Go Joe Bruin takes a final look at the UCLA football team’s schedule with a quick analysis of every single game in the upcoming 2019 season.
The season will be here before you know it. Are you ready UCLA football fans? Although a better question will be, what do we need to be ready for?
RELATED: UCLA Football Post-Spring Depth Chart
Last season, the Bruins finished 3-9, but there was hope to close out the year. So can that hope manifest into more wins in the second season of the Chip Kelly era? Let us take a look at the schedule by examining each game.
UCLA Football Game-by-Game Predictions
At Cincinnati Bearcats, August 29 (Thu)
UCLA will be a better team than they were last year, but Cincinnati is a team that continues to improve. Last year, they went an astounding 11-2 in head coach Luke Fickell’s second year with the program, and this year he will continue to have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Then you have to consider that this game is a home game for the Bearcats and with that, I give this one to Cincinnati.
Result: Cincinnati 32 – UCLA 27 | L (0-1)
Vs. San Diego State Aztecs, September 7
San Diego State has an outstanding defense which will test UCLA’s offense, but Dorian Thompson-Robinson and company should be able to get past them on more than a few occasions. And though UCLA’s defense is a work in progress, they should be able to take down San Diego State which is in a transition of its own. Going from snapping the ball under center to a spread offense will take time to master, but it won’t be enough time to master it by game two of the season.
Result: UCLA 45 – San Diego State 35 | W (1-1)
Vs. Oklahoma Sooners, September 14
Chip Kelly’s offense should be able to get a few scores off of Oklahoma’s defense, but UCLA’s defense will have an incredibly tough time against Oklahoma and new quarterback Jalen Hurts. But considering how productive UCLA was against Oklahoma last year, I believe this one will be a loss, but it will be closer than last year.
Result: Oklahoma 33 – UCLA 24 | L (1-2)
At Washington State Cougars, September 21
This is going to be a good test for UCLA as they go against another innovative head coach in Mike Leach. The Cougars are going to utilize a new quarterback in Eastern Washington transfer Gage Gubrud in their uptempo style and will have a solid defense, giving them a very well-rounded team. The Bruins will try to run with the Cougars, but they will be a step behind a more established program.