2008 UCLA Bruins
Written June 6, 2008 by Jason Lowry
Jason Lowry is set to make his 2008 UCLA Bruins Predictions for the upcoming NCAA football season. Before we get right into figuring out where this team stands in the Pac 10 we thought it would be best to take a look at what they will have on both sides of the ball next season. UCLA finished off last season with a tough loss to Brigham Young in the Las Vegas Bowl that ran their overall record to 6-7. The one bright spot was the team was able to finish the Pac 10 with a winning record at 5-4. With 12 returning starters there are plenty of areas that will require some new faces to step in and lead this team to a winning season. New coach Rick Neuheisel is hoping that he can return this team to a Pac 10 title, and with the addition of offensive coordinator Norm Chow at least the offense should get better.
Offense:
The team has just 5 returning starters on this side of the ball, and on top of that they might be without their top two quarterbacks coming into the season. Patrick Cowan went down with season ending ACL tear, and backup Ben Olson broke his right foot late in spring practice. This leaves junior college transfer Kevin Craft next in line, and if Olson isn’t ready to go by the start of the season he will likely be the man in charge. It doesn’t get much better at running back as Kahlil Bell and Raymond Carter are both coming off reconstructive knee surgery, so don’t be shocked if you see a freshman in their early. The receiving talent gets a little better as Marcus Everett should be a solid weapon along with 6’4 freshman Nelson Rosario. When you look at the offensive line, you have last year’s guard Micah Reed moving to center and you get a converted defensive lineman in Darius Savage moving to guard. The mainstay on the line will be returning left tackle Micah Kia who should help this unit get the job done.
Defense:
Just 5 returning starters here as well on a pretty solid defense from a year ago. They will need to find someone to fill in the shoes of All-American Bruce Davis who got drafted by the Steelers. That team should be set at defensive tackle with sophomore Brian Price leading the way. The team might end up using a number of defensive ends as they have some great young talent in Datone Jones and Damien Holmes pushing for playing time. At linebacker the team will count on Reggie Carter to be a force as he moves from weakside to the middle spot this year. The secondary might struggle, as its only returning starter is corner back Alterraun Verner. The has veterans ready to step in and fill the holes at the other 3 spots, but they better come ready to play as the Bruins have 4 talented freshman waiting to take over.
Prediction: Tie for 6th in the Pac 10
While the Bruins have plenty of talent, we really feel that they are a year away from being a big time force in the Pac 10. They are loaded with young talent all over the field and it’s just too much to ask for them to come in right away and lead this team to a great season. There are to many injury concerns with the guys they got coming back. A couple more years Bruin’s fans and look out USC.
If you are looking to get a head start on the NCAA Football season, be sure to head over to Bodoglife.com and get an account up and going. Also be sure to check back as professional handicapper Jason Lowry will continue to roll through his team-by-team 2008 NCAA football predictions. As always feel free to leave any comments in our comment box.
During the season if you want to win with your betting you have to have the latest information. A great Bruins football forum to check out the latest news is Bruinville, and the football section at Bruins Nation is up to date with the latest news and notes about the team.