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UCLA Football: 5 reasons Bruins will beat Cincinnati in Week 1

By Dante Pryor

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Chip Kelly of the UCLA Bruins during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Bruins 49-21. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Chip Kelly of the UCLA Bruins during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Bruins 49-21. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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BERKELEY, CA – OCTOBER 13: Dorian Thompson-Robinson #7 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after the Bruins scored a touchdown against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CA – OCTOBER 13: Dorian Thompson-Robinson #7 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after the Bruins scored a touchdown against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

1. UCLA has the tools to win a shootout

The best chance the Bruins have to win this game and the No. 1 reason they will win close game is they will turn this game into a shootout. The Bruins’ tempo will tire out Cincinnati’s defense, and UCLA will be able to score.

The Bruins have to make sure they get the ball in the end zone and not settle for field goals. This will be a direct result of the Bruins being better along both their offensive and defensive lines.

The offensive lines will open holes for Joshua Kelley to run through and allow quarterback Dorian-Thompson Robinson an opportunity have time in the pocket to find his receivers. If your line can hold, eventually someone will get open.

Cincinnati lost its two best interior linemen to graduation, so they might have issues generating a pass rush. It’s always hard to substitute against a Chip Kelly offense as well because that tempo offense moves so fast you can’t get guys on and off the field in enough time.

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If the Bearcats can’t rotate on defense, they’ll have jelly legs by the fourth quarter. If the Bruins can force Cincinnati to go score-for-score, it will be interesting to see if they have enough firepower to score with the Bruins.

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