Utah Football: Post-spring game-by-game predictions for 2019

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PASADENA, CA – OCTOBER 26: Tyler Huntley #1 of the Utah Utes runs into Elijah Gates #9 of the UCLA Bruins in the second quarter at the Rose Bowl on October 26, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

Chip Kelly returned to the Pac-12 last year after a couple of stints in the NFL which followed a successful tenure at Oregon. Unlike his Oregon days, though, he struggled against Pac-12 foes in 2018. In fact, the Bruins went just 3-6 in Pac-12 play last season and got Kelly’s UCLA career off to a slow start.

That will soon change as many expect the Bruins to take a major leap in year two and make a bowl game after a 3-9 season. One of our writers even predicted UCLA would contend for the Pac-12 South.

I don’t see that happening in 2019, though I do believe the Bruins will be much improved. They aren’t going to get blown out by Utah 41-10 again this season and the matchup will likely be decided by one or two scores.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson is one of the top breakout candidates in the conference and he’ll have a decent game against the strong Utah defense, but Tyler Huntley will have the last laugh against a below average UCLA unit.

Final Score: UCLA 21, Utah 30 (9-1, 6-1)

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