Darius Muasau and the Bruin defense have been outstanding so far this season. (Photo Credit: Don Liebig/uclabruins.com)
Today’s game is a tough one to predict. On one hand, NCCU is an FCS school. By definition, the Bruins should blow them out big. On the other, the Eagles are in the FCS Top 25. So, they have a good program. Not only that, but Chip Kelly has never really run up a score too much since he’s been in Westwood. Even last season when UCLA played FCS school Alabama State, Kelly took his foot off the gas and the final score was 44-7.
UCLA is a big 35-point favorite heading into this game. I’d feel a lot better if the spread was 28 or 29 than 35, given what I wrote above. I’d recommend either staying away from this game altogether or taking NCCU and the points because I don’t see Kelly pulling a Dan Lanning and running up the score. The Over/Under today is 60.5 and the same thing applies. So, if I were in Vegas, I’d probably find another game to pick rather than this one.
Let’s look at the game time weather forecast.
Game Time Weather Forecast
The weather will be pleasant for this afternoon’s game at the Rose Bowl. Expect it to be about 76° and sunny at kickoff. The temperature will increase slighty to about 77° around halftime before dipping back to the mid-70s by the end of the second half.
Listen to the Game With TMB!
Listen to today’s game online while chatting in the TMB game thread. Just right click on the link and open it in another tab so you can have it playing while you chat in the comments below. That way, you can listen to Josh Lewin, Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook call today’s game instead of J.B. Long and Max Browne on Pac-12 Networks.
Here’s how to watch, listen and stream today’s game.
Opponent: North Carolina Central Eagles (2-0)
Series Record: First Meeting.
When: 2:00 pm PT, Saturday, September 16, 2023
Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Live TV: Pac-12 Networks Los Angeles with J.B. Long and Max Browne
Rebroadcast (All times PT): Saturday, 9/16 at 9:00 pm on Pac-12 Los Angeles
Sunday, 9/17 at 12:00 am on Pac-12 Los Angeles Sunday, 9/17 at 11:00 am on Pac-12 Los Angeles Monday, 9/18 at 9:00 am on Pac-12 Los Angeles Monday, 9/18 at 6:00 pm on Pac-12 Los Angeles (Pac-12 Football in 60) Monday, 9/18 at 9:00 pm on Pac-12 National (Pac-12 Football in 60) Monday, 9/18 at 9:00 pm on Pac-12 Los Angeles (Pac-12 Football in 60) Tuesday, 9/19 at 12:00 am on Pac-12 Los Angeles (Pac-12 Football in 60) Tuesday, 9/19 at 3:00 am on Pac-12 Los Angeles (Pac-12 Football in 60) Tuesday, 9/19 at 8:00 am on Pac-12 National (Pac-12 Football in 60) Tuesday, 9/19 at 8:00 am on Pac-12 Los Angeles (Pac-12 Football in 60) Tuesday, 9/19 at 6:00 pm on Pac-12 Los Angeles (Pac-12 Football in 60) Tuesday, 9/19 at 9:00 pm on Pac-12 Los Angeles (Pac-12 Football in 60) Wednesday, 9/20 at 12:00 am on Pac-12 Los Angeles (Pac-12 Football in 60)
Wednesday, 9/20 at 9:00 am on Pac-12 Los Angeles Wednesday, 9/20 at 6:00 pm on Pac-12 National (Pac-12 Football in 60) Wednesday, 9/20 at 6:00 pm on Pac-12 Los Angeles (Pac-12 Football in 60) Wednesday, 9/20 at 9:00 pm on Pac-12 National (Pac-12 Football in 60) Wednesday, 9/20 at 11:00 pm on Pac-12 Los Angeles (Pac-12 Football in 60) Thursday, 9/21 at 10:00 am on Pac-12 Los Angeles
Thursday, 9/21 at 4:00 pm on Pac-12 National (Pac-12 Football in 60) Thursday, 9/21 at 5:00 pm on Pac-12 Los Angeles (Pac-12 Football in 60) Friday, 9/22 at 9:30 pm on Pac-12 Los Angeles (Pac-12 Football in 60) Saturday, 9/23 at 8:00 am on Pac-12 Los Angeles (Pac-12 Football in 60)
Go Bruins!!!
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I understand and appreciate the desire to avoid head injuries. But I've see plays where players got charge when they were blocked in bad tackling position. I don't know what to do. How do you score intent?
I wonder why we started Steele in this game as opposed to Harden. They have different skill sets, but definitely don't see one RB as better than the other.
Even though this is an FCS school for years we have played down to the level of a lesser opponent. This group is playing well and executing in all aspects of the game.
I want to see continued aggression and focus of our defense. I think 1) that's were we've let lesser opponents into the game, 2) it's been our weakness over the last few years, for sure, and 3) I think we are really good this year.
Yes, we have, Terry. Honestly I don't like stomping a much weaker team like NCCU. I never played but my son did, getting whupped was really demoralizing.
And you know what? I think we can play better. Weird, huh?
Yeah, it felt like we eased up in the 2nd qtr
We'll get the opportunity soon, harry.
And they just missed a huge holding call; lucky that the pass was incomplete
Hey, Tamara! Let's go!!
Good luck - just got the stream running here in Sydney, the Pac-12 app wasn’t working….
Nice!
Hi, Tamara! I used to teach at the U. Beautiful country. I miss the Fall on the Wasatch Front.
Next week is going to be a tough game
U (clap, clap, clap)
C (clap clap clap!)
L(clap, clap, clap!)
A(clap, clap, clap!)
U C L A Fight fight fight!
Wide left, so Georgia still down to So. Carolina, 7-3, three to go in the half :-)
touchdown So. Car.! Gonna go into halftime up 11 on Georgia! Sweet!
Good Morning all!
Howdy, Jethro, Happy Saturday!
Sunday here - but gonna be a great Saturday!
Perfect day at the Rose Bowl for football
Let's go, offense!
OMG you couldn't write a better opener than that!!
Where was safety on that??
Holy K-rap! Just like that Moore for a 67 yd TD!
Welll, that didn’t take long
Latu!!!
Oh, wow!
2 scores in less than 2 minutes! Can't believe it!!
Well, can't draw it up much better than this.
Pick and another TD! Take that Eagles!
I was hoping they’d put it away early, but didn’t expect this
I thought it would be over by half as well, but this is really accelerating things!
Depth chart should get lots of playing time today
Think some fans here will be happy to see more of Garbers and Schlee
Schlee yes
Did Pepsi just do a Bruins vs $UC commercial?
Yes, I noticed the parallels in the Dr Pepper commerical.
Thanks.
Well-played D on that 3rd down :-)
Nice tackle
Georgia just scored, so now 14-10, and they're still losing :-)
Welp... now Georgia up 17-14. bummer...
Great blocking on that last run
Great throw, great catch-- touchdown!!
Staying inbound, too. That was close!
There is a great connection between Moore and Sturdivant
Whoo-hoo! Another airborne TD!
Moore - Sturdivant is going to be deadly all year
DL dominating so far
This is pretty exemplary of the huge difference between FBS and FCS
D is fired up, too!
This is not even remotely targeting!!
So SPTRs will definitely call it -_-
Really don’t see targeting
I understand and appreciate the desire to avoid head injuries. But I've see plays where players got charge when they were blocked in bad tackling position. I don't know what to do. How do you score intent?
Hi all. Impressive start. Best part is they are xcuting on both sides and no mistakes.
Schlee!
Am calling 40 by end of quarter
Should have taken the under on that
Was about to ask I if we were going to see Schlee
Ahem.... I think we will win this game
Schlee showing off his running prowess
40% of our plays so far are touchdowns.
Man NCCU is just killing us in TOP. I really hope Dimitri's grade reflects that.
Talent in copious amounts. Haven’t seen this in years.
Well, again, it's against a FCS school, so that has to factor in
4TDs in the first quarter, 2 TDs in first 2 minutes. This game is over. Now let's make sure we have no injuries
Sub freely.
Yup!
make that 5 TDs
3 points per minute That’s more than the BB team!,
I think we're going to beat the spread. By halftime.
I'm truly surprised we have not seen much of Harden running the ball
As soon as Steele gets is hundred, Harden will be in....that might be by 2nd qtr
I wonder why we started Steele in this game as opposed to Harden. They have different skill sets, but definitely don't see one RB as better than the other.
Must be a Chip thing....I want to see kore Harden, but can't complain with Steele
I just disagree with the message it sends, is all... like how both performed this game.
Schlee on the keeper!
They looked like Eagles, pushing QB into the end zone!
only 33% of our plays were TDs on that drive. We are slipping.
Both Schlee and Steele are averaging 20yds/carry
5 TDs in the quarter against zip.
1st quarter
Thanks Gen2, it took me a few to realize it.
Even though this is an FCS school for years we have played down to the level of a lesser opponent. This group is playing well and executing in all aspects of the game.
I want to see continued aggression and focus of our defense. I think 1) that's were we've let lesser opponents into the game, 2) it's been our weakness over the last few years, for sure, and 3) I think we are really good this year.
Yes, we have, Terry. Honestly I don't like stomping a much weaker team like NCCU. I never played but my son did, getting whupped was really demoralizing.
Agree. Should sit all starters in 2nd half.
Yeah, but rather opposing side gets demoralized than our players
No problemo, these are still young people, and I'm a dad, I don't like them losing hope.
Announcer is coming dangerously close to talking shit about DTR -_-
Oh! Talking about Bruin alums we are definitely proud of, Joshua Kelley is starting for Chargers tomorrow :-)