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FACTS & STATS: Site: Rose Bowl (91,500) -- Pasadena, California. Television: FSN. Home Record: KSU 1-0, UCLA 1-0. Away Record: KSU 0-1, UCLA 1-0. Neutral Record: KSU 0-0, UCLA 0-0. Conference Record: KSU 0-0, UCLA 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: Kansas State will make the head out west this weekend as the Wildcats take on the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl.

The Wildcats opened the 2009 campaign with a 21-17 victory over Massachusetts, but stumbled last week with a shocking, 17-15 setback to UL-Lafayette. Since 1989 the Wildcats have posted a 5-2 mark against the Pac-10, and that includes a five-game winning streak.

As for the Bruins, they pushed their ledger to 2-0 on the season with a thrilling, 19-15 victory over Tennessee last Saturday in Knoxville. UCLA opened the year with a much easier victory over San Diego State, defeating the Aztecs by a 33-14 margin. The Bruins have enjoyed success at home over the last six-plus seasons, posting a 28-11 ledger, and the team has won 18 of its last 22 non-conference home meetings.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.

The Wildcats have been inconsistent to begin the year, as the team is producing just 18.0 ppg. The majority of the success offensively has been on the ground, as the team is churning out 210.5 yards per matchup. Last Saturday the Wildcats racked up 377 total yards, including a healthy 196 rushing yards, but that led to only 15 points in the setback to UL-Lafayette. Daniel Thomas was outstanding in defeat, as the tailback rumbled for 136 yards and one score, giving him 240 yards on the year. Quarterback Carson Coffman added 50 rushing yards in the loss, but struggled throwing the ball, completing just 13-of-25 passes for 178 yards and one interception. In two games, the signal caller has completed just 51.9 percent of his throws for 360 yards and two scores, but has also tossed two interceptions.

The poor offensive play has overshadowed a solid effort put forth by the defensive unit, which has limited the opposition to just 17.0 ppg. Kansas State is holding teams to just 249.5 total yards per matchup, and that includes a mere 106.0 ypg rushing on 3.9 yards per attempt. Last Saturday the Wildcats held ULL to just 287 total yards, including just 102 rushing yards on 29 attempts. Despite the solid effort, Kansas State fell just short of a victory. The defense forced three turnovers in the matchup, but did not record a sack and allowed the Ragin' Cajuns to convert on 7-of-15 third down chances. Tysyn Hartman led the team in the setback with 6.5 tackles and a forced fumble, and now has a team-best 13 stops on the year to go along with two interceptions.

The Bruins are only producing 272.5 total yards per matchup on the season, but that has not stopped this team from averaging a respectable 26.0 ppg. The team has not been overly impressive with its ground game, or aerial assault, but has still found ways to get on the scoreboard. Quarterback Kevin Prince, has completed 55.8 percent of his throws, but the redshirt freshman suffered a fractured jaw against Tennessee last weekend and will miss the next few games. Before going down with the injury, Prince completed 11-of-23 passes for 101 yards and one score. The entire offense was bottled up by the Vols, as the Bruins racked up a meager 186 total yards. Johnathan Franklin did the majority of the work out of the backfield, as the tailback rushed for 80 yards on 17 totes, giving him 123 yards and one touchdown on the season.

A big reason for UCLA's success is due to the team's outstanding efforts defensively, with the Bruins limiting opponents to just 14.5 ppg. The unit has done a terrific job against the run, holding teams to just 77.0 yards per matchup on a mere 2.5 yards per attempt. The defense's performance against Tennessee was the main reason for the victory, as the Bruins held the Vols to just 15 points. UCLA limited Tennessee to just 208 yards, including a mere 115 yards on 2.6 yards per carry. The Bruins made plenty of big plays in the victory, forcing four turnovers, while also recording three sacks. Reggie Carter was all over the field, as the linebacker recorded 14 tackles and one TFL. Carter is now pacing the team with 20 tackles, while Brian Price has racked up five TFLs and two sacks.

The Wildcats have suffered through some poor play offensively, and now will have to battle a tough, ferocious UCLA defense on the road. Look for UCLA to continue its success with a win over KSU.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: UCLA 24, Kansas State 10