Fresno State Bulldogs vs. UCLA Bruins

[The General]

The fans at Rose Bowl will be treated to a game between the Fresno State Bulldogs and the UCLA Bruins when they take their seats on Saturday.

Oddsmakers currently have the Bulldogs listed as 7-point favorites versus the Bruins, while the game's total is sitting at 47.

Tom Brandstater threw four TD passes and ran for another as Fresno State defeated Toledo 55-54 in double overtime in Week 4, as 6.5-point favorites on the road. The combined 109 points sailed OVER the posted total of 52.

Brandstater completed 22-of-28 pass attempts for 240 yards in the win.

Korey Bosworth scored the only touchdown for UCLA when he returned a fumble in the first half in a 31-10 loss to Arizona in Week 4.

The Bruins did not cover the 3.5-point spread, while the combined score played UNDER the day's posted total of 51.5.

Current streak:
UCLA has lost 2 straight games.


Team records:
Fresno State: 2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS
UCLA: 1-2 SU, 1-2 ATS


Fresno State most recently:
When playing in September are 4-6
When playing on grass are 6-4
After being outgained are 8-2
When playing outside the conference are 5-5

UCLA most recently:
When playing in September are 6-4
When playing on grass are 4-6
After being outgained are 2-8
When playing outside the conference are 4-6


A few trends to consider:
Fresno State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Fresno State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
UCLA is 18-5 SU in its last 23 games at home
UCLA is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games


Next up:
Fresno State home to Hawaii, Saturday, October 4
UCLA home to Washington State, Saturday, October 4

[Micelli]

UCLA marketing for Saturday's game goes to the 'Dogs

By Brian Dohn, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 09/24/2008 11:59:49 PM PDT

UCLA's marketing department decided the Rose Bowl couldn't be filled with its own fans, so it took out an advertisement in the Fresno Bee newspaper and purchased radio spots in the Fresno area aimed at Fresno State supporters.

The Bruins host No. 24 Fresno State on Saturday. UCLA officials are expecting 70,000 fans, well below the Rose Bowl's listed capacity of 91,136.

Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel said he was not aware of the ads until he was asked about it after Wednesday's practice, and several players shook their heads in disbelief when the topic was broached.

"They were inviting Fresno fans to the game?" UCLA linebacker Reggie Carter said. "I guess they want as many people there as possible. I guess the more the better. Hey, bring whoever you want. I'm going to play the same regardless."

In addition to the radio ads, the quarter-page newspaper ad stated "Fresno State vs. UCLA," with the words "So you can say 'I was there'" below it. There was also a picture of the Rose Bowl.

UCLA assistant athletic director of marketing Scott Mitchell said advertising in the Central San Joaquin Valley was a necessity because it is his job to fill the Rose Bowl. He added the campaign was targeted toward UCLA and Fresno State fans, but acknowledged "if we weren't playing Fresno State, we wouldn't run the ad."

However, sources said UCLA's original ad included a picture of Bulldogs quarterback Tom Brandstater, but his image was replaced after Fresno

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State officials complained the ad looked like it was purchased by their school.
Also, the radio ad begins "Bulldog fans. Don't miss your chance to see history. The Bulldogs are ranked in the Top 25 and heading south this weekend looking for their first-ever win at the Rose Bowl against the Bruins of UCLA."

It is the latest curiousity surrounding UCLA's marketing department.

In August, ads in several Southern California newspapers had a picture of Neuheisel, accompanied by the words "The college football monopoly in Los Angeles is over" a clear reference to USC's dominance. The Trojans are ranked No. 1 in the nation, UCLA is 1-2 and was outscored 90-10 in its past two games.

After UCLA's season-opening upset of Tennessee, ads ran that stated "bandwagon seats still available."

UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero was not made available for comment.

"We'd prefer that UCLA fans attend en masse and we were selling out and that would be the best way, but it isn't," Mitchell said. "We've got availability and we need to let people know there still are tickets available."

Paul Ladwig, Fresno State's associate athletic director of broadcast and external relations, said the school sold its allotment of 9,600 tickets, and also gave out 400 complimentary tickets, which completes its contractual obligation. Fresno State receives $450,000 for the game, but is not required to sell more tickets.

Mitchell and Ladwig said the ads were purchased after Fresno State balked at UCLA's request to sell more tickets.

"It is not our job to sell the tickets to someone else's home game," Ladwig said. "We don't get any money from it. Selling UCLA tickets does not make Fresno State any additional dollars. We're thrilled and tickled they want to sell more tickets to fans wearing red at the Rose Bowl."

Neuheisel, as he did when the other ads appeared without his prior knowledge, took the high road.

"No, I don't worry about it," Neuheisel said. "Let's get more folks in the Rose Bowl. We've got a lot of UCLA people that live in the (Central) Valley. I've had four fraternity brothers from that area call me for tickets. I don't worry about that at all."

[Dirty]

Good Stuff Micelli

[pvcpipe]

it's a good article. but it isn't like UCLA is going to ever sell 91k seats. they just aren't good enough. their players and coaches shouldn't be surprised that they needed to reach out to put some asses in the seats. it's the pac10, for crying out loud. 91k is SEC numbers.

[Dirty]

UCLA has only scored 3 points in its last 22 drives