Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
The UCLA Bruins won an emotional game in week two over the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Why do I say it was emotional? Well, the Bruins won the game just a week after losing teammate Nick Pasquale in a car accident that took his life. The Bruins look like one of the best up-and-coming teams in the nation.
On the other side of the field, the New Mexico State Aggies have not gotten off to a hot start this season so far. The Aggies are 0-3 and traveling to UCLA won’t give them their first win of the season.
UCLA has a Heisman-type quarterback in Brett Hundley. Through two games, the sophomore gunslinger has completed 67 percent of his passes for 568 yards and five touchdowns. The dual-threat also has 124 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries this season. The UCLA offense ranks seventh in the nation in points per game with 49.5 and is top-15 in rushing yards and top-30 in passing yards per contest. Jordon James has been solid on the ground, running for 260 yards and two touchdowns in just two games.
New Mexico State is led by senior quarterback Andrew McDonald who is really the only bright spot on the offensive side of the ball. Through three games, he has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 584 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while also rushing for 89 yards. The offense ranks in the top-50 nationally in pass yards per game, but is in the 100-range for rushing yards and points per game.
Defensively, the Bruins had two solid performances in the first two games of the season. They allowed just 353 yards to the Nevada Wolf Pack in week one and allowed just 331 yards to a solid Nebraska Cornhuskers offense in week three — both wins. On the other hand, the Aggies have allowed over 700 yards, over 450 yards and over 540 yards in their first three games, respectively.
New Mexico State will travel to UCLA to take on the Bruins at 10:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, Sept. 21. The game will be broadcasted on the Pac-12 Network.
PREDICTION: New Mexico State 7, UCLA 38
Related: UCLA’s Offense Comes to Life in Second Half vs. Nebraska
UCLA Football: A Tale of Two Halves vs. Nebraska
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at .
