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UCLA Football: Ranking 2018 from easiest to toughest game

By Mike Regalado

WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Chip Kelly speaks to the media during a press conference after being introduced 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 during a press conference after being introduced as UCLA's new Football Head Coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – OCTOBER 21: Gerrid Doaks #23 of the Cincinnati Bearcat runs the ball and gives the stiff arm to Jordan Wyatt #15 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Nippert Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – OCTOBER 21: Gerrid Doaks #23 of the Cincinnati Bearcat runs the ball and gives the stiff arm to Jordan Wyatt #15 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Nippert Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

The UCLA football team has one of the hardest schedules in the nation, but which is the hardest? Go Joe Bruin ranks the 2018 games from easiest to toughest.

If you’re like any hard-core UCLA football fan, you probably already know that UCLA has one of the toughest, if not the toughest, schedule in the nation. Not only do the Bruins face some stiff competition in the non-conference season, but the Pac-12 seems to be taking a few steps forward as well.

RELATED: How hard will UCLA’s 2018 schedule be?

So with that in mind, it was actually pretty hard to figure out which of these games would be the easiest and which would be the hardest. They’re all pretty hard, but taking into other factors than just the talent on the other side of the field, Go Joe Bruin looks at divisional matchups, dates of the games, coaching and anything else that stands out in trying to determine which of these is in fact the most difficult.

So let us begin…

Easiest — 1. Cincinnati Bearcats | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA | Sat, Sept. 1

The game against the Bearcats is by no means the hardest, but it’s not going to be a walk in the park either. Cincinnati is in there second season with head coach Luke Fickell. Last season they had a less than stellar performance in the American Conference as they came in fifth place in the West division. They had a decent offense, but still could not overcome a 4-8 record, their second in two years.

The thing I’m interested in seeing is how, not necessarily UCLA’s offense is out of the gate, but how the Bruins’ defense will perform. During spring we have been hearing about how the defense is becoming more violent and aggressive. This is due to the fact that the new coaching staff is instilling a certain mind set and mix that with the potential talent of several players and things could start off with a bang really quick, igniting the spark that lights the fire under the offense.

Can’t wait.