UCLA Football Early 2018 Schedule Preview: California Golden Bears

BERKELEY, CA – OCTOBER 13: Head coach Justin Wilcox of the California Golden Bears looks on from the sidelines against the Washington State Cougars during the fourth quarter of their NCAA football game at California Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2017 in Berkeley, California. California won the game 37-3. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Go Joe Bruin continues our early 2018 previews with a look at UCLA football’s clash with big brother… the California Golden Bears.

The third game of UCLA football‘s conference season is not going to be easy, but what game will be? It has already been established that the Bruins have one of the most difficult schedules in the nation and the game against the Golden Bears is no different.

Not only does UCLA have a bad track record at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. but the Bears under second year head coach Justin Wilcox had moments of greatness in 2017 and that will increase in 2018.

UCLA Football Early 2018 Schedule Previews

Cincinnati | Oklahoma | Fresno State | Colorado | Washington

California Golden Bears

Head Coach: Justin Wilcox | 3-7 (1 season at Cal), 5-7 (overall)

2017 Record: 5-7, 2-7 Pac-12

2017-18 Bowl Game: N/A

What: UCLA Bruins vs. California Golden Bears

Where: Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA

When: Saturday, October 13

Last season, the Bruins outlasted Cal at the Rose Bowl. It could have the same feel this season. UCLA should improve under the guidance of Chip Kelly, but the uncertainty of when they will morph into the machine Kelly is expecting makes this a hard game to call.

UCLA could be running on all cylinders or they could sputter along like a car with a flat tire. Nobody really knows what is going to happen.

California’s Five-Year Win Trend

2017 – ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 5-7
2016 – ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 5-7
2015 – ★★★★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ 8-5
2014 – ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 5-7
2013 – ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 1-11

And what about Cal? They went through some rough times in 2017, but for the most part, they showed a lot of improvements, especially on the defensive side. Unfortunately they will have to do without their DL coach from last season, Jerry Azzinaro, because he is UCLA’s new defensive coordinator. That is just one storyline to follow. Let us look at a few others.