Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl

BYU
vs
UCLA
Dec. 22 / 8 p.m.

Didn't we already see this game back in September? Didn't UCLA beat BYU 27-17 in the Rose Bowl? Of course, that was back when UCLA was considered a top 15 team. Back before they got crusted at Utah, lost to Notre Dame, got crushed at Washington State, lost back to back weeks to Arizona and Arizona State, and finally fell to USC in the Coliseum. UCLA hasn't done much offensively this season, but most teams don't get the offense rolling when they have no quarter back (just ask Oregon). Now Karl Dorrell is gone and UCLA has no coach but they will have their starting quarterback. This will be the healthiest UCLA has been in months, which might not bode well for a hot BYU team trying to knock off an underachieving Pac 1o team.

If BYU had played Hawaii's schedule, the Cougars would be playing UGA the first week of 2008. Instead BYU suffered two losses by just 18 combined points @UCLA (27-17) and @Tulsa (55-47). The Cougars do have the best defense in the MWC and should be able to keep this one close if either QB that UCLA throws out there can't get the ball moving. RB Chris Markey will be a key component in the Bruin offense.

UCLA is playing without a head coach in a bowl game they don't want to be in. BYU is on fire and looking to avenge one of their two losses on the season. The same thing that happened to UCLA last year against FSU seems to be coming this season. Look for BYU to roll.

Line (wagerline.com): BYU -6.0, Total 46.5