UCLA prepping for Baylor's top ranked offense

UCLA has had pretty good success against the spread offenses of the Pac-12, but coach Jim Mora suggests that the high octane Baylor offense is something the Bruins haven't seen yet, the LA Times reported on Tuesday.

The Bruins have done well against the spread offenses of Houston and Arizona, beating the teams by a combined 103-16. But those offenses aren't quite the Baylor Bears. Baylor is ranked first in the nation in total offense and third in passing yards.

Baylor failed to eclipse 40 points just three times this season, and scored fifty or more points five times this season - including 63 during a loss against West Virginia.

"Their offense is ridiculously good," Jim Mora said. "They go at a real fast tempo. They are comparable to Houston and Arizona, and probably a little bit faster in their tempo."

Tempo is the key for UCLA coach Jim Mora as he prepares his team for Baylor quarterback Nick Florence, who threw for 4,121 yards and 31 touchdowns on the year. Based on what his players told the LA Times, the Bruins sound ready for what Baylor throws at them.

"West Coast, Pac-12, we've seen a lot of teams who run up-tempo offenses," linebacker Eric Kendricks said. "It's nothing we haven't seen before. We just have to contain their athletes."

The Bears also have wide receiver Terrance Williams, who has 95 receptions for 1,764 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. He is joined by running back Lache Seastrunk, who only rushed for 874 yards on the year - but 693 of that came in the final five games.

"Most of these spread offenses are universal," cornerback Aaron Hester said. "We face an up-tempo offense every day in practice. I know they're going to have some new stuff for us. We just have to prepare for what we've seen on film."

The Bruins face the Bears at the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27.