UCLA Football: Predicting the Bruins' 2015 Win-Loss Record
Prognostications are part of the game when it comes to any sport. Although a myriad of things could impact any team's potential season, it's always fun to speculate beforehand.
In regards to the UCLA football team, a lot can happen until the season opener versus Virginia on Sep. 5.
As it currently stands, the Bruins have yet to name a starting quarterback. UCLA will also have to replace arguably its most productive linebacker in program history. Injuries very well could take place between now and September.
With that said...let's make some predictions anyway! This piece will delve into UCLA's upcoming 2015 season. It will analyze the entire schedule—while making educated guesses on how these games will play out.
A full game schedule can be found here, courtesy of UCLABruins.com.
Virginia (Sep. 5)
1 of 12
Virginia played UCLA much tougher than many expected in last year's season opener.
The Bruins' young offensive line had a tough time dealing with Virginia's defensive front. Brett Hundley struggled throwing the ball down the field, and UCLA had to grit out a tough eight-point victory.
In regards to this contest, here's the first prediction: Josh Rosen will start at quarterback. The freshman has been the top performer at the position throughout the spring, and there's no reason to think it cannot continue in the fall.
UCLA won't ask Rosen to do too much. It'll likely rely upon a strong run game led by Paul Perkins and Nate Starks. There likely will be an effort to get playmakers in space on short, manageable throws.
As the Bruins can attest to, it's never easy traveling across the country over three time zones to play a nonconference game. While UCLA could get off to a somewhat slow start, it should win the game comfortably.
Verdict: Win (1-0)
At UNLV (Sep. 12)
2 of 12
Although this is a road contest, it shouldn't be too difficult of a task for the Bruins.
UNLV is at a severe disadvantage from a depth and talent standpoint. The Rebels went 2-11 in 2014, having trouble staying competitive in many of their contests.
New coach Tony Sanchez comes from vaunted high school program Bishop Gorman. He has reenergized the program to an extent, but he's in for a tough first year as a college coach.
UCLA should cruise in this game, preparing for a tough game the following week at home versus BYU.
Verdict: Win (2-0)
BYU (Sep. 19)
3 of 12
This game represents UCLA's first true test of the season. It also is the start of an early four-game gauntlet, which includes BYU, Arizona, Arizona State and Stanford.
BYU is a physically mature team. Also a disciplined bunch, the Cougars rarely beat themselves with mental mistakes. It will be incumbent upon UCLA to match BYU's expected physicality at the point of attack.
Quarterback Taysom Hill is a dynamic athlete, both running and throwing the football. His unconventional style of play isn't easy to defend against. He'll also be buoyed by a supporting cast featuring talented options such as Jamaal Williams, Mitch Matthews, Nick Kurtz and Mitchell Juergens.
BYU will not be intimidated playing against a big-name opponent. Bronco Mendenhall's team went into Austin a year ago and pasted Texas by a score of 41-7. The Cougars will also likely want to atone for last year's bizarre ending to the season versus Memphis.
When it comes down to it, UCLA has an advantage from an athleticism standpoint. It'll have to rely upon this facet in this contest.
It will be a hard-fought game, with UCLA pulling it out in the second half.
Verdict: Win (3-0)
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At Arizona (Sep. 26)
4 of 12
A road trip to Tucson is never an easy proposition.
Not only can the desert heat pose issues, but the vaunted ZonaZoo student section is among the best in the conference. Couple that with Rich Rodriguez's quirky coaching style, and it truly is a fascinating team to watch play.
UCLA has had good success versus Arizona during the Jim Mora era. The common theme in those games includes the Bruins' edge up front on both sides of the ball.
This trend should continue in '15. Arizona lost a good portion of its starting offensive line unit from a year ago. It also dealt with some losses on the defensive side of the ball.
Counting the Wildcats out in this contest would be foolish. It'll be Rosen's first road contest in Pac-12 play, and Arizona does possess some explosive playmakers on offense, including Nick Wilson and Cayleb Jones.
However, UCLA is better on both lines. It's also a deeper team across the board. Led by star running back (and Arizona native) Perkins, the Bruins will win this close contest on the road.
Verdict: Win (4-0)
Arizona State (Oct. 3)
5 of 12
This will be the first game in which UCLA slips up early in the season.
Save for last year, the contests between Mora and Todd Graham's teams have been very close. In fact, there's been a bit of a rivalry borne out of the geographical closeness between the two programs. ASU also has many California natives littered throughout its roster, adding to the inherent hostility.
The Sun Devils will want to atone for last year's embarrassing loss at home. Additionally, the blitz-heavy, unconventional style of defense employed by Graham is something Rosen will not have faced early in his career.
Couple that with the fact ASU returns experienced talent on both sides of the ball, and the Sun Devils will pull the upset at the Rose Bowl.
Verdict: Loss (4-1)
At Stanford (Oct. 15)
6 of 12
Stanford has been a big thorn in Mora's side throughout his tenure in Westwood.
Not only did the Cardinal beat UCLA in the 2012 Pac-12 Championship Game, but it prevented the Bruins from reaching the conference championship a season ago, with a 31-10 thumping in the Rose Bowl.
Simply put, UCLA has been unable to match the execution and physicality with which Stanford plays.
In this game, the Bruins will go on the road to Palo Alto. Stanford did lose some talent to the 2015 NFL draft—namely in the form of Andrus Peat, Ty Montgomery and Henry Anderson. The Cardinal will have to integrate some younger players into the mix.
However, Stanford is still...Stanford. It's a mauling bunch with a veteran quarterback (Kevin Hogan) in tow. This could be UCLA's best shot at beating the Cardinal under Mora. For seemingly the first time in his era, Mora will have an experienced, physically mature team.
Until UCLA can prove to beat Stanford, I cannot predict the Bruins will get the win here.
Verdict: Loss (4-2)
Cal (Oct. 22)
7 of 12
Operating under the assumption UCLA has lost two straight contests, it will come home to face its fellow UC system compatriot to the north.
Cal has made strides under Sonny Dykes. His explosive Air Raid offense has put up points in bunches. Quarterback Jared Goff—now a junior—figures to be the top signal-caller in the conference next year. The Golden Bears also have a strong stable of running backs and wide receivers.
Cal's biggest issues come along the offensive line and within its defense. Those two areas should be improved in 2015. However, they're still likely to be below where Dykes would like them.
UCLA will come back to the Rose Bowl and unleash some fury on the Golden Bears. It will want to atone for the minor two-game skid it faced versus ASU and Stanford. Rosen will have a big game, and the Bruins will win handily.
Whereas the previous four-game slate was rather difficult, the Cal game appears to be the start of a rather manageable stretch (Cal, Colorado, Oregon State, Washington State).
Verdict: Win (5-2)
Colorado (Oct. 31)
8 of 12
Colorado has struggled to improve under head man Mike MacIntyre.
The Buffaloes have gone 6-18 under MacIntyre's direction in his first two years as the head coach. To be fair, MacIntyre was tasked with completely rebuilding an emaciated program. Therefore, it's been a difficult transition.
There's just not a whole lot of quality depth on the roster. Inexperienced players have been thrust into prominent roles, which undoubtedly has led to some growing pains.
Conventional wisdom suggests the verdict on any new coaching regime will come after the third year in the respective program. Now in his third year with Colorado, it will be interesting to see how improved MacIntyre's team will be. The Buffaloes could take a jump from a winning standpoint—or have another poor season.
Although Colorado played UCLA much tougher than expected a season ago, there's a big difference in terms of talent between the two squads. This contest is also being played in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl.
For those reasons, UCLA should have no problem winning the game.
Verdict: Win (6-2)
At Oregon State (Nov. 7)
9 of 12
Transition was the name of the game for the Oregon State Beavers in this offseason.
Not only did it have to replace the most productive passer in program history (Sean Mannion), but the Beavers also had a coaching change, going from Mike Riley to Gary Andersen.
In many respects, OSU needed a jolt of energy. After sustaining good success traditionally under Riley, the program has stagnated in recent years. The lack of quality recruiting has taken its toll on the roster.
No one really knows how this OSU team will fare in 2015. It appears as if true freshman Seth Collins could be the starter replacing Mannion. Receiver Richard Mullaney figures to help form a solid receiver duo with Victor Bolden.
OSU is deficient from a talent perspective at multiple positions. UCLA should win the contest based on that fact alone.
However as ASU can attest to, a trip to sleepy Corvallis isn't the easiest endeavor to experience. This game will be closer than many expect, with UCLA narrowly escaping with the victory.
Verdict: Win (7-2)
Washington State (Nov. 14)
10 of 12
After qualifying for a bowl game in 2013, Mike Leach's team took a step back in 2014, finishing with a 3-9 record.
Simply put, the defense was atrocious. The unit allowed point totals of 41, 38, 60, 59, 44 and 52 in six of its games a season ago. It has to improve if the Cougars are to be bowl-eligible.
Washington State will always have a puncher's chance with its propensity to sling the football down the field. Leach's team (from an offensive standpoint) gets into trouble when the lack of balance on offense rears its ugly head. There has to be a concerted effort to run the football—if anything to keep the defense honest.
Had this game been played on the Palouse, I'd like WSU's chances much more. However by this point in the season, Rosen should be hitting his stride. Perkins also has to be licking his chops at the prospect of running versus this defense.
UCLA will win this game comfortably at home.
Verdict: Win (8-2)
At Utah (Nov. 21)
11 of 12
Utah has played UCLA tough in each of the last three years. One of those games was decided by two points while the other two were each decided by a touchdown.
Built somewhat similarly to Stanford, the physical, hard-nosed style of play of Utah has given UCLA fits. Last year, stud running back Devontae Booker ran all over the Bruins en route to a 30-28 victory in the Rose Bowl.
This game will be a tough one for the Bruins. A late-November affair in Salt Lake City will likely include frigid temperatures, rain and potentially snow as well. Without saying, these aren't conditions a vast majority of UCLA's roster will be familiar with.
There are reasons to believe UCLA can win this contest.
For one, Utah will be replacing terrific defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake, who left for Oregon State. Utah also has to account for the loss of arguably its top two receivers in Dres Anderson and Kaelin Clay.
This will be a close game—without question. If this contest had occurred during the early part of the season, Utah would likely become victorious.
However, at this point in the season, Rosen will theoretically be battle tested. UCLA does have more offensive weapons compared to the Utes and thus will eek out the win.
Verdict: Win (9-2)
At Southern Cal (Nov. 28)
12 of 12
This contest figures to be an important one in the loaded Pac-12 South Division.
Both Southern Cal and UCLA figure to be in the mix deep into the season for a shot at winning the division crown. The Trojans return a whole lot of talent from a season ago, including quarterback Cody Kessler. The signal-caller out of Bakersfield will potentially be one of the best at his position in the country.
Additionally, the Trojans have good talent at every level of their defense. The depth across the board was also buoyed by a full class of scholarship freshmen set to enter the program.
Both teams are similar talent-wise. The Trojans will have an obvious edge at the quarterback position and in the secondary.
However, UCLA is better up front on both sides of the ball. Perkins should be able to have good success running the football. As a result, the Bruins will control the clock.
The likes of Deon Hollins, Takk McKinley and Myles Jack figure to get after Kessler—similar to last year in which the signal-caller was under siege for the duration of the 38-20 loss.
For the fourth straight year, UCLA will defeat Southern Cal.
Verdict: Win (10-2)
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