The Arizona Wildcats and UCLA Bruins often have basketball games that bring a ton of hype on a national level.
But on Saturday, football will take center stage in Tucson as a pair of unbeaten teams – the No. 9 Bruins and No. 16 Wildcats – will play in front of a national audience on at 5 p.m. on ABC15. It’s a matchup so big that ESPN College GameDay will be in town.
Can the Wildcats knock off the Bruins? The answer to that question could depend on whether 2014 consensus All-American linebacker Scooby Wright III is able to return to the field, according to Mike Golic, co-host of ESPN’s Mike & Mike show.
See also: Mike & Mike's picks for ASU vs. USC
“I’m telling you, if you can get Scooby Wright back … it’s very difficult to think he’s going to be close to a hundred percent, but just having him on the field is huge,” Golic said.
Wright suffered a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee during Arizona’s opening-week game against UTSA. Coach Rich Rodriguez is hopeful that the junior will be able to return to the field Saturday.
“So yes, with him on the field, I certainly give Arizona that chance,” Golic said. “A lot of people love UCLA. That usually means Arizona comes in and upsets them.”
But Golic’s co-host, Mike Greenberg, isn’t as optimistic about Arizona’s chances against a team he considers the cream of the Pac-12 crop.
“I like UCLA in a close game,” he said. “I think UCLA is the only school left that I can think of realistically that I could see being unbeaten.
“I don’t think anyone will be, but I think they’re the best team in the conference. It’s close, but I think they’re the best team.”
