2010 UCLA Bruins Season Preview
Picking a Pac-10 betting favorite right now is a truly tough task with the uncertainty surrounding USC and Oregon. Could that open the door for Rick Neuheisel and his UCLA Bruins in 2010?
Progress is the goal at UCLA, and there’s reason to think it’s in the cards for the Bruins this season.
After head coach Rick Neuheisel arrived on the scene prior to the 2008 season, there were high hopes for USC’s little brother in the Los Angeles area. The Bruins went 4-8 SU in ’08 after losing their starting and backup quarterback on back-to-back, non-contact plays, and were a more respectable 7-6 SU and 7-6 ATS on the college football betting odds board last season.
Things are on the upswing at UCLA after last season’s 30-21 over Temple in the EagleBank Bowl, but to keep the good times rolling, it’ll have to continue to improve on the offensive side of the football.
The Bruins were 111th in total offense two years ago, but managed to finish 88th in the nation last season. With six starters on offense returning along with two impact transfers, UCLA should be able to maintain its upward trajectory.
Sophomore Kevin Prince is back to man the reins at quarterback, and he’ll be running a brand new offense for Neuheisel. The Bruins have implemented the Revolver scheme on offense, which is a variation of the Pistol offense run at Nevada. Before you run off to evaluate schemes, the Revolver offense is a modified shotgun formation that allows for a quarterback option.
In the backfield, there are question marks surrounding tailback Jonathan Franklin, who stormed out of the gate last season before stumbling in conference play. Franklin ran for only 133 yards in his last seven games.
Fresh blood comes in the form of recruits Malcolm Jones and Jordan James, both of whom should contribute immediately. Junior transfer Josh Smith provides the Bruins with a downfield threat.
The defense should be solid if unspectacular. 2009 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Brian Price is gone from the middle, and that’s a huge loss for UCLA. All-Pac-10 cornerback Alterraun Verner has also departed, along with emotional leader and middle linebacker Reggie Carter.
With only five starters back on defense, Neuheisel and his staff have some work to do. The good news is All-American safety Rahim Moore is back on campus, as is linebacker Akeem Ayers.
Issues exist on the defensive line, and that’s a problem with a series of solid running games present in the Pac-10. At least the defensive backfield is in good shape; safety Tony Dye joins Moore on the back line, while sophomores Sheldon Price and Aaron Hester are set to start the season at corner.
The kicking game is often overlooked by college pigskin bettors, but it’s the Bruins’ ace in the hole. Kicker Kai Forbath is NFL-bound, while punter Jeff Locke is as good as it gets in the Pac-10. In a year in which the conference is wide open, Forbath and Locke could be UCLA’s key to profitability this season.
Another thing working in the Bruins’ favor is the mainstream media’s narrative when assessing the Pac-10. As far as some of the ‘experts’ are concerned, the Pac-10 is all about Oregon and USC before every other school.
That might be the case in terms of the national rankings, but last I checked, cashing wagers against the spread is the name of the game here. That’s not to mention the Ducks parted ways with former quarterback Jeremiah Masoli in the offseason, while the Trojans are coming off a down year.
That being the case, there’s value in the middle of the Pac-10, and UCLA is among the teams in that group. The door is wide open for a school to step into the void, and the Bruins could very well fit the bill.
If anything, look to play UCLA early in the season before conference play begins. Under Neuheisel, the Bruins are 6-1 against the number against non-conference opponents. This season, UCLA opens against Kansas State, Houston, and Texas in three of its first four games.
In Pac-10 play, the Bruins could be hurt by the loss of top tackles Su’a-Filo and Nik Abele. Su’a-Filo is on a Mormon mission, while Abele (neck) was forced to retire this offseason.
Picking a Pac-10 betting favorite right now is a truly tough task with the uncertainty surrounding USC and Oregon. Could that open the door for Rick Neuheisel and his UCLA Bruins in 2010?
Progress is the goal at UCLA, and there’s reason to think it’s in the cards for the Bruins this season.
After head coach Rick Neuheisel arrived on the scene prior to the 2008 season, there were high hopes for USC’s little brother in the Los Angeles area. The Bruins went 4-8 SU in ’08 after losing their starting and backup quarterback on back-to-back, non-contact plays, and were a more respectable 7-6 SU and 7-6 ATS on the college football betting odds board last season.
Things are on the upswing at UCLA after last season’s 30-21 over Temple in the EagleBank Bowl, but to keep the good times rolling, it’ll have to continue to improve on the offensive side of the football.
The Bruins were 111th in total offense two years ago, but managed to finish 88th in the nation last season. With six starters on offense returning along with two impact transfers, UCLA should be able to maintain its upward trajectory.
Sophomore Kevin Prince is back to man the reins at quarterback, and he’ll be running a brand new offense for Neuheisel. The Bruins have implemented the Revolver scheme on offense, which is a variation of the Pistol offense run at Nevada. Before you run off to evaluate schemes, the Revolver offense is a modified shotgun formation that allows for a quarterback option.
In the backfield, there are question marks surrounding tailback Jonathan Franklin, who stormed out of the gate last season before stumbling in conference play. Franklin ran for only 133 yards in his last seven games.
Fresh blood comes in the form of recruits Malcolm Jones and Jordan James, both of whom should contribute immediately. Junior transfer Josh Smith provides the Bruins with a downfield threat.
The defense should be solid if unspectacular. 2009 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Brian Price is gone from the middle, and that’s a huge loss for UCLA. All-Pac-10 cornerback Alterraun Verner has also departed, along with emotional leader and middle linebacker Reggie Carter.
With only five starters back on defense, Neuheisel and his staff have some work to do. The good news is All-American safety Rahim Moore is back on campus, as is linebacker Akeem Ayers.
Issues exist on the defensive line, and that’s a problem with a series of solid running games present in the Pac-10. At least the defensive backfield is in good shape; safety Tony Dye joins Moore on the back line, while sophomores Sheldon Price and Aaron Hester are set to start the season at corner.
The kicking game is often overlooked by college pigskin bettors, but it’s the Bruins’ ace in the hole. Kicker Kai Forbath is NFL-bound, while punter Jeff Locke is as good as it gets in the Pac-10. In a year in which the conference is wide open, Forbath and Locke could be UCLA’s key to profitability this season.
Another thing working in the Bruins’ favor is the mainstream media’s narrative when assessing the Pac-10. As far as some of the ‘experts’ are concerned, the Pac-10 is all about Oregon and USC before every other school.
That might be the case in terms of the national rankings, but last I checked, cashing wagers against the spread is the name of the game here. That’s not to mention the Ducks parted ways with former quarterback Jeremiah Masoli in the offseason, while the Trojans are coming off a down year.
That being the case, there’s value in the middle of the Pac-10, and UCLA is among the teams in that group. The door is wide open for a school to step into the void, and the Bruins could very well fit the bill.
If anything, look to play UCLA early in the season before conference play begins. Under Neuheisel, the Bruins are 6-1 against the number against non-conference opponents. This season, UCLA opens against Kansas State, Houston, and Texas in three of its first four games.
In Pac-10 play, the Bruins could be hurt by the loss of top tackles Su’a-Filo and Nik Abele. Su’a-Filo is on a Mormon mission, while Abele (neck) was forced to retire this offseason.
