UCLA Bruins 2017 NCAA Football Preview

College Football Predictions – UCLA Bruins 2017 NCAA Football Preview

2016 Recap

2016 Record – 4-8

2016 ATS – 4-7-1

Pfffffffft.

Any potential for a decent season was lost when QB Josh Rosen was lost to injury in week six. The Bruins lost six of their final seven games with the only win coming at home vs Oregon St. After winning 29 games in the first three years of the Jim Mora era the Bruins are just 12-13 the past two years.

2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating

PAC 12 – TBD

South Division – TBD

OFFENSE

That was flat out ugly. The combination of a backup QB and mediocre offensive line play doomed the Bruins after week six. The ground game was atrocious as UCLA could only manage 84 yards per game on the ground. That ranked them 2nd last in the FBS (!) just ahead of JUGGERNAUT Texas St. The RB group returns essentially intact but Soso Jamabo led the team in rushing in 2016 with only 321 yards. It’s hard to know exactly what they have in the backfield. We do project a significant improvement in the offensive line this season with 4/5 starters returning and decent size across the board.

When Rosen chooses to MATRICULATE in the passing game he will enjoy having the top-2 WRs from last year’s team back for duty. It feels like this group may be a bit underrated and they will definitely benefit from a full season of CHOSEN ROSEN.

DEFENSE

The Bruins were mid-pack in the PAC 12 last year in terms of total defense (382 yards per game allowed) and scoring defense (27.5). The defense is littered with highly-recruited specimens but we are concerned about the need to replace a couple of really solid players. LB Jayon Brown led the team in tackles (119) last season and Takkarist McKinley was an absolute beast recording 10 sacks and 18 TFL. There is still hope as the secondary returns 3/4 starters and LB Kenny Young was a 2nd Team PAC 12 selection. We like the potential but need to see how the young talent develops.

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK JJ Molson struggled last season hitting only 12/20 FGs while making just 2/7 from 40+ yards. The rest of the unit appears average.

Potential ATS Trouble Spot

September 16 – at Memphis. The Tigers are an emerging FORCE and UCLA has to deal with them the week before PAC 12 starts at Stanford. No thanks.

MEGAmazing Tidbits

Jim Mora has a 20-11 record at home and an impressive 18-11 record on the road at UCLA. Take note.

MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 4.0

MEGALOCKS says:

Overall, we give the BRUINS a 4.0 ATS Value Rating (Below Average) this season.

It is not a HOT TAKE to suggest that UCLA will be better this season. The question we have is how the defense and special teams will perform. The schedule is pretty nasty as well. There is enough talent on board to almost assure themselves a bowl appearance but it is hard to see them having a strong enough defense and rushing attack to win the division.

Rosen will have a big year but we are not crazy about their overall ATS prospects. UCLA is just 14-23-1 (38%) vs Vegas over the past three seasons, and while you can make the case for this team being an under-the-radar value play, that is a hard bill of goods to sell us when you consider they have a very high-profile QB and head coach.

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