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UCLA Football: How hard will the Bruins’ 2018 schedule be?

By Mike Regalado

WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Chip Kelly speaks to the media following a press conference which introduced him as UCLA's new Football Head Coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Chip Kelly speaks to the media following a press conference which introduced him as UCLA's new Football Head Coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Head Coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners calls a play from the sidelines in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Head Coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners calls a play from the sidelines in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bearcats at the Rose Bowl | September 1

  • ESPN FPI Rank: 94
  • UCLA projected win %: 88.1
  • 2017 Record: 4-8, 2-6 (5th – American East)

Cincinnati returns a lot of offensive starters, but the fact remains they struggled mightily last season. If they expect to win, they are not just going to have try to find a way around Chip Kelly’s new and improved UCLA football team, but they are going to have tp find a way to battle the crowd at the Rose Bowl, which should be a bit more packed than season openers in recent seasons. A good warm up to the season for Kelly and his team who will use this game to implement their system as it get s a lot harder form here. If anything, this could be the easiest game of the season.

Related Story: So who will run the rock for UCLA this fall?

Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, OK | September 8

  • ESPN FPI Rank: 9
  • UCLA projected win %: 10.2
  • 2017 Record: 12-2, 8-1 (1st – Big XII)

Oklahoma is coming off of a Big XII Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoffs, but they will be starting the season with out the recently drafted QB Baker Mayfield. So far there is some uncertainty with his replacement Kyler Murray who has been intrigued by turning pro in baseball. Still, if he starts for the Sooners, they should continue to have success, which is bad for UCLA. Add to the fact that Oklahoma returns a lot of players form their playoff run last season and that this game is in Norman and you can guarantee that this will be a loss.

Fresno State Bulldogs at the Rose Bowl | September 15

  • ESPN FPI Rank: 63
  • UCLA projected win %: 71.5
  • 2017 Record: 10-4, 7-1 (1st – Mountain West – West Div.)

This game is actually hard to get a read on and because of that, makes it a tough game to predict. Last season, former Cal head coach Jeff Tedford did an amazing job making the Bulldogs one of the top teams in the Mountain West. With key wins over BYU, Wyoming, Boise State and Houston, this Bulldog squad is going to be looking to build off that momentum in 2018. Though ESPN gives UCLA a favorable chance at winning this game, it should be a lot closer than expected, whether it is at the Rose Bowl or not.