UCLA Football: 2017 Game-by-game predictions
By Zach Bigalke
The regular season will conclude with UCLA’s last game in its home stadium for the season. (With the Rose Bowl serving as a College Football Playoff semifinal site this season, the dream of playing at home in the postseason was long gone for the Bruins.) They will welcome rival California, hoping to repay the favor of last year’s 36-10 loss in Berkeley.
In 2016, the Golden Bears took down UCLA thanks in large part to the passing of Davis Webb. The graduate transfer threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, while Khalfani Muhammad rushed for 116 yards and Tre Watson added 78. The first two players are no longer on Cal’s roster, and it will be hard to replicate last year’s prolific numbers.
Instead, this game will probably turn into a defensive showdown. Josh Rosen will do far better against the Golden Bears than Mike Fafaul did in 2016. Rosen’s 350 passing yards and three touchdowns will pace the Bruins to victory in their home finale.
All that will be left at that point is to wait out the rest of Thanksgiving weekend and see where they will end up in the postseason. After the way 2016 went, though, getting through the year unscathed and with an 8-4 record will be its own victory. Jim Mora’s job will be secure for another season, though Rosen will likely be preparing for his final game in a Bruins uniform.