Offenses expected to shine in Sun BowlScouts, Inc.
If you like touchdowns and big plays, the Vitalis Sun Bowl will be fun to watch. Northwestern and UCLA bring two of the nation's best offenses -- and worst defenses -- into the game.
Northwestern Offense vs. UCLA Defense
QB Brett Basanez runs Northwestern's spread offense with great efficiency. True freshman RB Tyrell Sutton balances out Basanez's passing and WRs Mark Philmore and Shaun Herbert are solid outside threats that Basanez can count on to make clutch receptions. Basanez is the clear leader of this offense, as well as college football's leading active passer. He is a dynamic collegiate quarterback that makes a ton of plays with his arm and his feet. Basanez, who has completed 64.6 percent of his passes and boasts an impressive 19/6 TD/INT ratio, has cut out many of the poor decisions that haunted him prior to this season. Sutton is a diminutive but explosive athlete who has benefited from the spread scheme. As a true freshman this season, Sutton has rushed for 1,390 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also chipping in with 329 yards and two touchdowns on 37 receptions.
Sutton will have the ball in his hands quite a bit in this game in an attempt to take some stress off of the Wildcats' porous defense. The good news for Northwestern, however, is that UCLA's defense ranks 115th in the nation against the run. UCLA does have two LBs worth watching in Spencer Havner and Justin London, both of whom should be playing on Sundays soon. But this matchup clearly favors the Wildcats, as Havner and London can only do so much to overcome one of the worst defensive lines in college football. In the end, controlling the clock and winning the time of possession battle will be paramount for Northwestern to upset the Bruins.
UCLA Offense vs. Northwestern Defense
Every D-I team in the country allowed fewer yards per game than Northwestern's dreadful defense, which surrendered 482.9 yards per contest. QB Drew Olson, RB Maurice Drew and John Mackey Award winning TE Marcedes Lewis will be licking their chops to play against this unit. Olson was outstanding this season (a ridiculous 31/3 TD/INT ratio). He makes excellent decisions and is a tireless worker. He's efficient underneath and also shows good accuracy on the deep ball. Olson is not blessed with great perimeter receivers, but Lewis is an elite pass-catching talent at the tight end position. He is tall with long arms and has tremendous body control and ball skills. With his blend of speed, route running, strength and overall length, he creates a mismatch against everyone that guards him, particularly in the red zone.
Drew is one of the top playmakers in the country and averages 165.3 all-purpose yards per game. He shows impressive speed and elusiveness in the open field, which makes him a huge threat when he gets the ball in space as a runner and receiver. The Wildcats will have their hands full with Drew and will need to get numerous tacklers around him to bottle him up. Although Northwestern's defense has been a sieve all season, they do have one guy that is really worth watching in ILB Tim McGarigle. McGarigle is a big-time leader and the consummate playmaker. He is an excellent tackler, who rarely takes false steps and takes very good angles to the ball carrier. As good as McGarigle is, he alone will not be enough to slow down the Bruins' high-powered attack.
Special Teams
UCLA PK Justin Medlock was arrested and charged with DUI in early December. Medlock is one of the top kickers in the Pac-10 and his status for this contest is still up in the air. One thing that UCLA can count on, though, is the explosiveness of Drew in the return game. Drew is extremely shifty with his low frame, can break arm tackles and has truly elite speed. Few individuals in college football are capable of changing a game as quickly as Drew, who handles most of the PR and KOR duties on top of his role as the Bruins' premier back on offense.
Northwestern has a decent return specialist of its own in Marquice Cole, but its kicking game is a mess. The Wildcats rank 99th nationally in net punting, which makes kicking to Drew a very bad idea.
Three Key Individual Matchups
1. UCLA TE Marcedes Lewis vs. Northwestern S Reggie McPherson
2. Northwestern RB Tyrell Sutton vs. UCLA LB Spencer Havner
3. UCLA RB Maurice Drew vs. Northwestern LB Tim McGarigle
Scouts' Edge
The No. 17 Bruins only have two losses, but both have come in their last three contests, including an embarrassing 69-16 drubbing at USC to finish off the regular season. The Wildcats have lost two of their last four, including a 48-7 blowout at Ohio State. So neither team enters this contest with very much confidence. One thing is for certain: Offense will reign supreme when two of the nation's 15-worst scoring defenses attempt to slow down two of the nation's most explosive offensive attacks. UCLA has better all-around athletes in this game, but Northwestern is excited to be here. Expectations were not very high for the Wildcats, so playing in the Sun Bowl is a Super Bowl opportunity for Randy Walker's club. Much like last year when UCLA got upset by Wyoming in the Las Vegas Bowl, coach Karl Dorrell will have a difficult time getting his team up to play in this game.
Prediction: Northwestern 41, UCLA 38
If you like touchdowns and big plays, the Vitalis Sun Bowl will be fun to watch. Northwestern and UCLA bring two of the nation's best offenses -- and worst defenses -- into the game.
Northwestern Offense vs. UCLA Defense
QB Brett Basanez runs Northwestern's spread offense with great efficiency. True freshman RB Tyrell Sutton balances out Basanez's passing and WRs Mark Philmore and Shaun Herbert are solid outside threats that Basanez can count on to make clutch receptions. Basanez is the clear leader of this offense, as well as college football's leading active passer. He is a dynamic collegiate quarterback that makes a ton of plays with his arm and his feet. Basanez, who has completed 64.6 percent of his passes and boasts an impressive 19/6 TD/INT ratio, has cut out many of the poor decisions that haunted him prior to this season. Sutton is a diminutive but explosive athlete who has benefited from the spread scheme. As a true freshman this season, Sutton has rushed for 1,390 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also chipping in with 329 yards and two touchdowns on 37 receptions.
Sutton will have the ball in his hands quite a bit in this game in an attempt to take some stress off of the Wildcats' porous defense. The good news for Northwestern, however, is that UCLA's defense ranks 115th in the nation against the run. UCLA does have two LBs worth watching in Spencer Havner and Justin London, both of whom should be playing on Sundays soon. But this matchup clearly favors the Wildcats, as Havner and London can only do so much to overcome one of the worst defensive lines in college football. In the end, controlling the clock and winning the time of possession battle will be paramount for Northwestern to upset the Bruins.
UCLA Offense vs. Northwestern Defense
Every D-I team in the country allowed fewer yards per game than Northwestern's dreadful defense, which surrendered 482.9 yards per contest. QB Drew Olson, RB Maurice Drew and John Mackey Award winning TE Marcedes Lewis will be licking their chops to play against this unit. Olson was outstanding this season (a ridiculous 31/3 TD/INT ratio). He makes excellent decisions and is a tireless worker. He's efficient underneath and also shows good accuracy on the deep ball. Olson is not blessed with great perimeter receivers, but Lewis is an elite pass-catching talent at the tight end position. He is tall with long arms and has tremendous body control and ball skills. With his blend of speed, route running, strength and overall length, he creates a mismatch against everyone that guards him, particularly in the red zone.
Drew is one of the top playmakers in the country and averages 165.3 all-purpose yards per game. He shows impressive speed and elusiveness in the open field, which makes him a huge threat when he gets the ball in space as a runner and receiver. The Wildcats will have their hands full with Drew and will need to get numerous tacklers around him to bottle him up. Although Northwestern's defense has been a sieve all season, they do have one guy that is really worth watching in ILB Tim McGarigle. McGarigle is a big-time leader and the consummate playmaker. He is an excellent tackler, who rarely takes false steps and takes very good angles to the ball carrier. As good as McGarigle is, he alone will not be enough to slow down the Bruins' high-powered attack.
Special Teams
UCLA PK Justin Medlock was arrested and charged with DUI in early December. Medlock is one of the top kickers in the Pac-10 and his status for this contest is still up in the air. One thing that UCLA can count on, though, is the explosiveness of Drew in the return game. Drew is extremely shifty with his low frame, can break arm tackles and has truly elite speed. Few individuals in college football are capable of changing a game as quickly as Drew, who handles most of the PR and KOR duties on top of his role as the Bruins' premier back on offense.
Northwestern has a decent return specialist of its own in Marquice Cole, but its kicking game is a mess. The Wildcats rank 99th nationally in net punting, which makes kicking to Drew a very bad idea.
Three Key Individual Matchups
1. UCLA TE Marcedes Lewis vs. Northwestern S Reggie McPherson
2. Northwestern RB Tyrell Sutton vs. UCLA LB Spencer Havner
3. UCLA RB Maurice Drew vs. Northwestern LB Tim McGarigle
Scouts' Edge
The No. 17 Bruins only have two losses, but both have come in their last three contests, including an embarrassing 69-16 drubbing at USC to finish off the regular season. The Wildcats have lost two of their last four, including a 48-7 blowout at Ohio State. So neither team enters this contest with very much confidence. One thing is for certain: Offense will reign supreme when two of the nation's 15-worst scoring defenses attempt to slow down two of the nation's most explosive offensive attacks. UCLA has better all-around athletes in this game, but Northwestern is excited to be here. Expectations were not very high for the Wildcats, so playing in the Sun Bowl is a Super Bowl opportunity for Randy Walker's club. Much like last year when UCLA got upset by Wyoming in the Las Vegas Bowl, coach Karl Dorrell will have a difficult time getting his team up to play in this game.
Prediction: Northwestern 41, UCLA 38
