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UCLA Football Early 2018 Schedule Preview: Fresno State Bulldogs

By David Rosenthal

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Jeff Tedford of the Fresno State Bulldogs looks on prior to the game against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Jeff Tedford of the Fresno State Bulldogs looks on prior to the game against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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BOISE, ID – DECEMBER 2: Head Coach Jeff Tedford of the Fresno State Bulldogs on the sidelines during second half action in the Mountain West Championship against the Boise State Broncos on December 2, 2017 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won the game 17-14. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – DECEMBER 2: Head Coach Jeff Tedford of the Fresno State Bulldogs on the sidelines during second half action in the Mountain West Championship against the Boise State Broncos on December 2, 2017 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won the game 17-14. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images) /

Fresno State Special Teams

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The only major loss for Fresno State on special teams is kicker Jimmy Camacho. With his loss he takes his 25 made field goals (best in the Mountain West) and near perfection (41/42) on extra points. Replacing him should be redshirt freshman Asa Fuller who has yet to see any game action.

Dejonte O’Neal should continue as the kick returner after returning a team high 18 kickoffs for 354 yards last season. O’Neal also returned punts but may split time with sophomore Ronnie Rivers who returned eight punts last year.

Blake Cusick comes back as the top punter for Fresno State. His 42.5 yards per punt last year was fourth best in the Mountain West.

Final Analysis

Fresno State will again be tough on the defensive side of the ball. With their starting linebackers and secondary returning to a defense that ranked in the top 15 last year, UCLA will have to fight and scratch for every yard.

If this was the Bruins’ first game of the year, I would be really worried about UCLA and their newly installed offense. But since this is game three, I’m just regular worried. The Bruins should have a sense of what they want to do on offense and Chip Kelly’s quick firing offense should fluster the Bulldogs just enough.

I don’t see this being a high scoring game but I think UCLA will have the talent to pull out a victory. When the season is over, the Bruins will look back at this game and see it as one of their best wins against a very talented Fresno State team.

Next: UCLA Football: 10 bold predictions for the 2018 season

Prediction

UCLA 21 – Fresno State 17