The UCLA Bruins (3-4, 1-3 in the Pac-10) will have a tough task ahead of them Saturday, as their struggling offense has to battle the top defense in the Pac-10, and one of the best defenses in the country in the Arizona Wildcats. Arizona (6-1, 3-1) has allowed 14 or fewer points in five of their seven games.
The Bruins strength has been their running game, averaging over 200 yards per game, although with a struggling passing attack and mobile quarterback Kevin Prince out and/or ineffective they have totaled just 157 rushing yards in the last two games. Arizona's strength is also their rush defense, so unless quarterback Richard Brehaut can be effective and stretch out the field, Saturday could be a long day for UCLA.
Here is a look at the matchup, by the numbers:
- UCLA ranks 22nd nationally in rushing offense, fourth in the Pac-10, with 209.9 yards per game
- Arizona ranks seventh nationally in rushing defense, first in the Pac-10, allowing 90.9 yards per game
- UCLA ranks 117th (out of 120 teams) nationally in passing offense, last in the Pac-10, with 104.6 yards per game
- Arizona ranks 34th nationally in passing defense, second in the Pac-10, allowing 194.3 yards per game
- UCLA ranks 102nd nationally in total offense, last in the Pac-10, with 314.4 yards per contest
- Arizona ranks 10th nationally in total defense, first in the Pac-10, allowing 285.1 yards per game
- UCLA ranks 95th nationally in scoring offense, ninth in the Pac-10, at 21.3 points per game
- Arizona ranks seventh nationally in scoring defense, first in the Pac-10, allowing 13.4 points per game
- Arizona ranks 81st nationally in rushing offense, eighth in the Pac-10, with 136.9 yards per game
- UCLA ranks 102nd nationally in rushing defense, eighth in the Pac-10, allowing 194.9 yards per game
- Arizona ranks 14th nationally in passing offense, first in the Pac-10, with 298.0 yards per game
- UCLA ranks 54th nationally in passing defense, fourth in the Pac-10, allowing 205.3 yards per game
- Arizona ranks 28th nationally in total offense, fourth in the Pac-10, with 434.9 yards per game
- UCLA ranks 85th nationally in total defense, sixth in the Pac-10, allowing 400.1 yards per contest
- Arizona ranks 32nd nationally in scoring offense, fifth in the Pac-10, with 33.1 points per game
- UCLA ranks 89th nationally in scoring defense, seventh in the Pac-10, allowing 30.6 points per game
For more UCLA news and analysis, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Bruins Nation.