Bruins  16    Cardinal  24

U-C-L-A (3-0) at Stanford (3-1)

Sports Network | September 30, 2009

FACTS & STATS: Site: Stanford Stadium (85,500) -- Stanford, California. Television: ABC. Home Record: UCLA 2-0, Stanford 2-0. Away Record: UCLA 1-0, Stanford 1-1. Neutral Record: UCLA 0-0, Stanford 0-0. Conference Record: UCLA 0-0, Stanford 2-0. Series Record: UCLA leads, 45-31-3.

GAME NOTES: The UCLA Bruins will attempt to remain unbeaten this weekend as they take on the Stanford Cardinal in what figures to be a highly competitive Pac-10 Conference tilt.

UCLA has won its first three games to open a season for the first time since 2005. The Bruins, who are the only undefeated team in the conference, have beaten San Diego State, Tennessee and Kansas State in succession, and they have had two weeks to prepare for this clash. This contest marks the Pac-10 opener for UCLA, while Stanford has already played a pair of league tilts.

The Cardinal sit alone atop the conference standings with a 2-0 mark, and the most recent victory occurred last weekend by a 34-14 final over a Washington club that had recently beaten USC. The lone loss to date for Stanford came against Wake Forest on the road.

UCLA owns a 45-31-3 series lead over Stanford, which includes victories in each of the last five meetings.

UCLA, which is scoring 25.0 ppg, has been far from explosive on offense, as the team is averaging a mere 301.0 total ypg. The Bruins are gaining a modest 3.7 yards per rushing attempt, and they have scored half of their six offensive touchdowns on the ground. Johnathan Franklin is the leading ball- carrier for the Bruins, as he has rushed for 242 yards to go with a pair of scores. At quarterback, Kevin Prince was playing fairly well under center through the first game-and-a-half, but a jaw injury will keep him sidelined for few weeks. Kevin Craft is a capable backup who has completed 54.2 percent of his passes with one score and one interception this season. Terrence Austin leads the receivers with nine catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns. In the team's most recent victory, a 23-9 decision over Kansas State, UCLA racked up 359 total yards and a pair of offensive touchdowns. Craft started under center and completed 13-of-24 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown. As for Franklin, he rushed for 119 yards and a score.

Without question, the strength of the UCLA team to date has been its defense, as the club is only yielding 12.7 ppg and 251.0 total ypg. Opponents are rushing for only 74.3 ppg against the Bruins, who are giving up a meager 2.3 yards per rushing attempt. The pass defense has been tremendous as well, as foes are completing fewer than half of their passes against UCLA, which has intercepted eight passes in 12 quarters of football. Opponents are making good on just 27 percent of their third down conversion attempts against the swarming Bruins, who have nine sacks thus far. Rahim Moore has already posted five interceptions, staggering to say the least. UCLA limited Kansas State to 69 rushing yards on 37 attempts two weeks ago, and Alterraun Verner intercepted two passes. The Bruins registered six sacks and dominated the game defensively.

Stanford is scoring 33.0 ppg and 419.5 total ypg this season. proof that the offense has been quite potent through four outings. The ground attack has been sensational, accounting for 233.8 ypg on 5.9 ypc. Toby Gerhart doesn't receive much national attention, but it is hard to ignore the numbers posted by the hard-charging tailback thus far. Gerhart has rushed for 516 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 5.7 ypc. Andrew Luck is the team's starting quarterback, and he is second in rushing with 136 yards. Luck has completed 60.2 percent of his passes for 742 yards and four touchdowns with only two interceptions. As for the receivers, Ryan Whalen has made 16 catches for 260 yards and two touchdowns, while Chris Owusu has recorded 13 grabs for 210 yards and two scores. Stanford racked up 424 yards en route to 34 points scored. The Cardinal had three offensive touchdowns, including a 60-yard gallop by Gerhart, who finished with a career-high 200 yards on the ground.

Opponents are scoring 17.0 ppg against Stanford, which is allowing 331.2 total ypg. The Cardinal have been tough against the run, yielding a mere 3.5 yards per attempt. As for the pass defense, there is some room for improvement as opposing quarterbacks are throwing for 212.2 ypg against Stanford. While the team has registered only five takeaways in four games, there have been 10 sacks notched by the defense. Clinton Snyder leads the squad with 30 tackles, and Thomas Keiser has seven TFLs, including four sacks. The fact that Stanford was able to hold Washington to 14 points last weekend was certainly impressive, and a closer look reveals that only one of the two Huskies' touchdowns was scored by the team's offense. Stanford yielded just 290 yards, as the defense continued its outstanding play.

The home team gets the nod in this tilt, as Stanford will find a away to get past UCLA. Expect Gerhart to carry the load as usual and add to his already impressive stats.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Stanford 34, UCLA 24

October 3rd, 3:30 p.m. (et)