Fearless Forecast: UCLA vs. Northwestern
Northwestern is set to host UCLA at Martin Stadium on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Central time in a matchup of two teams looking to get their seasons on track.
The Wildcats (1-2, 0-1 Big Ten) are coming off a bye week looking for their first FBS win after two 20-point losses, to Tulane and Oregon, sandwiched a 42-7 romp over Western Illinois in their opening trio of games.
The Bruins (0-3, 0-0), on the other hand, are in desperation mode. Their 0-3 start cost former head coach DeShaun Foster his job; he was fired and defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe mutually parted ways with the program after UCLA’s loss to New Mexico on Sept. 12. Tim Skipper, who was appointed the interim head coach two days later, will make his debut at the helm in this game, on the heels of their own bye.
The Wildcats are the favorites in this game, spotting UCLA 6.5 points according to BetMGM. That’s a rarity for Northwestern, which has been favored in only one other Big Ten game over the last two seasons under head coach David Braun: against one-win Purdue in 2024.
Can Braun and the Wildcats take care of the Bruins and get their record back to even before Homecoming? Or will UCLA pull off the upset and turn up the temperature in Evanston?
WildcatReport’s staff weighs in with our picks.
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Matt Shelton (2-1)
Even if UCLA’s new defense can throw a curveball at Northwestern in the passing game, the Wildcats should be able to set the tone on the ground. Northwestern ran for 178 yards on Oregon, and UCLA is no Oregon. Even extracting Dashun Reeder‘s 79 yard touchdown, Joseph Himon II and Caleb Komolafe combined for four yards per carry on 28 rushes. Coming out firing from a bye week, the Wildcat offensive line should be able to set the tone against a team that allowed 298 rushing yards to New Mexico in their last outing, even if quarterback Preston Stone continues to struggle.
Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava does have dual-threat potential, which has been a thorn in the side of Northwestern’s defenses lately. But he also carries a 3:3 TD:INT ratio through the first three games this season. If the Wildcats can keep Iamaleava in front of them, stay patient on defense and grind it out on offense, I think they can handle this game smoothly.
Prediction: Northwestern 24, UCLA 14
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Louie Vaccher (2-1)
Northwestern has to win the game on Saturday against UCLA. Period. If they want to have a shot at a successful season, it’s one they simply have to have. They are playing at home against a winless team that just fired their coach. The Wildcats are even favored — which, as any NU fan will tell you, is something to be avoided.
UCLA has looked as bad as any team in the nation through the first three weeks. Their defense can’t get off the field (they rank 133rd in stopping third downs) and their offense can’t stay on it (they rank 132nd in third-down conversions). The Cats have a far superior defense and should control both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Like any other Northwestern handicapper, I typically hedge my bets when the Wildcats are favored. But not this time. Even if the Bruins get the expected bump from the coaching change, I think the Wildcats’ running game will pound a defense that allowed 298 rushing yards to New Mexico two weeks ago. If NU takes care of the football, they will roll.
Prediction: Northwestern 30, UCLA 17
