UCLA-UNLV position-by-position breakdown

UCLA-UNLV POSITION-BY-POSITION BREAKDOWN

QUARTERBACK

Blake Decker looks as if he could be in for a strong season for UNLV, but UCLA's Josh Rosen is a special player who is on his way to becoming a face of college football.

Edge: UCLA

RUNNING BACK

UNLV's running game is improved, but starter Keith Whitely needs more help from the two freshmen. Rosen's performance against Virginia overshadowed a Bruins run game that gained 152 yards.

Edge: UCLA

WIDE RECEIVER

Led by Jordan Payton, the Bruins are loaded at this position. It's one of the few times this season UNLV will not get the edge in this category.

Edge: UCLA

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Bruins have at least three linemen who could get some sort of postseason recognition by the Pac-12 Conference. UNLV's line did a fairly good job of protecting Decker in the season opener at Northern Illinois, but was inconsistent in opening holes for the ground game.

Edge: UCLA

DEFENSIVE LINE

UNLV's front was aggressive and made some key plays early at Northern Illinois, but got worn down. UCLA suffered a major loss when Eddie Vanderdoes went down for the season with a knee injury, though Kenny Clark is a force inside.

Edge: UNLV

LINEBACKER

UCLA's Myles Jack is one of the Pac-12's top linebackers, and that unit helped keep Virginia's offense in check. The Rebels' Tau Lotulelei comes off a performance in which he made 2½ tackles for loss, including a sack.

Edge: UCLA

SECONDARY

UNLV's cornerbacks could be in for a difficult night against UCLA's talented wide receivers. The Bruins, with cornerback Fabian Moreau as their leader in the secondary, are much stronger in the back end.

Edge: UCLA

SPECIAL TEAMS

Nicolai Bornand made three field goals, including a 51-yarder, for the Rebels in the opener, and Logan Yunker averaged 43 yards per punt. The Rebels' cover teams could use some improvement, though, after giving up two kickoff returns of more than 30 yards. UCLA has experienced players, but the Bruins aren't quite as good in this category.

Edge: UNLV

INTANGIBLES

It's usually wise to give the advantage to the underdog, and UNLV is a substantial one at 30½ points. But this is a poised and veteran UCLA team that goes to Sam Boyd Stadium with tons of confidence. If the Bruins get up early on the Rebels, UNLV will have to fight the urge to lose confidence, which often has been a losing battle in past seasons.

Edge: UCLA

HANDICAPPER'S TAKE

Bruce Marshall (goldsheet.com): UCLA 48, UNLV 26. The UCLA stage is apparently not too big for touted true freshman quarterback Rosen, who evoked memories of Troy Aikman when passing for 351 yards and three touchdowns in his debut versus Virginia. Meanwhile, an encouraging debut for first-year coach Tony Sanchez in a competitive loss at Northern Illinois suggests that UNLV football might soon compete with Donny and Marie and other Strip acts for attention in Las Vegas. The Rebels, 30½-point underdogs tonight, still are outmanned versus quality competition, but gunslinger quarterback Decker gives them a chance to stay within a puffy price.