According to Chip Kelly, both Zach Charbonnet and Dorian Thompson-Robinson will play for the Bruins in today’s Sun Bowl game. (Photo Credit: Ross Turteltaub/uclabruins.com)
This afternoon, the UCLA Bruins will look for its first ten-win season since 2014 while Chip Kelly looks to get his record in Westwood after five seasons to .500.
The Bruins are a 6.5-point favorite today and the over/under is set at just 53. Six and a half points seems like to pretty low spread considering that the Pitt defense has lost almost half of their starters before this game. In fact, UCLA may be able to cover the over on their own.
The Bruin defense will be led once again by defensive coordinator Bill McGovern, following an illness which saw Clancy Pendergast bumble his way through the second half of the season.
I expect the Bruin defense to continue to improve compared to their play during McGovern’s absence.
As long as the Bruins truly do have all of their personnel for this game, look for one of UCLA’s biggest wins of the season, points-wise.
Let’s look at the game time weather forecast.
Game Time Weather Forecast
It will be cloudy and cool for today’s 89th Annual Sun Bowl. Expect it to be about 56° for kickoff. The temperature will increase a few degrees to about 58° at halftime and continue to climb into the upper 50s by the end of the game.
While it will likely be cloudy all game, it does not appear that there will be much of a chance of rain after the early morning hours. There will be a moderate westerly breeze blowing consistently throughout the game which could affect both the passing and kicking games.
Listen to the Game With TMB!
TuneIn.com now has UCLA’s football games listed as “premium” content. So, rather than using TuneIn, you can just listen through the official website like we have done with the small sports for a long time in order to listen to Josh Lewin, Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook call today’s game instead of Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson on CBS. Just be sure to right-click on it so that you can open up another tab and have it going while you chat in the comments below. Listen to today’s game online.
In the meantime, here’s how to watch, listen and stream tonight’s game.
89th Annual Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Teams: #18 UCLA Bruins (9-3) vs. Pitt Panthers (8-4)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 9-5
When: 11:00 am PT, Friday, December 30, 2022
Where: Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX
TV: CBS with Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and Jenny Dell
Thanks again for supporting The Mighty Bruin. Your paid subscriptions make this site possible. Questions, comments, story ideas, angry missives and more can be sent to to @TheMightyBruin on Twitter.
Thanks, I had to rush into town for a few more things we needed, I went yesterday and hope I don't have to go tomorrow! My eating machine is here (Dan), it's hard to keep up. Jess is here, too, but working today.
U
C clap, clap!
L clap, clap!
A clap clap!
UCLA Fight Fight Fight!
clap clap!
Ben Bolch reporting Charbonnet is not suited up.
What?
Keegan Jones taking reps w/DTR in warmups.....hope Ben is wrong
Bummer if true, but I respect his decision if he chooses not to play.
Yes....def a bummer since I believe Chip just said this week there was no one declining to play
That puts a lot more pressure on DTR and the passing game today.
Delay on on their opening play? lol
Wow, guess our D didn't know the QB was a runner!
Apparently not
Shocking. /s
Note the pirate flag on Chip's visor. Nice tribute to Mike Leach.
Nice eyes!
I always respected Mike Leach, especially when he called out the change of penalty and PAC 12 interference, paving the wave for USC
Why wasn't our D guarding the line to gain on their last first down? Had we been up a bit, that never would have been a first
D is still a mess
Like a Jelly of the Month Club....the gift that keeps giving the whole year.
LOL but ugh at the same time
Dammit a pick woulda been yuge there!
Good 3rd down stand to prevent the score by our D. Dodged a bullet.
Great tackle by Blaylock
Nice tackle by Blaylock but they sure moved the ball on us easily.
Largely the 42yrd run by QB on the keep. Now our D is aware he is mobile, and had better adjust accordingly. Besides that one play, our D was okay.
Weird break down on D on that play. There was someone on D who ran across the field totally ignoring the qb
Ugh
Great run negated by a hold; where have we seen that before?
Hold on Bobo; I was thinking O line. Hopefully, O line will play penalty-free.
Big play by Keegan right off the bat. Nice!
Or not. smdh
Drive kept alive by DTR!
Beautiful pass by DTR, right in the hands of our receiver :-)
Nice!!
Cam Brown with the beautiful catch!
Charbonet not playing?
Sitting this one out.
Nice pass!
DTR!!!
Touchdown.....Loya!
TD, but unsportsmanlike conduct on DTR (announcers reference a pre-game scuffle involving him?). One more and he's out!
Yup. A bit worrying since he can be very emotional.
Exactly.
That head-butt was totally uncalled for -_-
jfc, refs. Get over yourselves.
Refs not enjoying DTR's extra curriculars
DTR being stupid....5th yr should know better
Indeed.
Hell, neither am I!
Really dumb and unnecessary
DTR needs to stop the antics. Immature behavior for a five year senior.
Sounds like that was boiling over from some pregame scuffles. The announcers barely hinted at it in the pregame but sounds like it was bigger deal.
At least it shows he cares about a “meaningless” bowl game!
Someone better keep an eye on Sykes after that helmt-to-helmet tackle
Don't want to lose him. Scary tackle.
Good, they're evaluating him for a concussion.
His day should be done....he did not look good
Definitely dazed
Yeah, he stung himself pretty good. Time to sit.
What a fucking horrible spot
This game is stressing me out for so many reasons
And it just started!!
I know! Not sure I will make it!
Definitely short - let’s hope the correct it
Good thing it's under review. He was down and then extended the ball.
Geez the refs gave him an extra yard. Ridiculous. This should get overturned
Let's go, D!!
Oh you gotta be kidding me with that play!
Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good
Sometimes you just have to shake your head and move on
That's still not marked right. The ball was on the 31 when his butt was down
Gotta love the accidental fumblerooskie
Fumble recovery and first down. I'm dying
Pitt coach is starting to grate on me
And their band is grating on me
Another reason UCLA has a negative luck rating.
That and our terrible D
True. Melsby was down!
^^ This!! ^^
We really need to learn to wrap up and tackle runners
Great penetration on that last drive; plus, Hammond came up limping
Hope he can come back; it'd be a shame for any player to miss a bowl game.
D has held them to only field goals so far, but we Bruins obviously know that kicking is winning LOL
Great one! I needed a laugh. Thank you!
Keegan Jones looking great so far :-)
Sure is. Have the announcers even mentioned Charbonnet's name at all? Him not playing is a big story.
Not once
They have mentioned how many opt outs Pitt has....multiple times
Right. Almost making apologies for them
Seems to be a group ig a-holes on Pitt.
What a throw and what a catch!! 0.0
Woo hooo! I didn't miss much. Good afternoon, Mighty Bruins!
Hey, Jim!
Good afternoon, BB!
Welcome!
Welcome to the party!
Thanks, I had to rush into town for a few more things we needed, I went yesterday and hope I don't have to go tomorrow! My eating machine is here (Dan), it's hard to keep up. Jess is here, too, but working today.
Totally get it! First wave of family left on Monday. My sister and her husband are arriving today.
You missed Bruin football...unnerving defense but some big plays on offense. lol
Totally accurate!
Happy New Year, Gregg! I'll take the offense!
so their player should be ejected for targeting; he led with his helmet.
Meh. I don't really think that was targeting. That didn't look like an intentional blow with the helmet.
Refs agree
I realize that intentionality has nothing to do with it. But football is a fast and violent game. People hit each other every play.
Our household agrees
Good afternoon, Bruin Mama, Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Doctor! All the best to you and your family!
I agree, I understand the safety concerns But both players were off balance when the collision occurred. It happens too often.
wow, we were lucky DTR could jump on that fumble!
Center hiked it so fast to get offsides call.
Let’s punch it in
Just did :-)
Let's push it in
fify
It's looking a lil chippy out on the field (not the sidelines LOL)
The extracurricular before the game has put some fire into us
TD DTR!
Great offensive line push on that TD. Love that!!!
Bruins up 14-6 beginning of second quarter.
So no word on Charbs? Is he even suited up?
He didn't suit up.
Nothing on the broadcast, but there was a report he wasn’t suited up
https://twitter.com/ColinDeaverTV/status/1608891839414931458?s=20&t=7TH0t9nWK_ZFx1XD3hbxog
He is not....Ben Bolch reported he did not suit up about 30 minutes before the game
In comment below, Bolch tweeted that Zach was not suited up.
Well then thanks Charbs, one of my fav Bruin backs of all time.