No. 4 UCLA football (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) enters the last quarter of the regular season with a matchup against Illinois (6-3, 4-2) on Friday night at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins are now projected to have a bye in the College Football Playoffs and are one of just two undefeated teams remaining in the country. Here are the game predictions from Sports editor Jacob Nguyen and Sports interns Noah Martinez and Evelyn Hare.
Jacob Nguyen
Sports editor
Prediction: UCLA 35, Illinois 24
Sorry to the Fighting Illini.
You all had your run, but all good things come to an end.
After starting the year 2-3 and parting ways with its defensive coordinator four games in, Illinois’ current four-game win streak will give Champaign County its third consecutive year of bowl game competition. But any slim playoff hopes are likely to be vanquished against a Bruin squad that has been on a historic run in coach Bob Chesney’s first year at the helm.
Four straight victories are cool and all, until you consider that three of those came against bottom-five Big Ten teams, including the two at the very bottom of the pit. It’s probably a tad hypocritical of me to make that a talking point, when UCLA has been the subject of a questionable resume all year, so I admit, an 11-point win over Oregon behind a freshman quarterback is very impressive.
However, what’s also impressive is a backup going for a career-high 303 yards on just eight completions in his very first road start against a Big Ten program. So against the conference’s worst passing defense, as some social media pundits may say, Friday night might be “barbecue chicken” for senior quarterback Ty Dieffenbach.
On the other end, Collin Dixon is a name UCLA fans have to know. Dixon is probably the conference’s best wide receiver if it weren’t for a certain Buckeye Heisman contender. Nevertheless, the Bruins are by far and away the strongest passing defense the Fighting Illini have faced, so I struggle to believe in a scenario where Dixon isn’t contained even just a little bit or – if he isn’t – he carries the offense enough to overcome the rest of his teammates being smothered.
A Big Ten showdown under Friday night lights should be cinematic for two fanbases currently riding significant win streaks.
So while I’ve had an immense privilege being able to cover UCLA’s historic season, perhaps the unfortunate part of this job is that I can’t be in the running for free tuition or get any Chick-fil-A.
Noah Martinez
Sports intern
Prediction: UCLA 31, Illinois 17
There’s a first time for everything, and Friday has a handful of firsts that are coming with it.
It’s the first time UCLA and Illinois face off as conference opponents.
It’s the first time this season Bruin fans will be able to watch the blue and gold under Friday night lights in Pasadena.
And I bet it’ll be the first time since 1998 that UCLA is 10-0.
After parting ways with defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck after nearly eight months, the Fighting Illini’s rushing defense has dialed up, contributing to a four-game win streak to bounce back from their initial 2-3 record. The squad put this on display, not allowing any rushing touchdowns in the second half of its most recent bout against Nebraska.
But I doubt these improvements will be enough to stop UCLA’s punishing offense from thwarting Illinois’ comeback arc. The Bruins’ rotating offensive line should keep their performance from letting up at the end – even with the potential absence of starting senior center Riley Robell.
Even if the Fighting Illini’s rushing defense holds off the three-headed dog that is the Bruins’ running back room, their passing defense – which has surrendered 245.6 yards per game this year – will crumble against Dieffenbach.
Though this is a game of firsts, Illinois’ 119th-ranked passing defense will likely let Dieffenbach build off of his career-best 303 passing yards on just eight completions Saturday against Minnesota.
Here’s how it will actually go: Illinois will open up with its performance at its peak – the first half acting as its best opportunity to gain yardage – before UCLA’s offense will gain exponential ground towards a win. It’s what the Rose Bowl is used to seeing, but pitting one of the most consistently proven teams in the Big Ten against one that’s still finding its footing won’t bring about any surprises, and surely no gameplay firsts.
However, there is another first – an opportunity for UCLA students to have a quarter of their tuition paid if they attend the game through all four quarters.
Maybe the final first for this game will be the Bruins securing victory before an actually packed Rose Bowl.
Evelyn Hare
Sports intern
Prediction: UCLA 27, Illinois 20
After returning home after a big win against Minnesota, the toughest part of UCLA’s season lies ahead.
The Golden Gophers went toe-to-toe with the Bruins at Huntington Bank Stadium. But UCLA’s typical game, where it goes out with a bang, worked again.
Dieffenbach had a record game with his first 300-yard passing game of the season, completing two deep 75-yard passes to senior wide receiver Aiden Mizell – becoming the first player since at least 1995 to throw for 300-plus passing yards on just eight completions.
But can the Bruins replicate that kind of explosive win again?
If they put up a fight, I say yes.
Illinois’ program has been a wrecking ball for the Big Ten this season, messing up records left and right. Its very own 6-3 record boasts a current 4-0 run, complicating Oregon’s playoff chances and giving Nebraska, Maryland and Michigan State a run for their money.
Illinois quarterback Katin Houser matched Dieffenbach with three touchdowns last weekend – the former’s without an interception.
That isn’t the only similarity between the two teams, however.
Illinois and UCLA have drawn the series at 6-6 since the teams last played in 2011, but the two sides have yet to face off as conference foes.
Unranked Illinois isn’t flying all the way to the West Coast for nothing. It looks to mess up another Big Ten opponent’s season, and, as one of the only two undefeated teams left in the country, UCLA is the perfect target.
For their 13th-ever matchup, it’ll be a game of who can better defend. The Bruins field a top-20 passing defense, allowing just 177.0 yards per game. For a team that likes to operate in the air, the Fighting Illini are going to have to work for it.
But Illinois’ pass rush is also on the rise, tallying eight sacks through the past four games and putting pressure on opposing offensive lines.
Even if the Fighting Illini take out Dieffenbach and the Bruins’ passing game, the Westwood side’s running backs are still in play, which could be the key to the home squad’s victory.
Will the Bruins be able to blow up the wrecking ball of the Big Ten?
Illinois might get a few hits in, but in the end, UCLA will show the visitors why it’s remained undefeated.
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