Records: UCLA (7-5, 4-5 Pac-12); Boise State (8-5, 6-2 Mountain West)
When: 4:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/radio: ABC/AM 570
Line: UCLA by 4
Notable injuries:
UCLA: QUESTIONABLE: QB Collin Schlee (upper body), RB Carson Steele (undisclosed); PROBABLE: WR Titus Mokiao-Atimalala (undisclosed), LB Ale Kaho (undisclosed).
Boise State: OUT: DE Demitri Washington (undisclosed), DL Tyler Wegis (undisclosed), LB Marco Notarainni (undisclosed); QUESTIONABLE: RB Kaden Dudley (undisclosed), RB Tyler Crowe (undisclosed), WR Chase Penry (undisclosed).
What’s at stake? UCLA has been invited to three straight bowl games, but has the chance to win its first bowl game since 2015 when it beat Kansas State in the Valero Alamo Bowl. The Bruins will also have the chance to bounce back from a 33-7 loss to California and end the 2023 season with a win. This game will also provide some new opportunities for some coaches and players due to coaches pursuing opportunities elsewhere and players entering the transfer portal.
Who’s better? The Bruins will bring an offense led by more experience than Boise State’s into Saturday’s game. Broncos quarterback Taylen Green entered the transfer portal when the end of the season came to a close and Maddux Madsen is out due to injury. Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson said true freshman CJ Tiller, out of Rancho Cucamonga High, is expected to start.
Matchup to watch: UCLA’s defense will be without multi-award-winning edge rusher Laiatu Latu, who has opted out of the bowl game, but still has many pieces that can cause problems for Boise State’s young quarterback. The Bruins have collected 41 sacks this season and held Cal to eight passing first downs in their last outing. They also have an effective rush defense that has allowed an average of 69.6 rushing yards per game this season.
UCLA wins if: The defense gave up 33 points in its last outing – the second-most points given up this season – but otherwise has an impressive résumé. The Bruins will have to show cohesion on offense, which might be complicated by running back Carson Steele’s potential absence. Behind Steele and TJ Harden, UCLA led the Pac-12 in rushing offense with 191.1 rushing yards per game.
Prediction: UCLA 26, Boise State 14. Defense will continue to be the foundation of winning for the Bruins, who will beat the Broncos for the second time in program history to end the season on a high note.
