The new Chip Kelly-led UCLA football team gets an early evaluation in ESPN’s preseason Football Power Index with not a lot of wins.
Yesterday, ESPN released their preseason Football Power Indx (FPI), which projects a team’s performance for the coming season. The UCLA football team, which had a disappointing end to their 2017 campaign, looks to improve under new head coach Chip Kelly, but they might have a tough time achieving success in his first season, based on the results of the FPI.
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According to ESPN, “FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule.”
A lot of changes are expected for UCLA next year, and though they are looking to be more successful than last season, it will not come easy. The Bruins are projected to have the toughest strength of schedule in the nation this fall, which will slow down the Bruins’ march to victory.
UCLA Football 2018 Schedule
- Sept 1 vs Cincinnati
- Sept 8 at Oklahoma
- Sept 15 vs Fresno State
- Sept 28 at Colorado
- Oct 6 vs Washington
- Oct 13 at California
- Oct 20 vs Arizona
- Oct 26 vs Utah
- Nov 3 at Oregon
- Nov 10 at Arizona State
- Nov 17 vs USC
- Nov 24 vs Stanford
Because of this, UCLA is only expected to have 5.0 wins in 2018 (their projected FPI record is 5-7). Additionally, per the FPI, they have a 0.0 chance of finishing the season undefeated, and a 0.5 chance of winning the conference.
Though the Bruins have made a major upgrade in the coaching department, replacing Jim Mora with Chip Kelly, it is going to take some time for the new coach to get his squad ready to challenge the current powers in the Pac. Kelly has several things to solve, including the run game, the offensive line, rush defense, developing a cohesive linebacking corps and picking a QB and though it will take a lot of work, he is determined to turn this program around.
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Currently, seven conference teams are ahead of the Bruins in the FPI: #6 Washington, #13 Stanford, #15 USC, #23 Oregon, #27 Cal, #32 Utah and #42 Arizona.