San Jose State @ UCLA preview

THE STORY: With the Pac-12 Conference already talking about more expansion, how UCLA will fare is a mystery. The Bruins seem destined to plummet to the basement of a superconference and coach Rick Neuheisel’s future seems to be in immediate peril. The rants for Neuheisel’s job will intensify if UCLA can’t roll over undermanned San Jose State in its Rose Bowl opener in the first meeting between the schools. The Spartans were walloped by Pac-12 power Stanford 57-3 in their opener.

TV: FS West. LINE: UCLA -21.5

ABOUT UCLA (0-1): It didn’t take long for the Bruins’ quarterback carousel to begin again. Starter Kevin Prince left last week’s loss 38-34 at Houston with a concussion. Richard Brehaut replaced him and was 17-of-26 for 264 yards and two touchdowns. UCLA never led, but Brehaut nearly brought his team back from a 31-14 deficit. Johnathan Franklin rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown, and UCLA’s offense produced 554 yards, but the Bruins couldn’t stop Houston’s fast-paced attack.

ABOUT SAN JOSE STATE (0-1): San Jose State returns 20 starters from last year. That, however, may not be a good thing. The Spartans were 1-12 last season - including 0-8 in the WAC - and things certainly didn’t start out with any more promise in Week 1. San Jose State quarterback Matt Faulkner made his debut last week and completed 11-of-21 passes for 161 yards. He led a community college team to a 13-0 mark last year. While Faulkner played OK, San Jose State fumbled six times and lost three. Stanford converted them all into touchdowns.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Faulkner’s inexperience should by a blessing for UCLA defenders, who had high praise for Houston quarterback Case Keenum. Experience is what sets Keenum apart, however, as the Houston QB is in his sixth year with the club.

2. UCLA had a five-game home season-opening winning streak snapped by nationally ranked Stanford last season 35-0.

3. UCLA has won 20 of its last 24 non-conference games at home.

PREDICTION: UCLA 32, San Jose State 20 - The Bruins are just not good enough to be a three-touchdown favorite against anyone right now, even a team that lost by 54 points to a fellow conference member.