UCLA Bruins 2022 College Football Preview
June 16, 2022
2021 Recap
Record – 8-4
ATS – 8-4
The Bruins were a very exciting team to watch in 2021 and they booked their first winning season since 2015 (!). There weren’t many quality wins on the docket (LSU? USC?) but you can’t have everything and it was nice to see Chip Kelly finally have some success in Los Angeles. Sadly, they were unable to participate in their bowl game due to totally scientific SCAMDEMIC protocols.
Are they ready to take that next step and challenge for a PAC 12 title? Let’s dig in.
UCLA Bruins 2022 Outlook
OFFENSE
All-MEGALOCKS team member Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a legit star and will look to finish his college career in style after dominating in 2021 (21-6 TD to INT, 609 rush, 9 TD). The Bruins have been COOKING on offense the L2Y and that ground game has been excellent (215, 231 YPG L2Y) allowing DTR to pick his spots and be efficient in the THROW GAME (#39 pass efficiency LY). #1 RB Zach Charbonnet is back (1,137, 5.6, 13 TD, 24 receptions) but they’ll need to find some productive depth after the departure of #2 RB Brittain Brown. There’s a yuuuge hole at WR/TE as the Bruins need to replace star TE Greg Dulcich (725, 17.6, 5 TD, NFL) and their top-two WRs. They hope that former Duke Blue Devil Jake Bobo can be a legit #1 dood (74, 794, 10.7, TD LY) and then go from there. TE Michael Ezeike has big shoes to fill but he’s a big body with potential. UCLA loses three starters up front as well as their OL coach so it’s not a given that they’ll be able to replicate the fine numbers from the L2Y. We’ll call for a similar level of point production as the prior two years (36.5, 35.4 PPG) but feel there’s a bit of risk to the downside.
DEFENSE
The defense was pretty good LY (#23 FBS run D, #42 pass efficiency D) and they allowed fewer than 30 points (26.8) and 400 yards (384) for the first time since 2016. They weren’t a brick wall, and they struggled on 3rd downs (#110) but it was a step in the right direction. RUH ROH. There are only TWO starters returning on this side of the football (10 LY) so the alarm bells are going RINGY DINGY DINGY. Thankfully, the Bruins picked up a TRUCKLOAD of talented specimens via the transfer portal, so the only question appears to be how quickly these guys can come together as a unit. Said transfers will likely take two starting spots in the reloaded DL and they add Hawaii’s leading tackler Darius Muasau at LB (108 tackles, 7 sacks LY). The back end of the stop unit looks sketchy as they return just one starter to the mix and need to replace NFL-bound safety Quentin Lake. The majority of the new faces were added at DL and LB and we expect teams to have success throwing on the Bruins.
SPECIAL TEAMS
It’s a mixed bag. They need to replace ace PR Kyle Phillips and find a new punter but at least they bring back PK Nick Barr-Mira (14-21 FG, 6-12 40+ LY) and their fine KR Kazmeir Allen (29.1, TD). Also note that they’ll have a new ST coach in 2022.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – It’s looks pretty sweet. They only play four games ON THE HIGHWAY and their first four games are CUPCAKE CITY.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – September 17th – South Alabama
They’ll be coming in off a pair of blowout wins with PAC 12 play on deck. The Bruins will be laying a massive number in this spot and it doesn’t look like an optimal spot to LAY THE WOOD.
Season Win Total
per 5Dimes June 16
Over 8.5 -120
Under 8.5 -110
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
The Bruins aren’t the most trustworthy bunch but they’re a 960,000 STAR TRIPLE BOOSTED LOCK to start 4-1 or 5-0. Then they still have Arizona and Stanford to come, among others.
MEGAmazing Tidbit
The Bruins haven’t tasted bowl victory since their win over Kansas St in the 2014 Alamo Bowl.
UCLA has a winning record vs every current PAC 12 member other than their hated rivals from USC (33-49-7).
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
The Bruins have the look of a legit PAC 12 title contender. There’s a lot of talent on this roster and note that they get both USC and Utah at home. Entering a campaign with this many new faces isn’t ideal but they should be able to build some MOMO with a BUTTERY SOFT early schedule. The November game with USC LOOMS LARGE. Let’s go!
Want more UCLA Football ?
WEBSITE
https://uclabruins.com/sports/football
FORUM
https://247sports.com/college/ucla/Board/BRO-Football-Forum-103039/
http://www.bruinzone.com/fb/index1.shtml
http://bruingold.com/forums/index.php?az=show_topics&forum=108
https://ucla.forums.rivals.com/forums/bruin-tracks.6/
NEWS
http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/
http://www.dailynews.com/ucla-sports
http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/26/ucla-bruins