It's Penn State-UCLA week: Game time, spread, channel, streaming info, storylines, more

Penn State starts the October portion of its schedule this week. The Nittany Lions are headed on the road for the first time this season after playing their first three games at home. After losing a thrilling 30-24 double overtime contest to Oregon last Saturday, head coach James Franklin’s team will now face a program on the other side of the spectrum in every sense of the world when it takes on 0-4 UCLA. The Bruins remain winless after falling to Northwestern 17-14.

“How that game went, I’m proud of the guys for fighting and finishing,” UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper said. “We need to start a lot better in that first 30 minutes. We kind of spotted them some points and some plays. A lot of bonding and talking at halftime. Came out with a lot more fire and energy. We started making the plays, so the guys started believing in everything that we were talking about.

“We pitched a second-half shutout, and we got some drives going on offense, but I wish we would’ve played the first half better. I think that it would have been a different outcome.”

Our early preview gets you ready to start game week below.

Time and TV info

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. CBS will televise the game. Its top crew of Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color commentary), and Jenny Dell (sideline reporter) will be on the call.

What is the Penn State-UCLA point spread?

Penn State is favored by 25.5 points at BetMGM. The betting total over/under is 50.5 points.

Game week schedule for the Lions

Penn State head coach James Franklin will kick off game week with a news conference at Noon ET on Monday. He will speak from the media room at Beaver Stadium, and you’ll be able to watch it on the Blue-White Illustrated YouTube channel by 12:45 if you click here.

Tuesday wil bring with it some player interviews with reporters via Zoom. Wednesday will feature some, as well, before a practice viewing availability for the media, followed by Franklin and some players speaking in the evening. Thursday features an assistant coach media call and Franklin’s weekly radio show. Then, the talking is done until after the game.

As for UCLA, Skipper will speak with reporters on Monday and Wednesday this week. Bruins players talk on Tuesday. And, like Franklin, Skipper will appear on the UCLA Coaches Show on Thursday.

What’s up with the Bruins?

The Bruins are struggling mightily. They are winless and likely will end the season that way. Skipper will coach his second game as the interim following the firing of Deshaun Foster two weeks ago.

Star transfer Nico Iamaleava is the team’s quarterback. He is 81 of 124 on the year (65 percent) for 788 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. He is also the Bruins’ top rusher with 44 carries for 204 yards and a touchdown. No other UCLA rusher has a touchdown so far this season. The leading receiver is Kwazi Gilmer. He has 19 catches for 225 yards and a score. Safety Jonjon Vaughns is the leading tackler. He has 47 stops so far. UCLA has just five sacks on the year. The Bruins have yet to record an interception.

Weather report

Per Weather.com, a sunny day. is on tap. The latest forecast is as follows: “Mainly sunny. High 79F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.”

Early Penn State-UCLA storylines

–Can Penn State flush the loss to Oregon and not have a setback hangover early at UCLA? Bouncing back after ending up on the wrong side of the scoreboard has sometimes been a problem for the Lions.

–Will the offense function more consistently, and better, than it did over the first four weeks of the season? It must against this overmatched Bruins defense.

–Is UCLA going to put up any kind of a fight? Or, is it tapped out after losing for the fourth straight game and ready to roll over?

–What’s your top storyline to start the week? Tell us inside The Lions Den forum!