How UCLA matches up with Colorado, the Bruins’ host Thursday in Pac-12 football

UCLA (3-5) at Colorado (6-2) on Thursday at Folsom Field. TV: FS1, 6 p.m. PDT.

Times staff writer Ben Bolch analyzes Thursday’s game:

Most intriguing story line: This matchup involves a delightful duality for those tired of the same story lines from recent years: How low can UCLA go and how far can Colorado rise? One more loss for the Bruins would guarantee Coach Jim Mora the most defeats of any of his five seasons in Westwood. Meanwhile, the Buffaloes are bowl eligible for the first time since 2007 and could match their conference victory total from the previous five seasons combined with a win over the Bruins as they chase the Pac-12 South Division title.

UCLA pass offense vs. Colorado pass defense: Bruins backup quarterback Mike Fafaul has gone from pitiable to proficient to prolific in his three games filling in for the injured Josh Rosen, an encouraging trend considering it looks as if he’ll make a fourth consecutive appearance and third consecutive start. UCLA put the game in Fafaul’s hands against Utah on Oct. 22 and he nearly engineered an improbable victory, completing a school-record 40 passes for 464 yards and five touchdowns. The problem was his four interceptions and one fumble. Colorado safety Tedric Thompson is an expert in takeaways, having intercepted two passes last week during the Buffaloes’ 10-5 victory over Stanford.

EDGE: UCLA

UCLA run offense vs. Colorado run defense: The Bruins could qualify for a N/A in this category after calling only 10 running plays against Utah, though things could change against the Buffaloes. UCLA tailback Bolu Olorunfunmi said fellow ballcarriers Nate Starks and Soso Jamabo have made significant progress in their recovery from injuries and offensive coordinator Kennedy Polamalu has repeatedly emphasized the need for a better pass-run balance to help the quarterback. Of course, these developments could easily be negated by a Colorado run defense that just held Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey to 92 yards rushing and 4.4 yards per carry.

EDGE: Colorado

Colorado pass offense vs. UCLA pass defense: Buffaloes quarterback Sefo Liufau has fully recovered from the sprained right ankle that sidelined him for two games earlier this season. He’s an efficient game manager, having completed 67.4% of his passes for 1,179 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions. But Liufau will face a UCLA secondary that ranks No. 7 among 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in passing efficiency defense. And the Bruins just got deeper with the return of cornerback Nate Meadors after a groin injury forced him to miss three games.

EDGE: UCLA

Colorado run offense vs. UCLA run defense: Buffaloes tailback Phillip Lindsay is coming off a game in which he upstaged Stanford’s McCaffrey, rushing for 131 yards. Lindsay has more rushing yards this season (745) than UCLA does as a team (684). The Bruins were fairly formidable against the run until getting trampled for 360 yards by Utah, though players and coaches said that was largely a result of adjusting slowly to unscouted looks.

EDGE: Colorado

Special teams: Colorado missed three field goals against Stanford, briefly replacing third-string kicker Chris Graham with punter Alex Kinney. Graham redeemed himself with a 23-yard field goal but has made only four of seven attempts this season. UCLA also switched kickers against Utah, going from freshman J.J. Molson to freshman Andrew Strauch.

EDGE: UCLA

Ben Bolch’s pick: UCLA is 5-0 against Colorado since the Buffaloes joined the Pac-12, but nothing that happened before this season seems to matter now. Colorado is dreaming about the Rose Bowl while the Bruins are pondering a football-free December. Colorado 31, UCLA 24

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch