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UCLA Football: 5 reasons the Bruins will be better than USC in 2018

By Gavin Jernigan

WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Chip Kelly speaks to the media during a press conference after being introduced as UCLA's new Football Head Coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Chip Kelly speaks to the media during a press conference after being introduced as UCLA's new Football Head Coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

4. Schedule and Predictions

Week Date School Opponent
1 9/1/2018 UCLA vs Cincinnati
2 9/8/2018 UCLA @ Oklahoma
3 9/15/2018 UCLA vs Fresno State
4 9/22/2018 BYE
5 9/28/2018 UCLA @ Colorado
6 10/6/2018 UCLA vs Washington
7 10/13/2018 UCLA @ California
8 10/20/2018 UCLA vs Arizona
9 10/26/2018 UCLA vs Utah
10 11/3/2018 UCLA @ Oregon
11 11/10/2018 UCLA @ Arizona State
12 11/17/2018 UCLA vs USC
13 11/24/2018 UCLA vs Stanford

UCLA’s schedule is not necessarily easy. However, the schedule does give the Bruins a better opportunity to win many of the games that can go either way. UCLA opens up the season at home against Cincinnati. Although UCLA would be favored were this game to be played in Cincinnati, a home game allows the Bruins to get their feet underneath them early in the season with many new faces on the field and sidelines.

Heading to Oklahoma will be a challenge for the Bruins and a likely loss. However, this will also give UCLA an early look at the highest level of play in college football. Fresno State at home and Colorado in Boulder should both be wins for UCLA. This will bring their record to 3-1. After a tough game against Washington, the Bruins will head up to Berkeley to face the Cal Bears.

UCLA should be at 4-2 before heading into the toughest part of their season. The Bruins are fortunate to face Arizona and Utah both at home. Halfway through the season, Coach Kelly should have this offense firing on all cylinders and be able to win both of these games, bringing their record to 6-2. Furthermore, these wins will give the team a boost in confidence. The Bruins then have to head to Oregon and Arizona State for the next two weeks.

Those two games are essentially toss-ups. After the two road games, UCLA gets to host USC for the big game. With home field advantage, UCLA and Chip Kelly are poised to take back the rivalry in a blowout game against the Trojans. After a big win and confirmation that the Bruins are the best team in Los Angeles, UCLA plays Stanford at home. UCLA should finish up the season at 8-4 and a chance to be in first place in the Pac-12 South.

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