UCLA Football Schedule 2016: Game-By-Game Predictions


UCLA football schedule predictions and early game-by-game preview for 2016. Projecting how the Bruins will do this year.


The Bruins have the talent, the coaches and the quarterback to challenge for the Pac-12 title. Do they have the schedule to get there? Here are the UCLA football schedule predictions for every game this upcoming season.

Sept. 3 at Texas A&M

It’s a flip-a-coin game and a statement moment – for better or worse – for both teams. Is UCLA really ready to win a game like this? Is Texas A&M ready to show that things have changed after a rocky 2015 and rough offseason? It might be one of the most fun games in Week 1 with the two quarterbacks bombing away in massive performances.

Preseason Prediction: UCLA 45, Texas A&M 42

Sept. 10 vs. UNLV

The Rebels should be dangerous if they can get the offense moving as expected, but they won’t have the defense to handle the Bruin attack. It’ll be entertaining, but UCLA won’t have too many issues.

Preseason Prediction: UCLA 41, UNLV 27

Sept. 17 at BYU

BYU is a scary place to play – the team seems to work at a different level during big games held in Provo. Even so, the Bruins should be fully tuned up to go along with all of their talent. UCLA will have to try for a full four quarters, but they’ll fight their way through for a nicer-than-it-looks victory.

Preseason Prediction: UCLA 31, BYU 27

Sept. 24 vs. Stanford

Is this the preview of the Pac-12 title game? Probably not, and UCLA winning will have a ton to do with it. After a few shaky games to start the season, this is when the Bruins starting looking like the team the fans are hoping for. Both sides of the ball will click.

Preseason Prediction: UCLA 35, Stanford 20

Oct. 1 vs. Arizona

It’s a game that’ll show what Arizona is, and will prove whether or not UCLA will be a real, live factor. Josh Rosen will fire at will in another terrific performance after a slow start. Arizona will come up with its share of big plays, and UCLA will answer them all.

Preseason Prediction: UCLA 34, Arizona 24

Oct. 8 at Arizona State

The Bruins will be on a roll and looking great, and then it’ll come up just a wee bit flat in an entertaining game. Arizona State’s defensive front will bother Rosen just enough to throw off the UCLA attack. The Sun Devils won’t be great, but they’ll be just good enough to get the key win.

Preseason Prediction: Arizona State 27, UCLA 23

Oct. 15 at Washington State

Oh, UCLA. Washington State will need the win to keep bowl hopes alive, and UCLA will go all UCLA, coming up way too flat defensively. The team will look a little sluggish, while the Cougars will be terrific dinking and dunking their way to the key win.

Preseason Prediction: Washington State 37, UCLA 31

Oct. 22 vs. Utah

After losing two straight and in desperate need of a week off – that’s coming up next – the Bruins will somehow toughen up just enough to handle the Utah offense in a spirited game in the Rose bowl. UCLA will get the South title hopes back on track.

Preseason Prediction: UCLA 28, Utah 23

Nov, 3 at Colorado

Both Colorado and UCLA gets weeks off before the Thursday night game, and both of them will need it. The Buffs will come up with a decent performance, and they’ll have the game tied in the fourth, but the Bruins will break it open late with a few unanswered scores to breathe a sigh of relief.

Preseason Prediction: UCLA 37, Colorado 27

Nov. 12 vs. Oregon State

The Bruins have the showdown against USC coming up, but first they’ll play well with a great second half to overcome the Beaver attack that’ll hit the wall. It might take a little while to get everything moving – just like they did against Colorado the week before – but there won’t be much of a problem surviving and advancing.

Preseason Prediction: UCLA 34, Oregon State 21

Nov. 19 vs. USC

The Pac-12 South would be there for USC with a win, and would set things up perfectly for UCLA if it could pull it off. USC will have its share of rocky moments throughout the year, but the defense will rise up and pitch a gem against a UCLA offense that’ll disappear for long periods of time.

Preseason Prediction:USC 28, UCLA 17

Nov. 26 at California

Coming off the USC loss, and with Cal looking to finish with something positive, UCLA will have big problems – at least defensively. Josh Rosen will put up gigantic numbers, but so will Davis Webb and the Cal attack in a fun and exciting shootout. The Bruins will have just a little more pop in the fourth.

Preseason Prediction: UCLA 45, California 38

2016 Prediction: 9-3
2016 Pac-12 Prediction: 5-3


MORE: 2016 Preseason College Football Rankings, No. 1-128