The UCLA Bruins (3-3) and Arizona Wildcats (1-4) return from their respective bye weeks with a Pac-12 South showdown in Tucson. The Bruins hope to pick up some momentum after altering wins and losses through the season's first half.
UCLA has gone 1-2 on the road this season (with losses at Houston and then-No. 7 Stanford). The offense has been decent away from home, averaging 26.67 points per game. The defense, however, has surrendered 34.0 points per game on the road and serves as an area of concern for UCLA.
The Bruins secondary in particular will need to play well against the Wildcats. Behind the arm of quarterback Nick Foles, Arizona is passing for 383.0 yards per game (third-best in the nation). Arizona has not run the ball much at all this year, averaging just 71.8 rushing yards per game (119th in the nation), and the Bruins will need to key in on the pass to prevent the Wildcats from getting ahead.
Meanwhile, UCLA will look to exploit Arizona's struggling defense. The Wildcats have given up 37.5 points per game (placing them 117th in the nation). Quarterback Kevin Prince- who will start with Richard Brehaut injured- as well as running backs Derrick Coleman and Johnathon Franklin will look to exploit Arizona's defense and put up points early.
The Bruins are 2-1 in the Pac-12 with wins over Oregon State and Washington State. UCLA will take aim at a 3-1 conference record with a win over Arizona on Thursday.