ESPN Pac-10 Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel and his Bruins tasted unexpected success against Tennessee -- "unexpected" at least from the perspective of outside observers -- and they want more. Now all they have to do is beat a second-consecutive ranked team, this time on the road.

	Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
	Next up for the Bruins defense: BYU's Max Hall, who passed for 3,848 yards last season.

It's a feast-famine matchup at No. 18 BYU.

Feast: BYU's dynamic offense featuring QB Max Hall and 243-pound running back Harvey Unga vs. UCLA's stout defense, which is led by tackles Brigham Harwell and Brian Price.

Famine: BYU's leaky defense, particularly a questionable secondary vs. UCLA's mix-and-match offensive line and green QB Kevin Craft.

Washington couldn't do anything to slow Hall and Unga last week in the Cougars 28-27 victory. Hall, who passed for 3,848 yards last year, completed 30 of 41 throws for 338 yards and three TDs, while Unga rushed for 136 yards on 23 carries. Hall's favorite target is tight end Dennis Pitta, who has 21 receptions in two games.

"[Hall] is a master of what they are trying to accomplish offensively," Neuheisel said.

Hall, however, won't be able to sit back in the pocket against the Bruins like he did against the Huskies, a fact he's probably fully aware of, considering the Cougars 12-game winning streak -- the longest current streak in the nation -- is mostly wedged between a pair of games with the Bruins.

UCLA beat the Cougars 27-17 in the Rose Bowl a year ago at home. Three games ago, the Cougars returned the favor when they slipped UCLA 17-16 in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Neuheisel called it a rubber match. And considering the bowl loss came after a short, game-winning field goal attempt was blocked, there's no reason for the Bruins to fear the Cougars, though it's clear there's plenty of respect.

"The good news is we're familiar," Neuheisel said. "The bad news is they're really good."

For the Bruins, the question is what kind of encore will they provide after the thrilling 27-24 overtime win over Tennessee?

Will reality set in, particularly the reality of three senior starters out with injuries -- RB Kahlil Bell, who is listed as doubtful, WR Marcus Everett and TE Logan Paulsen?

And who is QB Kevin Craft? Is he the four-interception mess he was in the first half against Tennessee? Or the cucumber-cool hurler who led the comeback over the Vols in the second half?

Are the Bruins, who are coming off a bye week, a one-hit wonder with their heads still in the clouds or are they refocused on earning a victory that will establish them -- again, unexpectedly -- as a legitimate Pac-10 contender?

"I think we're back to business," Neuheisel said. "It was fortunate we had that [bye] week because there was some residual walking in the clouds that we had to knock out of ourselves during last week's practices."

The fundamental UCLA plan hasn't changed, and likely won't the entire season. Play with the cards close to the vest on offense and hope the defense and special teams keep things close.

"Hopefully, we'll take a page out of what we did against Tennessee and take the game to the fourth quarter," Neuheisel said.