If you have been reading the last three articles (pt.1, pt.2, pt.3) on the schedule you will see that after a relatively light three game stretch UCLA now finds themselves at 9-0 and 6-0 in Pac-12 play. The Bruins control their own destiny for how for they want to go. They are now a top 3 team in the nation and if they win out will be Pac-12 champions, as well as, one of the four teams in the first ever college football playoff. This week we will look one of the toughest three game stretches in the country for any team. Having to go on the road at Washington and following that game up with two home games against USC and Stanford is just brutal. If the Bruins are real contenders the whole nation will know after this stretch.
UCLA Schedule Analysis
Saturday November 8: At Washington (time and broadcast TBD)
New head coach Chris Peterson will have his team ready to go for this game. The great crowd at the newly renovated Husky Stadium will be loud and the weather will most likely be cold, wet, and windy. This is a trap game if I have ever seen one. The game before the battle for the Victory Bell will be a tough task for the Bruins to overcome. This should be a fun one.
Prediction: Brett Hundley will play great and the defense will play pretty well, but I do not think it will be enough to overcome all of the conditions. UCLAs first loss comes in Seattle, Washington against the Huskies.
Record: 9-1 (6-1 in Pac-12)
Saturday November 22: Vs USC (time and broadcast TBD)
This is always a tough game no matter records or talent levels of the two teams. This rivalry is a very heated one and I don’t see it being any different this year. Both teams will have good records and a lot will still be on the line. More than likely, the Pac-12 South championship will be on the line in this one and it should be hotly contested. New USC coach Steve Sarkisian inherits a ton of talent on the defensive side of the ball and a pretty solid QB, but there is no depth on this USC team.
Prediction: Sorry USC fans, but UCLA should win the Victory Bell for the third straight season. The talent level, depth, and hunger to overcome the loss at Washington will power Brett Hundley and crew to the Pac-12 South championship. UCLA by 10+.
Record: 10-1 (7-1 in Pac-12)
Friday November 28: Vs Stanford 12:30 p.m. P.T. kickoff (ABC)
UCLA will be looking to defeat the Stanford Cardinal for the first time since 2008 in the final week of the regular season. UCLA will be getting ready for the Pac-12 championship, but will still be focused because they will still be in the hunt for a playoff berth. David Shaw is a great coach, but he has a lot of talent to replace, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Kevin Hogan and Ty Montgomery form a powerful duo at QB and WR, but will it be enough?
Prediction: UCLA is just flat out better than Stanford this season and finally get that win against the Cardinal and can ride high going into the Pac-12 championship. This very well may be a preview of the Pac-12 championship game the following week.
Record: 11-1 (8-1 in Pac-12)
Final prediction: At the end of the 2014 regular season the UCLA Bruins are standing at 11-1, 8-1 in the Pac-12 and Pac-12 South division champions. They will be a top 5 team and with a Pac-12 championship game win and will be in the first ever playoffs. My guess would be that the championship game will be a re match against the Oregon Ducks. A lot will on the line in that game: Hundley vs Maritoa potentially for the Heisman, Ducks vs Bruins for the Pac-12 championship, and the Bruins fighting for a playoff berth. It is going to be a fun 2014 season in the Pac-12 and Los Angeles in particular.
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