UCLA Vs. Arizona State: Bruins Not Thinking About Pac-12 Title Game Just Yet

The No. 20 Arizona Sun Devils will be visiting the Rose Bowl on Saturday. If the UCLA Bruins can manage to defeat them, they will move into a tie for first place in the South Division of the Pac-12. That would take the Bruins one step closer to potentially being the first-ever Pac-12 Conference champions. But as far as head coach Rick Neuheisel is concerned, the team has their minds firmly in the present, according to Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times.

"I think our mind-set needs to be what we do rather than what might or might not be. We learned that lesson the hard way," said Neuheisel, in reference to the last time this season the Bruins were looking at moving into a first-place tie in their division. They wound up suffering a 48-12 loss to the Arizona Wildcats that week.

The Bruins are hoping that they will fare against Arizona's other Pac-12 team, and are most likely feeling bolstered by their big 31-14 win over the Cal Golden Bears. If things go UCLA's way, they'll leave Saturday night's game tied with the Sun Devils at number one in the division.

If you want to get giddy about the Bruins this week, connect with your fellow fans over at Bruins Nation.

UCLA Vs. Cal: Bruins Show Up Golden Bears

Cal scored every off quarter, and UCLA every even, but the Bruins held the turnover edge and converted those chances into points in a solid 31-14 win. After the loss to Arizona, Rick Neuheisel appeared to be a lame duck coach; but the hot seat may have moved a few hundred miles north. Kevin Prince was the star of the game, but the quarterback got it done with his legs and not his arm. 

UCLA had a +3 in the turnover margin. Moreover, Cal’s Zach Maynard threw four interceptions in a game where he never settled down. Kevin Prince threw for just 92 yards, but he took over the game with his legs; rushing for 163 yards.

It came in bunches for UCLA, scoring 17 in the second quarter and 14 in the fourth. After halftime, Cal was able to pull within three after their opening drive stalled but Jordan James muffed the punt.

In the fourth quarter, the UCLA Bruins got two interceptions to go up big. First Tevin McDonald intercepted Maynard on the Cal thirty, leading to a twenty yard Derrick Coleman touchdown run. Then McDonald struck again, intercepting Maynard on the UCLA 16. Cal’s chances were already slim at this point, but when UCLA took the ball and marched 83 yards down the field they were non-existant. Zach Maynard wasn’t done though, and threw one more interception to Aaron Hester at the UCLA 37.

UCLA out-rushed the Golden Bears by more than 150 yards, but were out-passed by 100 yards. Not only did the UCLA defense force five turnovers, but Cal had a terrible 2-12 3rd down conversion rate.

UCLA certainly put the Arizona game behind them, and now go on to face Arizona St. with playing in a bowl now a realistic possibility. Jerry Rice Jr. had two catches on the day for 17 yards.

UCLA Vs. Cal: Bruins Dominate Second Quarter, Lead At Half

In the battle between the California Golden Bears and their Southern Branch, the UCLA Bruins have the upper hand after a big second quarter. The Bruins passing game has suffered with those suspensions depleting the depth chart, but Kevin Prince has used his legs to get the offense going. With three scores on three turnovers, this game has been defined more by incompetence than great play.

Cal was the first to score, after getting the ball on the UCLA 30. Kevin Prince had broken out for a 21 yard rush, but coughed it up when hit by Steve Williams, right into the arms of Dan Camporeale. It took two and half minutes for Cal’s Isi Sofele to punch in a one yard touchdown run to put Cal up 7-0.

UCLA tied it up with the game’s longest drive (four minutes), which included a 32 yard Kevin Prince rush and a 19 yard completion to Nelson Rosario; the longest run and pass plays of the game. Jonathan Franklin completed the drive with an eleven yard touchdown run.

UCLA then went ahead with a field goal after a Cal’s Zach Maynard threw an interception, and a touchdown after Isi Sofele fumbled the ball on the first play of a new Cal drive. Those two scoring drives for UCLA came in just over a minute. On the touchdown drive, Derrick Coleman ran it on fourth and two to extend the drive, then ran it in for the touchdown the next play.

UCLA Vs. Cal: Jerry Rice Jr. Makes First Bruin Catch

Jerry Rice Jr., the son of NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, had never played in a game for the UCLA Bruins before today. The walk-on sophomore got the opportunity to start after the Bruin depth chart was depleted with suspensions. In the second quarter of the game against Cal, Jerry Rice Jr. made his first ever catch.

Time will tell if this is the first in many catches and a career in football like his dad. The catch, a seven yard out on third down, didn’t move the chains but it surely was a boost to Rice Jr.’s confidence.

While it’s a nice note, UCLA’s passing game has been largely non-existant. Kevin Prince has rushed for more yards than he’s thrown for (64 rushing, 51 throwing). Josh Smith caught a pass for four yards, but the only real passing plays have been completed to Prince’s only remaining regular passing target; Nelson Rosario.

UCLA Vs. Cal Football: Home Team Has Ruled Series Of Late

The UCLA Bruins look to get back on track after their embarrassing 48-12 defeat in Arizona last week, returning home to face the California Golden Bears on Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl. Cal has struggled in Pac-12 conference play, losing three of four games and allowing 28.5 points per game in Pac-12 contests. But then again Arizona was 0-4 in conference before laying the wood to UCLA last week.

UCLA has lost each of their last three battles with Cal, but for nearly all of the last decade this has been a battle of home field. The home team has won 10 of their last 11 battles, with Cal's 45-26 win in Pasadena in 2009 the only road win during that span. Here's a look at the recent history between UCLA and Cal:

• 2010: at Cal 35, UCLA 7
• 2009: Cal 45, at UCLA 26
• 2008: at Cal 41, UCLA 20
• 2007: at UCLA 30, No. 10 Cal 21
• 2006: No. 10 at Cal 38, UCLA 24
• 2005: No. 20 at UCLA 47, No. 10 Cal 40
  
• 2004: No. 9 at Cal 45, UCLA 28
• 2003: at UCLA 23, Cal 20 (OT)
• 2002: at Cal 17, UCLA 12
• 2001: No. 4 at UCLA 56, Cal 17
• 2000: at Cal 46, No. 13 UCLA 38 (3 OT)
  

Saturday's 4 p.m. game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For more on UCLA, head on over to Bruins Nation.

UCLA Vs. Cal: Kickoff Time, TV Coverage, Radio And More

Another week, another Pac-12 college football divisional showdown. This time the UCLA Bruins open up the gates of the Pasadena Rose Bowl and welcome in the Cal Golden Bears. In a battle for ursine supremacy, the only true winners in this one will be people who really hate bears.

Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. PDT

Weather Forecast: I certainly don't need to tell you how inconsistent the weather has been as of late. The official forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-60s to the low 70s. It is not expected to rain. Take that with as many grains of salt as you need.

TV Coverage: If you have the appropriate television package, you'll be able to watch this one on Prime Ticket.

Radio: The game is being broadcast on CBS Sports and the CBSSports.com College Network.

Opening Line: The Bruins were six point underdogs when the betting lines opened.

And of course, if you want to discuss the game with other UCLA fans, you can always find them on Bruins Nation.

Adventures In Lame Duckery: What's Next For UCLA Football?

It's all but over for Rick Neuheisel, but the problems in Westwood go far beyond the coaching staff.

UCLA vs. Cal Odds: Golden Bears Favored By Narrow Margin

As the UCLA Bruins get set to host the Cal Golden Bears at the Rose Bowl this Saturday, sports bettors around the globe are trying to decide whether or not they will put some money down on the Pac-12 classic. Although both teams have been in the shadows of their former selves this year, their might be something to the fact that this game may be worth betting on.

Oddsshark.com began the week with the Golden Bears as a six point favorite, while bodog, five dimes, bet online and top bet all went a bet lower with a five point spread. Both teams are rather evenly matched and are in need of a victory, so there might just be some factors worth considering in all of this.

UCLA is at home, a place they usually fare pretty well, while four of Cal’s top receivers will be out this Saturday for the Golden Bears, severely limiting their aerial attack. UCLA is also coming off of their worst win in a while, so the desire to bounce back with a W may loom large for the Bruins. Hopefully they can get it done.

UCLA Vs. Cal: Despite Suspensions Freshman WR Devin Lucien Unlikely To Play Saturday

The UCLA Bruins are not only coming off their worst loss of the season, a 48-12 shellacking at the hands of the lowly Arizona Wildcats, but are also heavily depleted at wide receiver thanks to suspensions stemming from a brawl before halftime in the desert. Six Bruins were suspended for their contest against the Cal Golden Bears on Saturday in Los Angeles, including four wide receivers.

Receivers Taylor Embree, Randall Carroll, Shaquelle Evans, and Ricky Marvray are out for Cal. Those four have combined for 30 catches and 360 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson Rosario, who leads UCLA with 30 catches, and Josh Smith are listed atop the depth chart for Saturday against Cal, with Jerry Rice Jr. and Devin Lucien as their backups.

Neither Rice nor Lucien have caught a pass this season. Lucien has yet to play, as the plan was to redshirt him this season. "We haven't ruled him out 100%, but the likelihood is that he will not waste his redshirt year," head coach Rick Neuheisel said of the freshman Lucien on Tuesday. "His inexperience as we went further and further into the playbook showed, but we have nothing but high, high regard for what he's going to bring to the program in the future. I still feel that way strongly."

The sophomore Rice figures to play. "Jerry is a very talented young man, but he's just been on the shelf for a while," .Neuheisel said "If we can get 15 quality plays out of him, that would be a great help to us. They have to cover him and respect that he can run"

Bruins senior safety Tony Dye is likely out for the season with a neck injury, though Neuheisel was not specific when discussing the injury. Dye played in the first three games of the season, and would be eligible for a medical redshirt year if the NCAA grants an appeal, an option Neuheisel seemed to prefer. "I think he needs to get himself 100% healthy and hopefully come back and play for us next year," the coach said.

For more on UCLA, head on over to Bruins Nation.

UCLA vs. Arizona Brawl: Six Bruins Suspended For Actions On Thursday Night

With just seconds remaining before halftime, the UCLA Bruins escalated a bad night into a horrible one by foolishly partaking in a benches clearing brawl with the Arizona Wildcats. After reviewing hours of video, the Pac-12 has suspended six Bruins and four Wildcats. Here are the players involved and the time each one will miss, according to an official release from the conference:

UCLA
Senior wide receiver Taylor Embree - One-game suspension
Sophomore guard Alberto Cid - Half-game suspension
Sophomore wide receiver Randall Carroll - One-game suspension
Sophomore wide receiver Shaq Evans - One-game suspension
Sophomore wide receiver Ricky Marvray - One-game suspension
Sophomore defensive tackle Cassius Marsh - Two-game suspension (consecutive games)

Arizona
Sophomore cornerback Shaq Richardson - One-game suspension
Senior cornerback Lyle Brown - Half-game suspension
Junior strong safety Mark Watley - Half-game suspension
Freshman nickelback Jourdon Grandon - One-game suspension

"The Conference is extremely disappointed in the actions of the student-athletes involved in this incident. It is unacceptable behavior and violated Conference rules, as well as NCAA fighting rules. I have taken these actions today because it is imperative that we hold our student-athletes and coaches to the highest standards of sportsmanship," said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott.

For more on UCLA, head on over to Bruins Nation.