UCLA-Rice matchup: Bruins could walk a fine line

For the third time in the last decade, a new coach will take UCLA into a season opener. Bruins fans hope that Jim Mora takes UCLA to national prominence, or at least beats USC. That journey begins Thursday. Times staff writer Chris Foster looks at the matchups and story lines for the Bruins’ game against Rice.

Safety first

Two of the most asked questions around Westwood the last five years:

Where’s the best place to eat?

Can UCLA’s offensive line block?

Neither seems to have a definitive answer.

The Bruins have managed enough holes to allow running back Johnathan Franklin to get within 1,062 yards of Gaston Green’s school record (3,731 yards). But inconsistency has been their only consistency, and quarterbacks have needed duck-and-cover game plans.

The Bruins’ line could include three freshmen — Simon Goines, Torian White and Jake Brendel. Add to that Xavier Su’a-Filo, who spent the last two years on a Mormon mission.

What helps is that the Owls are hardly known for beast-like defenses, and they have four defensive linemen injured, including one starter.

Where’s McGuffie?

Rice plans to put the ball in Sam McGuffie’s hands as much as possible.

McGuffie, a hybrid receiver/running back, transferred from Michigan. He had 883 yards rushing and 384 yards receiving for the Owls in 2011.

What could make him more effective are three skyscraper tight ends — Luke Willson (6 feet 5), Vance McDonald (6-5) and Taylor Cook (6-7). Look for two, or all three, to be on the field at the same time.

Mora hopes the Bruins’ speed in the secondary will trump the Owls’ physical presence.

Quarterback keepers?

A first chance for UCLA’s Brett Hundley.

Another chance for Rice’s Taylor McHargue.

Hundley could end the Bruins’ woes at quarterback, where injuries and inconsistency have become the norm. Hundley was clearly UCLA’s best quarterback in spring practice and reaffirmed that the first week of training camp. But he has wobbled since winning the job.

McHargue lost the starting job twice last season, the second time in Game 7 when he had two passes intercepted and lost a fumble in the first 11 plays against Tulsa.

Boot camp

NFL scouts might play close attention to this game … on fourth down.

The Owls’ Chris Boswell made 17 of 21 field-goal attempts last season, one from 54 yards. He hit the crossbar on a 60-yard attempt against Northwestern.

The Bruins’ Jeff Locke is among the best punters in the nation, if not the best. His 44.3 average over the last three years is impressive, his hang time even more so.

The spread

No one expects Rice to win this game. UCLA is a 16 1/2-point favorite and could build momentum for the Sept. 8 game against Nebraska.

The Owls have never beaten the Bruins, losing in all four meetings. But UCLA squeaked by, 26-16, in the Rose Bowl in 2006.

chris.foster@latimes.com

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