UCLA (8-4) stumbles into the Foster Farms Bowl after losing two of its last three games, the worst being a 40-21 beat-down from arch-rival USC. The lone win in that stretch for the Bruins was a pretty good one, messing up Utah’s season with a 17-9 victory.
Many people argue that Nebraska doesn’t belong here with their 5-7 record. Before 2012, a team had to win six games against other FBS opponents to qualify for a bowl, but that was before there were 176 bowls (actually there are 41, but still, damn). In 2012 the NCAA developed a plan where if there was a problem filling all the bowls with teams that were actually eligible, they’d widen the net a little to 5-7 teams (or 6-6 teams with a win over an FCS opponent) through a six-tier tie-breaking progress. The “Academic Progress Rate,” which considers the graduation rate of the top schools in big Division 1 is laugh-out-loud hilarious. Anyway, Nebraska got its ticket punched thanks to a few walk-ons who never play but actually go to class and here we are ‘bowl’ing.
Bowl: Foster Farms Bowl
Teams: UCLA Bruins vs Nebraska Cornhuskers
Date/Time: December 26, 2015 – 9:15 p.m.
Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
Vegas line: UCLA -7, O/U 61
Written by: Adam Greene
8 – 4 Record – 5 – 6 – 1 Vs Spread Over – Under: 3 – 8 – 1Season Results11/28/15 @ Southern California L 21-40 L 3 P 61 11/21/15 @ Utah W 17-9 W PK U 56 11/14/15 Washington State L 27-31 L -11.5 U 66 11/07/15 @ Oregon State W 41-0 W -16 U 60 10/31/15 Colorado W 35-31 L -22.5 O 62 10/22/15 California W 40-24 W -3.5 U 68.5 10/15/15 @ Stanford L 35-56 L 6.5 O 56 10/03/15 Arizona State L 23-38 L -12.5 U 61.5 09/26/15 @ Arizona W 56-30 W -1 O 64.5 09/19/15 Brigham Young W 24-23 L -16.5 U 57.5 09/12/15 @ UNLV W 37-3 W -32 U 65.5 09/05/15 Virginia W 34-16 P -18 U 53 |
5 – 7 Record – 6 – 6 Vs Spread Over – Under: 7 – 5Season Results11/27/15 Iowa L 20-28 L 2.5 U 58 11/14/15 @ Rutgers W 31-14 W -7.5 U 64 11/07/15 Michigan State W 39-38 W 3.5 O 55.5 10/31/15 @ Purdue L 45-55 L -7.5 O 54.5 10/24/15 Northwestern L 28-30 L -7 O 50 10/17/15 @ Minnesota W 48-25 W PK O 47 10/10/15 Wisconsin L 21-23 W 2.5 U 52 10/03/15 @ Illinois L 13-14 L -3 U 57 09/26/15 S. Mississippi W 36-28 L -20.5 U 64.5 09/19/15 @ Miami L 33-36 OT W 3.5 O 59.5 09/12/15 South Alabama W 48-9 W -27.5 O 54 09/05/15 Brigham Young L 28-33 L -5.5 O 57.5 |
January 2, 2015 – Alamo Bowl – UCLA 40 – 35 Kansas State December 31, 2013 – Sun Bowl – UCLA 42–12 Virginia Tech December 27, 2012 – Holiday Bowl UCLA 26 – 49 Baylor December 31, 2011 – Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl – UCLA 14 – 20 Illinois December 29, 2009 – EagleBank Bowl – UCLA W 30–21 Temple |
December 27, 2014 – Holiday Bowl – USC 45 – 42 Nebraska January 1, 2014 – Gator Bowl – Nebraska 24 – 19 Georgia January 1, 2013 – Capital One Bowl – Nebraska 31 – 45 Georgia January 2, 2012 – Capital One Bowl – Nebraska 13 – 30 South Carolina December 30, 2010 – Holiday Bowl – Nebraska 7 – 19 Washington |
UCLA Outlook
Freshman phenom Josh Rosen leads the UCLA offense, not only bringing accuracy and big-play potential to the Bruins passing attack, but a little job security for head coach Jim Mora, Jr. Rosen started every game for UCLA this season, completing 59.5 percent of his passes for 3,349 yards, 20 touchdowns and just nine picks. And while those numbers may seem pedestrian when compared to a guy like Bowling Green’s Matt Johnson, Rosen’s team is playing with balance. Paul Perkins is averaging 5.7 yards per carry and has scored 13 touchdowns to go along with his 1,275 rushing yards. UCLA has the total package on offense and doesn’t need Rosen to throw five touchdowns a game, even though he can.
Rosen’s favorite target this season has been Jordan Peyton. Payton has 75 grabs for 1,068 yards and four touchdowns, but the guy that scares every defense UCLA faces is 6-foot-3 junior wideout Thomas Duarte. Duarte is a touchdown machine, catching 10 this season and averages 16.7 yards per catch.
On defense, the Bruins have three guys that can get after the quarterback. Senior linebacker Aaron Wallace leads the team with seven sacks and 12 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Junior defensive tackle Kenny Clark is a potential first-round NFL draft pick come April and this might be his last chance to really put on some live tape, especially if he decides to skip any of the all-star games. Takkarist McKinley is an unheralded JuCo transfer who is undersized on the defensive line, but still managed to drag quarterbacks down for 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss.
Nebraska Outlook
For those of you who thought the Huskers would have trouble finding a replacement for Melvin Gordon, go ahead and spend the next few minutes patting yourself on the back. Last year, Gordon rushed for 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns. This year, as a team, Nebraska has rushed for 2,295 yards and 20 touchdowns. Their second-leading rusher, Imani Cross, has 389 yards this season. Gordon rushed for 408 yards in a single game in 2014. You could say there’s been a drop-off.
Tommy Armstrong Jr. has been a decent quarterback, but he’s too prone to turnovers, throwing 16 picks this season to go with his 21 touchdown passes. Also, his accuracy could use some work at just 54.8 percent. The Cornhuskers have used about 50 different receivers this year, but their most productive seems to be their least favorite. Junior Jordan Westerkamp has just four starts this year, but has caught 63 passes for 874 yards and seven touchdowns. Brandon Reilly has six starts, but 716 yards and four scores.
Nebraska is devoid of any potential draft talent. In the preseason, Maliek Collins had a lot of buzz but after a 29-tackle, 2.5 sack season he’ll be wise to stay in school for his senior season. Huskers safety Nate Gerry is their best defensive player and at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds might decide to forgo his senior season and enter the draft. If he does, he’ll be a mid-round guy, third or fourth round, but he’s a playmaker that can make an NFL team. He has 75 tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sac, four interceptions, seven pass breakups and a forced fumble. Sophomore corner Joshua Kalu is kind of a younger version of Richard Sherman and can lock down one side of the defense.
Match-up Analysis & Prediction
Analysis
Nebraska is the quintessential example of a team just happy to be in a bowl game after not doing much this year to deserve it. UCLA on the other hand has to be disappointed with its invite to the Independence Bowl. That could be a problem for the Bruins if they overlook Nebraska or aren’t fired up to put on a show.
Prediction
To get further analysis from Ej the Rainmaker and Adam Greene, check out our audio preview of the Foster Farms Bowl using the audio file below…
