. Ramirez, who has only nine carries for 44 yards this season, has now dropped out of the rotation as UCLA goes with Franklin, Derrick Coleman and Damien Thigpen as the primary ball carriers. They figure to have a tough go of it against Oregon State, which allows 116.14 rushing yards per game.
The Bruins defense stepped up last week against Arizona, forcing 5 fumbles, but took major steps back, allowing 456 yards in the loss to the Wildcats. UCLA has allowed 950 yards in the past two games (Cal and Arizona), a disturbing trend for a team that has to have a strong defense in order to win. UCLA has allowed at least 174 rushing yards in the past four games, which is bad news for the Bruins, who have to stop Oregon State RB Jacquizz Rodgers.
BRUIN & BEAVER NOTES:
Sophomore running back Quizz Rodgers is second in the nation in touchdowns scored with 15.
Bruins have won their last three games at Reser Stadium, averaging 40 points against the Beavers, with OSU’s last home victory over UCLA in 1999. In this decade, OSU’s two wins over the Bruins are the fewest for the Beavers against any Pac-10 team.
• SERIES HISTORY: UCLA leads 39-14-4 (Last meeting, OSU, 34-6 in 2008).
BETTING TRENDS:
BRUINS:
Bruins are 1-4 ATS in their last five games as a road underdog.
Bruins are 0-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Bruins are 0-5 ATS in their last five games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0.
BEAVERS:
Beavers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as a home favorite of 3.5-10.0.
Beavers are 5-1 ATS in their last six games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0.
Beavers are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
