UCLA vs. Stanford gameday predictions

The Bruins travel north to Stanford to face off against the No. 15 Cardinal. UCLA is coming off a bye week in which it rose two spots in the AP Poll to No. 18. A win this weekend would be coach Jim Mora’s first against Stanford in his career.

Here’s what Daily Bruin Sports predicts when UCLA kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Claire Fahy, sports editor and football writer
Stanford 31, UCLA 27

The Bruins will have no room for error when they head into Cardinal territory Thursday. While Stanford’s defense is not as formidable as a team like Virginia, the Cardinal’s scoring potential and quarterback Kevin Hogan’s execution will only be surmountable if freshman quarterback Josh Rosen and the offensive line bring their A game. With Rosen in an unfamiliar situation – on the road in a high-pressure environment – UCLA may not be able to stop Stanford’s recent roll.

Tanner Walters, assistant sports editor
Stanford 27, UCLA 23

A win against Stanford – UCLA’s kryptonite for much of recent memory – would be huge for the program, but I’m skeptical that Mora and his team will pull it off Thursday night. Since losing 16-6 in its season opener, the Cardinal is undefeated, including three wins against the Pac-12. Would I be happy to be wrong this week? Sure, but I need the Bruins to prove it to me. If the offense can mix pass plays into early possession snaps, UCLA should be able to open up the running game. Last week, Rosen was under constant pressure without a release valve in redshirt junior Paul Perkins and the other running backs. A win would be a major step, and would reinvigorate a fan base that was disappointed by the Arizona State letdown, but it’s not going to be easy.

Korbin Placet, assistant sports editor
Stanford 24, UCLA 21

The Bruins haven’t won against the Cardinal under Mora, and I don’t think that will change on Thursday. The reason? Quarterback Kevin Hogan. The redshirt senior is fourth in the nation, leading the Pac-12 in total quarterback rating and has amassed 1,155 yards through five games. He is the most efficient and effective quarterback that UCLA will face so far. To fight back, the Bruins will have to find their consistent run game that disappeared against the Sun Devils. It will be tough, though, as the Stanford defensive line is the second-ranked run defense in the Pac-12.

Matt Cummings, assistant sports editor
UCLA 24, Stanford 23

The Cardinal are a superior, healthier team and have owned the Mora-era Bruins. So there’s little reason to believe UCLA will win this game. But, coming off the loss to Arizona State, the Bruins should be plenty motivated – Mora’s had almost two weeks to fire his team up for the trip to Palo Alto. And, for the first time in years, UCLA’s offensive line should have an advantage over the Stanford defensive front, allowing Perkins to keep the Bruins in the game. Rosen is a good quarterback when he has time to throw – with the game on the line, he’ll remind the Bruin faithful why he was such a highly touted prospect.