Beat writers’ game day predictions: UCLA v. Kansas State

Prior to each UCLA football game, the Daily Bruin football beat writers will predict the score and give a short reasoning behind their predictions.

To keep track of how far off each writer’s predictions are from reality, the “prediction differential” statistic shows the average difference between the writer’s predicted margin of victory and the actual margin of victory in each game.

Kevin Bowman’s prediction

UCLA: 31

Kansas State: 42

Prediction record: 9-3

Prediction differential: 14.4

On paper, not a lot separates the Bruins from the Wildcats. Both teams are 9-3, both finished third in their respective conferences, and their scoring averages both hover around the mid-30s.

Although Kansas State lost all three of its games against currently ranked opponents – UCLA went 3-2 – the Wildcats had convincing wins in the majority of their other games. The Bruins, however, struggled to find consistency all year and had few dominant performances.

When the two teams meet on Jan. 2 in San Antonio, Kansas State’s ability to overpower opponents will trump UCLA’s experience dealing with ranked teams.

Kansas State’s offensive attack is potent, running what defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich described as a quadruple option. Wildcat quarterback Jake Waters has also rushed for 471 yards and eight touchdowns this year, and the Bruins’ ability to contain mobile quarterbacks has been an issue all season.

The Bruins were playing their best football of the season before their demoralizing loss to Stanford on Nov. 28, and several players admitted Friday that they’re still hurting from that defeat. While the Alamo Bowl will be over a month after the Stanford game, UCLA may have trouble getting energized for the bowl, knowing it narrowly missed out on a chance to play Jan. 1 instead.

Jordan Lee’s prediction

UCLA: 31

Kansas State: 27

Prediction record: 10-2

Prediction differential: 14.7

Which Bruin squad will show up? UCLA was tight against Virginia and Memphis, resilient in defeating Texas, dominant versus Arizona State, underwhelming in losses to Utah and Oregon and victories over California and Colorado, but superlative in its three wins over Arizona, Washington and USC. And then, with everything to play for against Stanford, UCLA was flat, beaten and embarrassed.

So now that the Bruins have nothing they set out to play for – neither a spot in the College Football Playoff nor a Pac-12 title – how will they perform? With this being the final game in the UCLA careers of redshirt junior quarterback Brett Hundley and redshirt senior linebacker Eric Kendricks, one would assume the Bruins will show up and play for their offensive and defensive leaders.

No matter what incarnation of the Bruins appears on Jan. 2, the team figures to get a challenge from a tough Wildcats squad. Kansas State sports one of the stingiest defenses in the Big 12, allowing just 21.8 points per game, while senior quarterback Jake Waters leads a potent and versatile offensive attack.

With that being said, if UCLA comes out inspired like it should, expect the Bruins to take care of the Wildcats in what promises to be an entertaining bowl game. In his final time suiting up for UCLA, Hundley should prove the difference in securing the Bruins’ second consecutive 10-win season and another bowl victory.