@UCLA (9/3)

[jpfalcon09]

Finally made it to game week. Falcons travel to LA to take on the Bruins in the Rose Bowl, which begins UCLA's farewell tour from the Pac-12.

Bruins return most of their offensive weapons from a team which averaged 36.5 points per game. Dorian Thompson-Robinson (DTS) is back at QB after throwing for 2,409 yards, 21 TDs, and only six interceptions in 2021. He's a dual threat player which has always given the Falcons fits. Former Michigan RB Zach Charbonnet is also back after rushing for 1,137 yards last season. At WR, Duke transfer Jake Bobo should see a bulk of the targets after he hauled in almost 800 yards for the Blue Devils in 2021.

Defensively, UCLA saw issues last year especially in the passing game, allowing 260 yards per game through the air. The unit doesn't appear to be vastly improved headed into this season, as again the Bruins tapped into the transfer portal to try and plug some holes in the secondary and at linebacker. There will be a lot of new faces getting live game action for the first time together on Saturday which may provide Bowling Green some hope when it comes to moving the ball.

UCLA opened -27.5 favorites at home, but the line has dropped 3.5 points over the past two weeks and currently sits at -24.

Keys for BG:
- Limit big plays
- Control the clock and extend drives
- Be disciplined
- No injuries

My prediction is 52-17 UCLA.

Loeffler will have his Week 1 press conference this morning and with that should come the release of the depth chart.

[mbenecke]

Finally game week!

I agree with the sentiment above that it probably won't be close, but I expect that every time we play P5 schools. Until proven otherwise that we can CONSISTENTLY hang, that's just kinda reality/my expectation for us.

I'm also thinking something along the lines of 45-17 or something like that. It's just too much to handle in Week 1, and I don't see us scoring much.

If we're competitive in the 2nd half, that could mean big things for this year. Looking forward to watching this one. I hope to see a disciplined football team with some fight in them.

I believe it's a 2:30pm (EST) kickoff on the PAC 12 Network, for those planning to watch.

[fanatic13]

The high in Pasadena is 102 this Saturday so hopefully we are ready for that

[kdog27]

I’d be happy we hang for a half then get wooped in the second half. Be thrilled if they make it a game of course.

[mbenecke]

The high in Pasadena is 102 this Saturday so hopefully we are ready for that

Yikes, weather will definitely play a role then. We better be hydrating this week, or cramps/injuries related to the heat will derail our season.

[roguewarrior]

The high in Pasadena is 102 this Saturday so hopefully we are ready for that

That’s 125 on the field. Not good for us. He likes to keep the starters in till the bitter end in these games, so they will be hurting.

[jpfalcon09]

The high in Pasadena is 102 this Saturday so hopefully we are ready for that

That’s 125 on the field. Not good for us. He likes to keep the starters in till the bitter end in these games, so they will be hurting.

Coupled with it being a road game and an already reduced roster size due to travel, it could spell trouble. Silver lining is it's an 11:30am kick in Pasadena so perhaps the first half doesn't bear the brunt of it.

For TV keep in mind not all carriers have Pac-12 Network. Buckeye, Spectrum, and Dish carry the network if you have them while Fubo and Sling are streaming options with free trials if you're not wanting to spend extra.

[MarkL]

125 is dangerously hot, like heat stroke hot. Anyone that's ever worked in a hot attic knows the feeling of breathing in and feeling like your lungs are collapsing. Guys need to hydrated, stretched, and closely monitored. At least humidity shouldn't be an issue.

[jpfalcon09]

Depth chart is out. Jalen Grant is the only returning starter on the OL.

QB - McDonald, Orth
TB - Johnson, Keith, Patterson, Mosley (this will be by committee)
Z - Hiliare, Osborne
X - Broden, Lewis
Y - Sims, Fannin, Little
A - Gazarek, Bench
LT - Fatukasi, Banks-Wall
LG - Grant, Padgett
C - Robinson, Zimmerly
RG - Warner, Dunbar
RT - Wollschlaeger, Dunbar

DT - Haire, Brown
NG - Hawkins, Roberts
DE - Brooks, Porter
RLB - Brand, Hardamon, Howell
WLB - Anders, Brown
MLB - Horne, Taylor
SLB - Spires, Rosser
LC - Jones, Burton
BS - Bacon, Simms
FS - Anderson, Day
RC - Ferguson, Oladukon

P- Sir
K - Lawler, Rozanc
PR - Embry, Ferugson
KR - Keith, Ferguson

[MarkL]

When Chip Kelly was at Oregon, his teams would reliably hang 50s or 60s in these types of games. For whatever reason, be it recruiting or defenses just figuring out the scheme, that hasn't happened yet at UCLA. Maybe that resumes this year, maybe not. So I'd be as prepared for a 62-10 sort of outcome as a 35-20 outcome. UCLA just has been unpredictable under Kelly and hasn't stabilized yet.

BG on the other hand should have a great defense. No MAC defense has the talent to stop either a good Chip Kelly offense or Pac 12 talent, so don't be worried if it's a bad showing on defense. Offensively, it would be nice to see some long drives and points. Defense was not UCLA's strength last year but still will be a far more athletic defense than any MAC defense. Any positive showing, anything better than the last couple years, is a good indicator.

[jpfalcon09]

It appears Marcelo Mendiola (OL) who transferred from Cincinnati has left the program.

[BillyLP]

It appears Marcelo Mendiola (OL) who transferred from Cincinnati has left the program.

Was just coming here to ask where he was on the depth chart.

Overall, I think this is not a bad roster, particularly on defense. They could easily be the best defense in the MAC this year. Deep and talented. The biggest question is obviously the offensive line. I don't have a lot of confidence that they will be as greatly improved as hoped, and frankly, that's where we will have to win games without a Lamar Jackson at QB. My prediction for the season is somewhere between 4-8 and 7-5. I don't think we'll have any idea where the season will go until the Marshall game.

[Schadenfreude]

I don't think we'll have any idea where the season will go until the Marshall game.

That game is huge. Win that one, and a bowl game starts to look very achievable.

[mbenecke]

I don't think we'll have any idea where the season will go until the Marshall game.

That game is huge. Win that one, and a bowl game starts to look very achievable.

Agreed. If we win that one, a bowl is achieved by 4-4 in MAC play, which is realistic for this team. If we don't, we need 5 MAC wins, and that's going to be really tough.

Marshall is a very strong G5 opponent. That can really decide the direction of the whole season, and I'm hoping the "homecoming boost" gives us the nudge we need to get over the top on that day.

[Beaker]

When at Oregon, Kelly would regularly go for 2 after their first touchdown. Not sure if he still does that at Ookla?