No. 18 UCLA vs. Pitt in Sun Bowl: Who has the edge?
The Bruins will make their first bowl game appearance during Chip Kelly’s tenure and aim to tie a program record of 10 wins in a season
No. 18 UCLA (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12) vs. Pittsburgh (8-4 , 5-3 ACC)
When: 11 a.m. PT Friday
Where: Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas
TV/Radio: CBS (Ch. 2)/AM 570
Line: UCLA by 6
Notable injury designations/opt-outs:
UCLA: Out: DL Martin Andrus. Questionable: WR Kazmeir Allen, OL Raiqwon O’Neal, DL Gary Smith III, DB Devin Kirkwood, RB Zach Charbonnet.
Pitt: Out: QB Kedon Slovis, RB Israel Abanikanda, DB Brandon Hill, DL Deslin Alexandre, DL Calijah Kancey, OL Gabe Houy, OL Carter Warren, LB SirVocea Dennis, DL Nate Temple. Questionable: QB Nick Patti.
What’s at stake? UCLA will play its first bowl game game during Chip Kelly’s tenure as coach after COVID wiped out last year’s Holiday Bowl appearance. A victory for the Bruins would tie a program record of 10 wins in a single season. The program has had nine 10-win seasons, the latest happening in 2014 under Jim Mora.
Who’s better? UCLA is expected to have most of its key contributors playing, including fifth-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Pitt has had a number of players opt out of the bowl game, including leading passer and former USC QB Kedon Slovis and leading rusher Israel Abanikanda.
Matchup to watch: UCLA defensive line vs. Pitt offensive line: It doesn’t help that those who will be asked to fill in for Pitt at quarterback and running back will also have an the offensive line that is depleted. Pitt will have at least two offensive linemen out for the game, which may allow for Laiatu Latu and the Murphy twins (Gabriel and Grayson) to create havoc.
UCLA wins if … The Bruins can play mistake-free football in their first game since their Pac-12 finale Nov. 25. …The defense can create pressure and force Pitt to turn the ball over, allowing for more possessions and opportunities for Thompson-Robinson and the offense to score.
Prediction: UCLA 45, Pitt 14. Thompson-Robinson will look to produce a great performance in his final game as a Bruin. If allowed the chance to build confidence against Pitt, it may be a long day if the Panthers fall behind early.