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UCLA Football: Bruins’ 2017 season preview and predictions

By Zach Bigalke

TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 08: Quarterback Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins throws a pass during the first half of the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 08: Quarterback Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins throws a pass during the first half of the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – OCTOBER 11: A view of the exterior of the Rose Bowl before the game between the Oregon Ducks and the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl on October 11, 2014 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – OCTOBER 11: A view of the exterior of the Rose Bowl before the game between the Oregon Ducks and the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl on October 11, 2014 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

2017 Schedule

WEEK DATE OPPONENT LOCATION
1 Sept. 3 vs. Texas A&M Pasadena, CA
2 Sept. 9 vs. Hawaii Pasadena, CA
3 Sept. 16 at Memphis Memphis, TN
4 Sept. 23 at Stanford Stanford, CA
5 Sept. 30 vs. UCLA Pasadena, CA
6 Oct. 7 BYE WEEK
7 Oct. 14 at Arizona Tucson, AZ
8 Oct. 21 vs. UCLA Pasadena, CA
9 Oct. 28 at Washington Seattle, WA
10 Nov. 3 at Utah Salt Lake City, UT
11 Nov. 11 vs. UCLA Pasadena, CA
12 Nov. 18 at USC Los Angeles, CA
13 Nov. 24 vs. UCLA Pasadena, CA

The Bruins were dealt few favors in this critical season as they look to return to prominence. The non-conference schedule begins with a visit to the Rose Bowl by Texas A&M. Though the Aggies are playing for Kevin Sumlin’s job, it remains to be seen whether their offense can perform. That matchup is followed by a home game against Hawaii and a trip to Memphis to face the Tigers at the Liberty Bowl.

Pac-12 play begins with a tough test at Stanford. Then Colorado visits Pasadena before the Bruins get a bye week on the first weekend of October. The October schedule includes road trips to Arizona and Washington sandwiched around a visit to California by the Ducks.

In November, UCLA will play two Friday night games. The first comes right after Halloween in Salt Lake City. The latter will be played in Pasadena on Black Friday against California. In between, the Bruins host Arizona State and take on USC in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the Battle for the Victory Bell. It is a schedule with few guarantees but enough meat to impress pollsters should the Bruins get back to winning ways.

Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: Way-too-early edition

Prediction: 9-3 (6-3 Pac-12)

It all comes down to health, as it so often does. As long as Rosen stays on the field, everything else will fall into place more easily. The Bruins are in good position to sweep their non-conference schedule, with the toughest test probably the trip to Memphis. Having to play Stanford, Washington, and USC all on the road is rough; UCLA will be lucky to go 1-2 in those games. The trip to Utah, coming right after the visit to Seattle, could also be a trap. The Pac-12 South is probably out of reach, but the postseason is right there in sight.

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