UCLA Football Preseason Predictions: Nevada Wolf Pack
By Rick Timmons
UCLA Bruins QB Brett Hundley, Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
UCLA takes on Nevada in its 2013 season opener at the Rose Bowl, with kickoff scheduled for 7 PM PST on August 31. A little background should put the breakdown in perspective, so I’ll save you the time of looking this stuff up yourself. The Bruins—favored in the game by two touchdowns—are going to get their first shot to show off some new and improved talents. For the Wolf Pack, it’ll be a test of grit, and an opportunity to catch some eyes across the nation.
UCLA is ranked No. 21 in the nation in the Coaches’ Poll, but that’s only a preseason ranking. The dreaded Southern Cal Trojans showed us last year just how easy it is to underwhelm, as they fell from preseason No. 1 to a 7-6 record and no national ranking. For the Bruins, the 2013 season brings real expectations, so they’ll look to avoid crumbling in the limelight. Nevada will be the first test.
The unranked Wolf Pack won’t be a Week 1 cupcake like Rice was. Last year they fought their way to a bowl appearance—a narrow defeat to Arizona in the New Mexico Bowl—with a regular season that included a beat down of Cal. Nevada is a run-strong team, and that’s in the Bruins’ favor as they introduce a plethora of young players in the secondary. The UCLA offense should be able to move the ball, putting the impetus on the Wolf Pack to keep up. All background aside, how is it going to play out?
Nevada Wolf Pack quarterback Cody Fajardo, Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Best Case Scenario: The Bruins show promise in their opening game of the season with outstanding performances from redshirt sophomore QB Brett Hundley, linebacker Anthony Barr and a committee of runners in the backfield. Incoming freshmen in the secondary show hope deep, shutting down Nevada’s passing game and QB Cody Fajardo to announce themselves to the world of college football. Linemen step up both offensively and defensively behind the leadership of team captain Xavier Su’a-Filo. Recording five sacks, two interceptions and providing ample time in the pocket for Brett Hundley, UCLA rolls to an easy (but hard-worked) victory by a score of 41-14. The Bruins’ excitement for the second season under head coach Jim Mora grows.
Worst Case Scenario: The Bruins get off to a fast start, but get a little too comfortable with a healthy halftime lead. In the second frame, Nevada runs all over the unsuspecting Bruins and smokes the secondary in a 14-point comeback effort that ends, 31-24, favoring the Wolf Pack. Do I really see this happening? No. Mora and his outstanding assistant coaches won’t allow the Bruins to slip up. San Bernardino camp, training with Navy SEALs and hard work on and off the field will be the difference maker for UCLA. Nonetheless, UNR will be looking to exploit the lack of depth in the Bruins’ secondary and the loss of all-time leading rusher Johnathan Franklin to make the“Worst Case Scenario” a reality.
Most Likely Outcome: The Bruins play well, but don’t show their “A game.” But who really expected that? It’s the first game of the season and there is room for error. UCLA shows flashes of brilliance, but has its weaknesses brought to light by a tough Nevada squad. As the Bruins figure things out during the game, they slowly pull away from the Wolf Pack, winning 34-17. It may not be a massive blowout like many opening games are for ranked teams, but I’ll go as far as to say there’s no better team for UCLA to open against. Nevada, a team with tenacity and passion, will remind UCLA of Mora’s ever-implemented idea of working hard—all the time. As the quote goes, “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” The Bruins have talent, and the coaching staff demands hard work. That combination of qualities can be step one on the path to greatness, and it’s what I expect to see against the Wolf Pack.