The big cross-town rivalry football game between UCLA and USC is very important regardless of the records of the teams. This year the teams will be playing for more than city pride and a trip to a lower bowl game. The winner of the 2014 game could win the Pac- 12 Southern Division and play Oregon for the Pac-12 championship. The game will be played this Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Rose Bowl and it will be televised by ABC.
“This is a big rivalry game,” USC head coach Steve Sarkisian said last week. “I have been part of this game for a long time. I have two sisters that graduated from UCLA. We are 2-0 in November and we want to be 4-0 in November.”
Jim Mora’s 8-2 Bruins are favored but if tradition has anything to say about the outcome, it may come down to the final play of the game. Both teams have super stars on offense and defense and strong special teams.
The 7-3 Trojans hope they can play their best game of the year and upset the Bruins. Both teams are rated in the top 25 nationally, UCLA 11th and USC 24th.
Both teams have outstanding quarterbacks. UCLA has Brett Hundley and USC counters with Cody Kessler. Hundley is a better quarterback because he can beat you with his feet and arm so when the play breaks down he can turn that play into a touchdown.
USC may have a slight edge at the wide receiver position with junior Nelson Agholor, who caught 16 passes for more 200 yards last week against California. The Bruins will also need to keep an eye on freshman sensation JuJu Smith who has made some spectacular catches this season. Kessler Sports will also look for Darreus Rogers and George Farmer when he drops back to pass. Hundley will throw to a very capable group of wide receivers. Devin Fuller, Jordan Payton, Eldridge Massington and Devin Lucien are reliable targets for Hundley.
The Trojans also have slim edge at the running back position with Jarorius ‘Buck’ Allen. Allen has rushed for more than 1,100 yards and at 6-1, 220 pounds he is hard to bring down.
UCLA will counter with Paul Perkins, who is quietly having a great year as the Bruins’ tailback. The Trojans backup running back is Justin Davis and backing up Perkins is Jordon James.
The kicking and the offensive line are even. Handling the kicking duties for UCLA will be Ka’imi Fairburn and the Trojans will rely on Andre Heidari. The offensive line that commits the least amount of penalties may help their team win the game.
The defenses on both teams are also even and both squads have players who can turn a game around. UCLA will rely on defensive linemen Eddie Vanderdoes and Owanmagbe Odighizuwa, linebackers Myles Jack and Eric Kendricks and defensive backs Ishmael Adams and Fabian Moreau. USC’s defense is led by defensive lineman Leonard Williams, linebackers Hayes Pullard and Su’a Cravens and freshmen defensive back Adoree’ Jackson.
“We just have to play our game,” Pullard said last week. “We need to fix some things and we need to finish the game strong but the train is rolling and the fire is lit. We just have to feed the fire.”