Utah @ UCLA preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 12, 2011 ) UCLA 6, Utah 31

Two teams going in the same direction meet at the Rose Bowl on Saturday when UCLA hosts Utah. The Bruins have lost two of their last three since starting 3-0, including a 43-17 thrashing at California last week. After an upset of then-No. 25 Brigham Young on Sept. 15, the Utes have dropped two straight. They jumped to a 14-0 lead before losing to USC 38-28 on Oct. 4. Utah will face a potent offense for the second straight week as UCLA boasts running back Johnathan Franklin, who is seventh in the country with 800 yards. The Utes, though, counter with the No. 26 defense against the run (114.8 yards per game).

TV: 3 p.m. ET, Fox. LINE: UCLA -8

ABOUT UTAH (2-3, 0-2 Pac-12): The Utes are struggling on offense, ranked 114th among the 120 FBS teams with 299.4 yards per game, and it starts at quarterback. Senior Jon Hays has made 12 starts (7-5), but has yet to throw for more than 200 yards, which won't fly in the pass-happy Pac-12. Hays, though, has completed 59.0 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and two interceptions. Senior John White, who rushed for 1,519 yards and scored 17 touchdowns (15 rushing) last season, has only 301 yards with one touchdown. The Utes have won all nine games when White rushes for 100 yards.

ABOUT UCLA (4-2, 1-2): Bruins redshirt freshman quarterback Brett Hundley had the worst game of his brief career with four interceptions against Cal after throwing only three in his previous five games. UCLA also lost two fumbles. The defense, which is 78th in the country at 411.7 yards allowed per game, yielded 481 against Cal, two weeks after Oregon State tore through it for 501 yards. The Bruins, though, lead the Pac-12 with 22 sacks and linebacker Anthony Barr is fourth with seven. Barr is also tied for third in the Pac-12 with 10 tackles for loss. Franklin rushed for 103 yards last week as UCLA fell to 11-4 in games when he runs for more than 100.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Utah has outscored opponents 34-3 in the third quarter.

2. Franklin has 3,468 yards rushing and is 264 away from breaking Gaston Green's school record of 3,731 set in 1987.

3. UCLA leads the series 8-2, and is 5-0 at home. Utah, though, has won the last two, including a 31-6 victory in the snow in Salt Lake City last season.

PREDICTION: UCLA 31, Utah 24