PLAYERS TO WATCH
–WR Demetric Felton factored into the game plan prominently in each of the past two games — as a third pass-catching option in concert with WR Theo Howard and TE Caleb Wilson, and as a ball-carrier vs. Arizona.
–TE Caleb Wilson has been more than a security blanket for the UCLA passing offense, matching WR Theo Howard with a team-high 34 receptions. Wilson is also the most effective big-play threat at 14.1 yards per catch. The Bruins can take advantage of Wilson’s long-play ability against an Oregon defense that has given up eight pass plays of 30 yards or more this season, 102nd worst in the nation.
–LB Tyree Thompson played his best game of the season last week. Stepping in for injured Krys Barnes, who has been UCLA’s leading run-stopping defender much of 2018, Thompson delivered 11 tackles vs. Utah.
–S Quentin Lake intercepted a pass for the second consecutive week. Lake has found a prominent role in the UCLA secondary and helped key the Bruins’ Pac-12-leading turnover-generating defense.
SERIES HISTORY: UCLA leads the all-time series with Oregon, 40-28, but is just 3-11 since 2000. The Bruins’ 31-14 win last season at the Rose Bowl ended a six-game skid against the Ducks.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Guys were making plays and we felt good about everything. We went into halftime with it being a game. But it just kind of felt like one play after another, it just didn’t really feel like our night. Sometimes in sports, that is how it goes.” — QB Wilton Speight on UCLA being outscored 24-3 in the second half vs. Utah on Oct. 26.
