UCLA football (1-2, 0-1 Big Ten) is returning to the Rose Bowl for its second Big Ten matchup of the season – and a familiar Pac-12 clash – facing No. 8 Oregon (3-0) on Saturday night. Here are this week’s game day predictions from Sports editor Ira Gorawara, reporter Noah Massey and assistant Sports editor Una O’Farrell – along with guest predictions from senior staff writer Aidan Sun.

Ira Gorawara
Sports editor
Prediction: UCLA 14, Oregon 45

Chip Kelly spent four and six seasons as head honcho of Oregon and UCLA, respectively.

The offensive mastermind ushered a hurry-up, leave-no-prisoners offense that was unheard of in collegiate football and easily outfoxed defenses.

The Ducks took a significant leap in national prominence following Kelly’s arrival in Eugene, culminating in a staggering 46-7 record over four seasons – the best winning percentage of any Oregon head coach.

Meanwhile, as Kelly’s tenure in Westwood wound down, fans clamored for a new direction, with his exit arguably greeted with more relief than sorrow.

His 35-34 record with the Bruins barely escaped a losing mark as UCLA grappled with inconsistency and uncertainty toward his departure. Despite glimpses of his offensive genius, he never quite managed to elevate the Bruins.

Both teams are products of Kelly – one managed to thrive, while one was left searching for more.

The Ducks’ high-flying offense, now polished with modern tweaks, sharply contrasts the Bruins’ glaring offensive woes.

On Saturday at the Rose Bowl, Oregon’s offense will mirror the style of Kelly’s heyday, a dizzying mix of pace, precision and a persistent ground attack.

UCLA will prove a sobering reminder of its miseries and the heights it could not attain under the former coach.

Noah Massey
Daily Bruin reporter
Prediction: UCLA 20, Oregon 41

The timing of Saturday’s matchup couldn’t be worse for UCLA.

Oregon will enter the Rose Bowl fresh off a bye week that immediately followed a 49-14 thrashing of Oregon State, in which the Ducks showcased their potential after two tighter-than-expected victories.

Meanwhile, UCLA is fresh off two contests where its defense was dissected by opposing quarterbacks to the tune of 659 combined passing yards and 76 total points. Preseason Heisman Trophy favorite quarterback Dillon Gabriel and the Ducks’ offense could prove to be the Bruins’ toughest challenge yet.

If the UCLA defense finds itself unable to establish a pass rush once again, 41 points could wind up being a rather conservative prediction against an offense of Oregon’s caliber.

There is hope on the other side of the ball, though. If one ignores the second half, the UCLA offense showed some promise against LSU, scoring more in two quarters than in either of its first two games.

However, Oregon’s defense is coming off its best game against Oregon State as well as a bye week to prepare for UCLA. To make matters worse, the Ducks’ defense has excelled against the pass despite facing some struggles against the run.

Thus far, UCLA’s offense has failed to establish its rushing attack, which currently sits as the third-worst in the nation.

Against a team of Oregon’s quality, it would take nothing short of a miracle for UCLA to pull off the victory, even at home.

Una O’Farrell
Assistant Sports editor
Prediction: UCLA 7, Oregon 42

UCLA’s Saturday matchup against Oregon is like bringing a rubber band to a sword fight.

The Ducks, riding high as one of 2023’s Pac-12 powerhouses, have steamrolled opponents all season.

Their dual-threat quarterback Gabriel has already thrown for 914 passing yards and eight touchdowns, leaving defenses gasping for air. Running back Jordan James has rushed for 283 yards just this season, while the team’s receiving corps execute at breakneck speed.

Meanwhile, the Bruins have proved as reliable as LAX baggage claim.

UCLA’s defense struggled to contain LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier – and will now face the terror that is Gabriel. Oregon averages 37 points per game, while UCLA has barely managed 15 – and that, too, against teams that don’t have Oregon’s firepower.

The Bruins’ pass rush has been missing in action all season, and opposing quarterbacks have been feasting on their secondary.

So what’s the hope? The Bruins might be able to bring the heat early, catch the Ducks by surprise and keep the game close into halftime, just like they did against the Tigers. It’ll be UCLA’s first home game since fall quarter started, so it’ll have the full force of the student section of the Rose Bowl on its side.

But if I’m being totally transparent, this has David and Goliath vibes, except UCLA’s David forgot his sling and Oregon’s Goliath brought a whole army and a playbook.

Aidan Sun
Daily Bruin senior staff
Prediction: UCLA 16, Oregon 48

It’s safe to say that UCLA defied expectations against LSU last week.

Tying the game 17-17 at half, Bruin fans briefly gained hope that the Big Ten newcomers could extend their 24-year 6-1 record against SEC opponents and leave behind their early-season woes.

However, a familiar struggling team returned in the second half, going scoreless to ultimately lose 34-17.

While some fans may have seen the first-half tie as a sign of potential, I fear the 17-17 start was more a fluke than a sign of better days to come.

LSU has struggled with consistency, especially given an underperforming defense – reasons I attribute the tie to LSU’s own blunders rather than anything particularly outstanding about UCLA’s showing.

Oregon’s Gabriel and its elite wide receiver duo will feast on a disappointing UCLA pass rush and secondary that failed to contain inferior quarterbacks in Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke and LSU’s Nussmeier.

It will therefore fall upon associate head coach and offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy and the offense to finally jump-start a run game that has failed to produce.

However, that’s a tall task for Bienemy’s offense against a high-level Duck defense that far outshines any opposition the Bruins have faced thus far.

In a “Big Ten After Dark” matchup against a former Pac-12 rival, the Bruins will be playing to bend – not break – and put up somewhat of a fight to prove their place in the Big Ten.