No. 12 UCLA (-7.5) @ Texas TV: FOX 8pm Saturday
Daniel: UCLA is 2-0, but has slipped in the polls after both wins – unimpressive showings against Virginia and Memphis. And speaking of unimpressive, Texas was waxed by BYU 41-7 last week in Austin. All that to say, I don’t really like either of these teams at this point, but I have to pick one. UCLA has a massive edge at quarterback with Brett Hundley at the helm, while Texas is forced to start inexperienced redshirt freshman Tyrone Swoopes with David Ash out (concussion). Winner: UCLA 42-31
Houston: UCLA doesn’t have much of a defense this year but luckily for them neither does Texas as the Longhorns gave up 429 yards in last week’s 41-7 loss to BYU. UCLA has a very good quarterback in Brett Hundley who threw for 396 yards and three touchdowns last week against a tough Memphis team, so Texas’ defense will be tested early and often. With all of the controversy swirling around Charlie Strong’s first season at Texas, I don’t think this is the game that rights the ship. UCLA is too talented and Texas is a program that is reeling a little bit right now. Winner: UCLA 38-23
Reed: I don’t have much faith in either of these teams to win anything. UCLA has been miserable, though they are 2-0, in their first two games against totally outmatched teams (Virginia and Memphis). The Charlie Strong Era is off to a rough start in Texas after a 41-7 drubbing to BYU. Did the Vols dodge a bullet when Strong turned them down? Time will tell. Strong has cleaned house but Texas still has some talent, but that talent just doesn’t look like it has bought in to his message. Literally nothing would surprise me in this one (stay away you degenerate gamblers), but I’ll take the team that has proven they can at least win when playing poorly. Winner: UCLA 38-17
Richard: The Bruins were a trendy preseason pick to make the College Football Playoff. To make that a reality, #12 UCLA is going to have to improve in a hurry. They have been less than impressive in close wins over Virginia and Memphis. Their offense looked awful against Virginia, and their defense looked awful against Memphis. While the Bruins have a lot of work to do, Texas has an even steeper hill to climb. The Longhorns said they pointed to their game with BYU all summer, because they wanted to avenge last year’s 40-21 loss to the Cougars. Instead, BYU beat them even worse this year, 41-7. This Texas team just isn’t very good right now. After the loss to BYU, some Longhorns players suggested that there weren’t enough guys on the team who hated to lose. Charlie Strong obviously has his hands full in Austin. He has to change the team’s culture, and try to figure out how to win with some of their roster deficiencies. The depleted Longhorn offense is really struggling to do much of anything, and they are leaving the defense on the field too long. There is too much turmoil at Texas to expect them to upset a ranked opponent right now. Winner: UCLA 37-9
