UCLA vs. Arizona State: A matchup of ground games and turnovers

So much for those preseason predictions. Arizona State was picked to finished second in the Pac-12 South Division. UCLA was picked third. But as the Sun Devils come to the Rose Bowl on Saturday, it’s the seventh-ranked Bruins who look like the strongest contender. Times staff writer Chris Foster examines the game’s matchups and story lines:

They have issues

Both coaches, UCLA’s Jim Mora and Arizona State’s Todd Graham, had problems to work on this week.

For Mora, it was the Bruins’ inability to stop the run. UCLA missed 21 tackles and allowed 353 yards rushing in a 56-30 victory over Arizona.

The question remains whether the Bruins have the manpower available to thwart a strong ground game. Linebacker Myles Jack (knee), defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes (knee) and cornerback Fabian Moreau (foot) are lost for the season. Linebacker Jayon Brown (back) is questionable this week; he replaced Jack in the starting lineup against Arizona.

For Graham, it was turnovers. The Sun Devils handed the ball over four times last in a 42-14 loss to USC, and the Trojans scored touchdowns after each of them.

“We’re playing in a great league,” Graham said. “You can’t turn the ball over four times. Every time that happens in this league, with any team, things can happen quickly to you.”

A year ago, Arizona State looked as if it was about to complete a drive for a go-ahead score when Ishmael Adams returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first half. UCLA won, 62-27.

Getting blitzed

Graham loves to bring pressure, and UCLA had trouble protecting its quarterback the last three seasons. But so much has changed for both programs.

Arizona State has nine sacks in four games, but seems far less formidable on defense, allowing 27.8 points per game. UCLA’s offensive line has come of age, allowing only two sacks in four games.

The Sun Devils can be expected to throw different looks and blitzes at Josh Rosen, UCLA’s freshman quarterback. But who hasn’t? Virginia, Nevada Las Vegas, Brigham Young and Arizona all took turns trying to confuse Rosen.

“They are going to come after him, but we’ve had that a lot already this year,” Coach Jim Mora said. “With a freshman quarterback, we have seen pressure every week.”

Ground control

UCLA’s offensive line has paved the way to a strong running game. The Bruins average 233.8 yards rushing per game, ranking 22nd nationally. Paul Perkins is 10th nationally with 525 yards rushing.

Arizona State is allowing 180.5 rushing yards per game — having played half their games against Cal Poly and New Mexico.

Cal Poly nearly upset Arizona State by gaining 284 yards rushing. USC had only 76 yards rushing last week, but the Trojans had 379 yards passing. Quarterback Cody Kessler threw five touchdown passes.

Rosen is capable of inflicting similar damage if the Sun Devils load up to stop the run.

Pass or fail

The jury is still out on Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici. He did quality work while filling in for the injured Taylor Kelly last season. A year later, his performances have been uneven.

Bercovici passed for 488 yards against UCLA last season, but he also had two passes intercepted.

[email protected]