UCLA vs. Oregon State gameday predictions

No. 23 UCLA travels north to Corvallis, Oregon, to face unranked Oregon State. The Bruins are on a two-game win streak following victories over Cal and Colorado.

Here’s what Daily Bruin Sports predicts when UCLA kicks off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Claire Fahy, Sports editor
UCLA 41, Oregon State 17

This prediction is less an indicator of UCLA’s strength and more a measure of Oregon State’s weakness. The Beavers are struggling this season, to say the least, as they remain without a win in the Pac-12. Even against a beat-up Bruin defense, Oregon State won’t pose much of a threat. (Editor’s note: I said this exact thing last week, and see how well that turned out.) UCLA will get away with an easy win this weekend before having to face an uncertain end to its conference schedule.

Matt Cummings, assistant Sports editor
UCLA 37, Oregon State 24

For the second straight week, the Bruins have a significant talent advantage. The Beavers’ offense is the worst in the Pac-12 by quite a bit, and the defense is nothing special. But if there’s a dash of NFL talent on this Oregon State team, it’s at running back and at the interior offensive line spots, a combination which could foreseeably gash the UCLA linebacking corps. Running back Storm Woods and the Beavers will keep it close until halftime but they won’t have enough juice to stay with the Bruins in the second half.​

Korbin Placet, assistant Sports editor
UCLA 33, Oregon State 24

Playing the worst team in the Pac-12 should be an easy victory. However, given the number of injuries the Bruin defense has had, especially last week, I can’t say the Bruins will win for sure. It’s still expected, but not a forgone conclusion. Luckily for UCLA, Oregon State has had its own slew of injuries, most recently in the quarterback position, so there is even more uncertainty with them than with the Bruins. I do believe that UCLA has more talent throughout the depth chart. Oregon State will have to really fight for this one.

Tanner Walters, assistant Sports editor
UCLA 44, Oregon State 13

Some may say that this is a trap game for UCLA, but Oregon State is simply going to be overmatched. The Beavers are winless in Pac-12 play and will be without quarterback Seth Collins on Saturday afternoon, something that should help guarantee the continuation of that conference futility. UCLA, a strong road team under coach Jim Mora, can utilize its running backs – namely, redshirt junior Paul Perkins and freshman Soso Jamabo – in an effort to run all over the home team. Was my blowout prediction correct last week? Not really. But, hey, maybe this time.