SAN FRANCISCO ? UCLA (6-7) squares off against Illinois in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against Illinois (6-6) at AT&T Park Saturday afternoon.
Here's how the two teams matchup:
ILLINOIS VS. UCLA
Saturday, 12:30 p.m., ESPN
At AT&T Park, San Francisco
Line: Illinois by 3
Radio: KLAC/570
Records: UCLA 6-7; Illinois 6-6
Series: UCLA leads, 6-5
Last meeting: UCLA won, 35-17, in 2004
OFFENSE
UCLA tailbacks Johnathan Franklin and Derrick Coleman combined for more than 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground this season. Franklin's 6.0 yards per carry was fourth-best in a Pac-12 loaded with top caliber backs. Only four conference backs had more touchdowns than Coleman's 11. Bruin quarterback Kevin Prince is also a threat on the ground. He rushed for 163 yards in a 31-14 blow out of Cal. The Bruins, however, have struggled with the passing game. UCLA is No. 11 in the Pac-12 in passing offense (198.1 ypg). Illinois will be without both starting tailback Jason Ford (academics) and fullback Jay Prosch (staph infection). Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase has completed 63.6 percent of his passes despite playing behind an Illinois line that gave up 35 sacks. Only Ohio State (40) yielded more sacks in the Big Ten this season. EDGE: UCLA
DEFENSE
UCLA will be without middle linebacker Patrick Larimore, the team's leading tackler, and free safety Tony Dye. Larimore underwent thumb surgery earlier this month. Dye is academically ineligible. The Bruins have had tackling issues in the front seven and had been plagued by missed assignments in the secondary. UCLA sacked opposing quarterbacks only 13 times in the regular season. Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus should be the best player on the field Saturday. Mercilus leads the nation in sacks (14.5), sacks per game (1.21) and forced fumbles (9). His forced fumbles total is a Big Ten record and the second highest total in NCAA Football Bowl subdivision history. That's bad news for a UCLA team that coughed up a Pac-12 worst 16 fumbles this season. Illinois was second in the Big Ten in total defense, giving up 291.8 yards per game. EDGE: Illinois
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Illini have had a major problem with kick-offs on both sides of the ball. Illinois is last in the Big Ten in kickoff returns (16 ypa) and next-to-last in kick-off coverage (41.5). The Illini haven't fared any better on punts. Illinois is last in the conference in punt returns (2.0 ypa) and punter Justin DuVernois was No. 12 in the league, averaging 38.3 ypa. UCLA has also struggled with returning punts, averaging 4.3 ypa. Jeff Locke is one of the nation's top punters. EDGE: UCLA
COACHING
This will be the battle of the interim coaches. Illini defensive coordinator Vic Koenning replaces Ron Zook. UCLA offensive coordinator Mike Johnson takes over for Rick Neuheisel. Koenning has head coaching experience, running the Wyoming program for three years. Johnson has spent much of his coaching career in the NFL with stops at San Diego, Atlanta, Baltimore and San Francisco. EDGE: Illinois
INTANGIBLES
Both teams have had to deal with the distraction of fired coaches, the ensuing coaching searches and then having a new coach on campus. The Illini seem to have done a better job of refocusing. UCLA's focus and commitment have been questioned following a series of controversies in Westwood after the Bruins lost the Pac-12 title game to Oregon Dec. 2. EDGE: Illinois
MATCH UP TO WATCH
Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus vs. the UCLA offensive line: An already thin UCLA offensive line will be without starting strong side guard Alberto Cid, who is academically ineligible. Even with Cid, the Bruins would have their hands full with Mercilus. Protecting Bruin quarterback Kevin Prince is especially imperative with Richard Brehaut suspended for breaking team rules. Brehaut's suspension leaves junior Nick Crissman as Prince's back-up. Crissman's only game experience this season came in the closing minutes of a 45-6 romp against Colorado. EDGE: Illinois
PREDICTION: Illinois 23, UCLA 17 (OT)
Between Illinois' absences on offense and UCLA's inability to generate offense against Mercilus and company this game should live up to its advance billing as the worst bowl game ever.
SCOTT M. REID/The Register
ucla bruins matt barkley lane kiffin robert woods rich neuheisel marc tyler datone jones
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