Gameday predictions: UCLA vs. Utah

Jon Christon
Sports editor
Prediction: Utah 42, UCLA 38

Let’s take a modern-day stroll down memory lane.

The last time UCLA and Utah faced off – which also happens to be the last time the blue and gold traveled to Rice-Eccles Stadium – the Utes demolished the Bruins 49-3. In fact, UCLA has lost four straight to Utah, giving up more than 40 points in each of those defeats.

But that’s not the only history I’m asking you to recall.

Who could forget last year, when the Bruins were only one win away from their first .500-or-better season in the coach Chip Kelly era and proceeded to blow their opportunity in embarrassing fashion with losses in back-to-back games?

History is important because it prevents the repetition of past mistakes. But unfortunately for these Bruins, they are primed to fall into the same trap of years past.

Facing a similar spot as it was a year ago, needing only one win to guarantee a .500 season, UCLA will again blow its chance to reverse its misfortunes.

The Bruins will get an early lead with the Utes’ best player, linebacker Devin Lloyd, sidelined for the first half because of a targeting penalty last game. But turnovers, an atrocious pass defense and stellar play from opposing quarterback Cameron Rising will allow the home team back into the game in the latter 30 minutes.

Ultimately, a late touchdown by Utah will make sure UCLA hits its historical trifecta – 40-plus points allowed against the Utes, a loss in a game that would give it a .500 season and more late-season pain inflicted on the Bruin faithful.

Sam Settleman
Assistant Sports editor
Prediction: UCLA 28, Utah 24

Halloween is the one time of year people can pretend to be something they’re not.

Yes, that includes UCLA football.

In their last three matchups against the Utes, the Bruins haven’t lost by fewer than 31 points, including a 46-point shellacking in 2019.

But on the eve of Halloween, UCLA will find a way to morph into something it’s not and reverse its terrible track record against Utah.

The Bruins’ offense will need big games out of Superman, Batman and Robin – I mean, senior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, junior running back Zach Charbonnet and redshirt senior running back Brittain Brown. Despite being in the midst of his most consistent year as a Bruin, Thompson-Robinson hasn’t quite had his Superman moment this season.

In 2019, it was the heroic 32-point comeback victory against Washington State. In 2020, it was a 364-yard, four-touchdown performance on 30-of-36 passing against crosstown rival USC. The signal-caller hasn’t had that signature moment yet in 2021, but this might be the week for Superman to make his return against a Ute defense that has let quarterbacks run wild.

Meanwhile, Charbonnet and Brown haven’t been the same Batman and Robin duo they were earlier in the year, coming off a game in which they combined for 80 yards on 28 carries. But both backs still rank in the top five in the conference in rushing yards this season and will have a chance to match up against a Utah run defense that just gave up 260 yards on the ground against Oregon State.

Contrary to what the betting odds and common sense say, the Bruins will march into Salt Lake City in full costume, masquerading as a competitive team before retreating into their usual house of horrors once more.

Jared Tay
Football beat reporter
Prediction: Utah 31, UCLA 17

As Sam mentioned in his prediction, Halloween is here.

Unfortunately, I don’t share his optimism. If Bruin fans are looking for a good horror flick to kick start their Halloween celebrations, I recommend tuning in to ESPN at 7:00 p.m. when UCLA is going to be haunted by the same defensive problems that have plagued them all season.

Saturday’s matchup with the Utes offense does not bode well for the Bruins. UCLA’s secondary will be up against arguably the best signal-caller in the conference for the past three weeks.

Utah’s Rising has completed over 60% of his passes throughout October and has thrown for seven touchdowns through his last three games. These are all good indicators that it’ll be a long night for Bruin defensive backs.

But one doesn’t even have to be a top-arm to do damage against the Bruin secondary. Last week against Oregon, the UCLA defense allowed Duck quarterback Anthony Brown to tally a season-high in passing yards. That Ducks offense was the same unit that trailed California – who now sits 2-5 at the bottom of the Pac-12 North – 17-10 entering the fourth quarter two weeks ago.

Arizona State’s Jayden Daniels and Fresno State’s Jake Haener also put up season highs in passing against UCLA.

I mean, does this look like a conference-champion-worthy defense?

On the offensive side of the ball, it’s cool that Charbonnet and Brown can pound the rock. Hats off to Thompson-Robinson who looks ready to start, despite taking a beating last week. In my mind, the offense’s success goes only as far as the defense will allow it to.

Defense wins championships. And unless UCLA miraculously figures out how to slow down its opponent’s air game, it will not have a sniff of top spot in the South.

Like some B-rated Halloween slasher movie with a boilerplate script and highly-clichéd plot, we’ll see the same Bruin team quagmired in mediocrity by a combination of careless mistakes and poor defensive scheming.

Ramona Mukherji
Slot editor
Prediction: UCLA 27, Utah 24

I’m not confident about my football knowledge at all. But the one thing I can generally rely on is UCLA football letting me down.

I would like to preface this prediction with a confession: The first time I ever watched a football game was this school year, and it was the catastrophe that was the Fresno State contest.

Since then, the Bruins have had an interesting season, to put it mildly. Given our matchups with Oregon or the aforementioned Fresno State, if an opponent is even marginally better than us, you can bet we’re going to lose.

However, I choose to be optimistic this time. So, true to my Spotify “On Repeat” playlist, I have decided to base my prediction on Mitski’s song “I Bet on Losing Dogs.”

I scoured everything from ESPN to random sports blogs, and I will admit that the odds aren’t great. For one, UCLA has lost to Utah four straight times. I also hate to bring up transitive property again, but Arizona State lost to Utah, and we lost to Arizona State. I’m an English major, and even I understand what that means.

But, at this point, I have looked at countless football stories, whether they be about our defensive lines or stormy weather. A recurring theme is that the new Chip Kelly era is the best UCLA football has been in a while. I’d like to believe, even just a little bit, that the Bruins have a chance to be bowl eligible for the first time in four years.

So, I will bet on losing dogs. Don’t get me wrong – we will probably lose. But it can’t hurt to be hopeful.