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UCLA football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2023

By Connor Muldowney

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Chip Kelly of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the USC Trojans during the second quarter in the game at Rose Bowl on November 19, 2022 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Chip Kelly of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the USC Trojans during the second quarter in the game at Rose Bowl on November 19, 2022 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Oct 8, 2022; Pasadena, California, USA; Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) runs for a touchdown during the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2022; Pasadena, California, USA; Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) runs for a touchdown during the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports /

The first game of the year not against an FBS opponent, UCLA should be able to use this as a nice tune-up to get whichever quarterback (my prediction would be Dante Moore) wins the starting job on track.

Moore is going to gain a ton of confidence in this blowout win as he’ll be out by halftime when the game is fully in hand.

Prediction: Win (3-0)

The toughest early-season test for UCLA comes in Week 4 as the Bruins will travel to face the reigning Pac-12 champs in Salt Lake City.

The Utes will be one of the best teams in the Pac-12 yet again with Cameron Rising back and a young backfield ready to break out in 2022. The defense under Kyle Whittingham always seems to be stingy so I don’t expect that to change and it’s tough to win at Rice-Eccles.

I think Utah wins this one, but UCLA will make it interesting behind the arm, and legs, of Moore.

Prediction: Loss (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12)

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