UCLA Football 2011: Season Preview with Game Predictions

The inaugural season of the Pac-12 finds the UCLA Bruins in the weaker of the two divisions in the South, along with crosstown rival USC, the Arizona schools and the new kids on the block, Colorado and Utah. It's put up or shut up time for coach Rick Neuheisel; with a new staff and a bevy of talented players, he must win this season or perhaps face the chopping block after three seasons with a 15-22 record.

Here is a game-by-game prediction to how the Bruins will fare this year against a tough away schedule, but manageable home slate that sees them avoid playing Oregon in the first year of the new conference.

So let Neuheisel point the way and let's begin...

Game One: September 3rd at Houston

UCLA has a tricky first game on the road against Houston and quarterback Case Keenum, a sixth-year senior who was granted another year of eligibility after tearing an ACL against UCLA. The Cougars' high powered offense will be a tough task for the UCLA defense, which is inexperienced at the back end. 

However, UCLA's offense rolled last year in the 31-13 victory, racking up over 250 yards on the ground. Tailback Johnathan Franklin ran for 160, and expected starting quarterback Kevin Prince ran for 64 of his own.

This game will be a shootout, but I ultimately think UCLA will pull out a tight victory against the always frisky Houston Cougars.

FINAL SCORE: UCLA 34-31 Houston

Record: 1-0

A solid start to the season to be sure, but we've seen the wheels come off in prior seasons when momentum cannot be sustained.

Game Two: September 10th Against San Jose State

UCLA historically has never scheduled a Division 1-AA opponent, but the lowly San Jose Spartans are about as close as they come to it.

There is no reason to suspect UCLA will lose this game, and if they do, then the football monopoly on mediocrity and disappointment should end with the firing of Rick Neuheisel immediately following the game.

FINAL SCORE: UCLA 59-14 San Jose State

Record: 2-0

Not a bad start, already a third of the way to bowl eligibility, but we've seen the wheels fall off spectacularly after flashes of promise (see Texas game last year and Tennessee game three years ago).

Game Three: September 17th Against Texas

The Texas Longhorns come rolling into Westwood the following week, hellbent on avenging a frankly embarrassing loss at the hands of UCLA last season in Austin, 34-12. That game sent Texas on a downward spiral from preseason top 10, to 5-7 and bowl ineligible.

Mack Brown reshuffled the pack and brought in new coordinators on both sides of the ball, and quarterback Garrett Gilbert will be out to prove he's worth the recruiting hype after winning a four-way battle for the starting gig.

I don't expect a capitulation from Texas like last year, and this game will be heated and feisty. While Texas may not be as strong as in previous years, I do believe they have enough on both sides of the ball to squeak by the Bruins. Gilbert will be improved from last year's debacle, and I don't foresee UCLA running the ball with such ease, as was the case last year. 

FINAL SCORE: Texas 24-21 UCLA

Record: 2-1

A winning record in non-conference play is an encouraging sign heading into conference play, but the Bruins have had a penchant for not turning momentum such as last year's win in Austin into future success.

Game Four: September 24th at Oregon State

UCLA's first conference game is a daunting one, as trips to Reser Stadium are about as easy as getting a 2400 on the SAT. The Beavers are always well coached under Mike Riley and will prove an immense test for the Bruins in the kickoff to the Pac-12.

While they lose Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State returns his brother wide receiver James and quarterback Ryan Katz, who is underrated in my book and will be better than last year's return of 2400 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Oregon State will be coming off their bye week when going up against UCLA, and all the signs point towards a close Beaver victory.

FINAL SCORE: Oregon State 21-18 UCLA

Record: 2-2

The early season momentum could be coming undone here, as the meat of the conference schedule comes thick and fast. 

Game Five: October 1st at Stanford

UCLA's toughest game on the schedule by far sees them travel to the Farm to play against Andrew Luck and Stanford. Last year, he roasted the Bruins with just a mediocre performance by his lofty standards that saw his team stroll to a 35-0 win without breaking a sweat.

While Jim Harbaugh is gone, Stanford is still loaded on both sides of the ball. What's worse for UCLA is that they will be coming off their bye week as well after a tricky visit to Tucson and Arizona two weeks prior.

Like Andrew Luck needed anything else to help his cause.

FINAL SCORE: Stanford 31-17 UCLA

Record 2-3

Three straight losses (two in conference) make this season begin to feel like a rerun of the previous few. 

Game Six: October 8th Against Washington State

UCLA's home conference opener brings the lowly, but frisky, Washington State Cougars to the Rose Bowl. Last year, UCLA made difficult work of dispatching State, as they even took an early third quarter lead before UCLA finished off with a 42-28 win.

Quarterback Jeff Tuel and wide receiver Marquess Wilson are the Pac-12's best kept secrets. They certainly have the firepower to put a scare into an already reeling coach Rick Neuheisel after three straight losses.

However, the Bruins simply have too much for the Cougars, and UCLA finally gets a conference win under their belt to stop the bleeding.

FINAL SCORE: UCLA 45-24 WSU

Record 3-3

UCLA gets back to .500 with two tough road games out of the way. However, the schedule does not relent, and the Bruins would do well to get to six wins and a bowl.

Game Seven: October 20th at Arizona

Tucson has not been kind to UCLA in recent years; the 52-14 walloping in 2005 to ruin an unbeaten season immediately springs to mind. In fact, Arizona has won four straight games against the Bruins and five out of six. So, a win here would be a huge boost to Rick Neuheisel's creaky job security at this point.

Quarterback Nick Foles and his favorite target, Juron Criner, will look to wreak havoc on UCLA's pass defense; Criner had eight catches for 127 yards and a score last year, and that came from backup quarterback Matt Scott slinging the pigskin around the Rose Bowl. 

While the pessimist in me would see an easy win for the Wildcats, I think this UCLA team will be improved from last year and will catch Arizona at a good time. The Cats will have come off a road trip to USC and Oregon State in consecutive weeks; this is after playing BOTH Stanford and Oregon back to back AND traveling to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State in week 2.

Wow. Brutal.

In a mild upset FINAL SCORE: UCLA 27-20 Arizona

Record: 4-3

Last season, UCLA would have lost this game by a wide margin. The improvement for this season, and the urgency to play for Neuheisel, will be on display in the desert.

Game Eight: October 29th Against Cal

A traditional rival from the Bay Area, Cal ran all over the Bruins last season in a game where like the game against the other Northern California school, Stanford, UCLA seemed to mail it in and not give any effort. 

However, the Bears lost a good amount of talent last year, including Cameron Jordan and Shane Vereen, and are unsettled at the quarterback position. This year UCLA will be able to exact a little bit of revenge on the old foe and pick up another victory en route to bowl eligibility. 

FINAL SCORE: UCLA 28-17 Cal

Record: 5-3 UCLA looks to have shaken off that midseason swoon and is picking up momentum. With three games left, they only need one win to become bowl eligible.

Game Nine: November 5th Against Arizona State

Last year in Tempe, Brock Osweiler and the Sun Devils torched UCLA. They put up 55 points against a team that frankly looked as if they mailed in the season even with bowl eligibility still in sight. The win triggered an end-of-season winning streak for ASU that has carried over and made the Devils a trendy pick to win the Pac-12 South, and a sneaky sleeper nationwide.

However, Dennis Erickson has done this before. Arizona State has perennially underachieved, despite talented squads and high expectations. Last year, they were bowl ineligible since they defeated two FCS teams to get to six wins. While they played Oregon and Stanford close, they also got blown out by Cal and proved to be inconsistent yet again.

By this time of the season, UCLA will be on a roll and in need of only one win to become bowl eligible. I do not buy the hype this season from Arizona State and I think the Bruins will continue to roll on.

FINAL SCORE: UCLA 31-21 Arizona State

Record: 6-3

UCLA is bowl eligible and in contention for the Pac-12 South right at the top with USC and Utah. Speaking of whom... 

Game 10 : November 12th at Utah

Well, well, well. Norm Chow and Rick Neuheisel reunite, albeit on opposite sidelines, as Chow took the offensive coordinator position for the Utes in the offseason. The Bruins have to make the difficult road trip to Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City; yet another daunting conference away game for the Bruins to add onto road trips to Corvallis, Palo Alto and Tucson.

Coach Kyle Whittingham is one of the nation's most underrated, and I don't foresee Utah having a whole lot of difficulty transitioning into the new conference. The talent flowing from Utah is substantial, and, with good coaching, the Utes have been a consistent winner the past few years.

I think Utah ultimately wins this game, and Norm Chow pulls one over on Neuheisel as the Utes take the division lead with two games left.

FINAL SCORE: Utah 28-20 UCLA

Record: 6-4

UCLA is still bowl eligible, but the loss hurts their chances at winning the division to play for the conference title. Nevertheless two games remain, and one win from two guarantees Rick Neuheisel a winning season and, more importantly, good odds of earning another year at the helm in Westwood.  

Game 11: November 19th Against Colorado

The second consecutive game for UCLA against new conference foes brings the Colorado Buffaloes to the Rose Bowl. The Buffs struggled to compete in the Big 12 for stretches, fired coach Dan Hawkins and brought in John Embree, father of Bruin receiver Taylor Embree.

Colorado is probably the weakest team in the South division and will struggle to find footing for at least this season in the Pac-12. However, with USC looming, UCLA will do well to beat Colorado and not fall into the trap game.

FINAL SCORE: UCLA 35-17 Colorado

Record: 7-4

UCLA is still in the running for the Pac-12 South championship at this point, and a win against the crosstown rivals next week, coupled with a Utah loss and other results, could catapult them to a mere one win away from a BCS bowl bid and a conference title.

And this all one year after a 4-8 debacle? Am I crazy?

Game 12: November 26th at USC

To answer my own question from the previous slide: no I'm not crazy.

USC has beaten the Bruins 11 out of 12 years (2006! 13-9! I still remember it fondly) and Neuheisel is 0-3 so far against the Men of Troy. While UCLA on paper can match USC's talent in most spots, there is a mental block that comes with playing against the Trojans that is not quantitative, but nevertheless difficult to overcome.

Unfortunately (especially so give my impending arrival at UCLA as a student and my first taste of Beat SC Week), I think USC will fight on and defeat UCLA yet again. However, it will not be a drubbing like last year. There will be plenty of fight in this Bruin team that will reignite what's been a frankly tepid rivalry on the football field.

FINAL SCORE: USC 23-20 UCLA

Final regular season record: 7-5

While the numbers may not suggest rapid improvement, UCLA will continue on the right track with a bowl victory to finish the season a respectable 8-5. With pieces coming back (Mr. Brett Hundley, please stand up) and with UCLA's ability to always recruit well, next year will look to be an even better one for Rick Neuheisel and the UCLA Bruins.

Of course this is purely conjecture. UCLA could start 1-4, fire Neuheisel, and limp to a 3-9 record or even shock the world, go 10-2, and upset Stanford or Oregon for the Pac-12 championship.

This is why they play the games, right?

Happy watching!