Here are three things to watch in the Arizona Wildcats’ game vs. UCLA at Arizona Stadium (Saturday, 6 p.m., Pac-12 Networks), plus a score prediction and some pertinent preview links:
1. TATE’S MATES
As you might have heard, Khalil Tate had a pretty good game last week. We’ve been writing about him all week, and there’s even more to be found below. Assuming Tate is also the focal point for UCLA’s defense, he’s going to need some help from the guys riding sidecar with him. Would you believe that Nick Wilson and J.J. Taylor have combined for 100 or more yards only once this season – against Northern Arizona in Week 1? It’s true. It’s weird. Wilson and Taylor combined for 131 yards against NAU. Wilson didn’t play in Week 2, so we’ll toss that game out. Their combined rushing totals the past three weeks: 94, 88 and 71 yards. If Arizona wants to make a serious run in the Pac-12 – something we can’t rule out in this crazy conference – that won’t cut it. Those backs need go over 100 yards – at least – to keep defenses honest. Why haven’t they been more productive? It’s not for lack of talent or opportunity. The inside runs just haven’t been there for most of the season.
2. FLAG FOOTBALL
Penalties – or a lack thereof in the Wildcats’ case – played a huge role in Arizona’s victory at Colorado. They could be a big factor again Saturday. Arizona entered this week as the third-least penalized team in the Pac-12, averaging 4.4 penalties and 41.2 penalty yards per game. UCLA, meanwhile, ranked 11th in those categories at 9.8 and 91.0. Arizona has yet to have a player ejected for targeting; it has happened to UCLA four times. Think penalty-yardage differential doesn’t matter? Let’s look back at that Colorado game. Arizona got flagged two times for 10 yards (both defensive procedural penalties). CU got whistled 12 times for 110 yards. That’s a 100-yard difference in a game decided by three points. Rich Rodriguez said the Wildcats wouldn’t have won if they didn’t play a “clean” game. He has stressed to his team the importance of being smart against UCLA, a game that could get heated with so many Southern California kids on both sides. “Play football with the right kind of emotion,” Rodriguez said, “not to do stuff that would hurt your team.”
3. ZOO WHO?
As many have said throughout the week, there’s no excuse for UA fans to not show up for this game. It’s Family Weekend. It’s a reasonable 6 p.m. start. It’s no longer 150 degrees outside. It’s a high-profile opponent with a high-profile quarterback (Josh Rosen). And Tate just might be one of the most exciting players in college football. Arizona has not had a serious home-field advantage all season. The attendance for the Pac-12 opener against Utah – 36,651 – was, frankly, pathetic. Despite Tate’s talent and the potential for more heroics, Arizona remains an undermanned team. The Wildcats have used 17 true freshmen this season; the Bruins have played five. Arizona needs all the help it can get, and a boisterous home crowd that sticks around into the fourth quarter can make a real difference. “I hope we have a good crowd and the student section will be into it,” Rodriguez said. “Playing at home, when your fans are into it, being loud and making it tough on them, it can have a great impact for you.”
FINAL SCORE: Arizona 37, UCLA 34
PREVIEW LINKS:
