The Matchup

THE MATCHUP Position
Comments Advantage
Quarterbacks:

Cory Paus holds the advantage in this category, as he has put up
impressive numbers since his return and has managed to keep the
team competitive in all his starts. Stanford signal-caller Randy
Fasani has also been impressive since he gained the starting role.
In his five starts, the Cardinal are 3-2 and averaging 414.4 yards
of total offense per game. When Fasani wasn’t starting, Stanford
was 0-3.

Running backs: DeShaun Foster’s health is
certainly improving, and he’s beginning to regain that form he
possessed earlier in the season, but Stanford gets the edge in the
backfield because of their explosive 1-2 combination in Kerry
Carter and Brian Allen, who rushed for 380 yards and six touchdowns
in their last two games. Wide receivers: Both
teams will feature a Biletnikoff semi-finalist on Saturday. Bruin
flanker Freddie Mitchell is second in the nation and first in the
Pac-10 with 115.5 receiving yards per game. Stanford’s DeRonnie
Pitts poses a considerable threat as well, having accounted for 59
receptions for 700 yards and six touchdowns on the season. UCLA’s
advantage comes from Mitchell’s complement, Brian Poli-Dixon, on
the other side of the field. Offensive line:
UCLA’s line has remained relatively healthy all season, and that
makes a huge advantage for the Bruins. Look for some big holes to
be opened up for Foster on Saturday. Defensive
line: Though the Bruins saw hope in their young defensive
line against Arizona, particularly from Mat and Dave Ball, they are
still most vulnerable at this position because of injuries.
Stanford defensive lineman Willie Howard, a semi-finalist for the
Rotary Lombardi Award, has posted 37 tackles and four sacks on the
season. Linebackers: Both teams have strength at
linebacker. UCLA has an imposing presence coming from Butkus
semi-finalist Robert Thomas, who led the team with ten tackles last
week, as well as senior Tony White and junior Ryan Nece. The
Cardinal also have a tough linebacker corps. Riall Johnson is on
pace to lead the conference in sacks for the second consecutive
season – he has ten through eight games. DRAW
Secondary: Ricky Manning is playing at the top of
his game, having intercepted Ortege Jenkins twice in last
Saturday’s matchup.

Though occasionally susceptible to making mistakes, the Bruin
secondary is much more talented than that of the Cardinal.

The Daily Bruin predicts: UCLA 28; Stanford 24
Original Graphic by TERESA WOO Web Adaptation by EVELYN HSU