Updated Predictions?

by UCLAbruin920 on Sep 2, 2008 11:17 AM PDT

I know, I know, predictions are meaningless... but they are also fun. Given last night's stunner against Tennessee, what are your [updated] predictions for this season?

This is shaping up to be a very exciting season, even more so than I had originally anticipated (and I must say, I was expecting a lot of fireworks under CRN).

Here are some new of the new factors to consider:

1) Craft may have a tendency to start off shakey, but once he settles down, he's pretty darn efficient. We've yet to see him throw a good long pass.

2) Our offensive line holds up reasonably well. Better than most people expected.

3) Key injuries to Bell, Paulsen, and Everett.

4) We've seen our defense get tired from playing extended minutes, but they know how to dig deep and get the job done.

5) The world is on notice... the bruins just took down a ranked team.

There are several other factors, but those are the immediate ones that jump to mind.

That said, my new prediction is: 8 wins. Yes, that's pretty high, but what can I say? I'm high on my bruins right now. I believe.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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I'm sticking with my prediction of 6 wins

That’s a bowl game and a damn good season in my mind considering our schedule and roster. I think we’re going to play better as the year goes on, but it won’t show itself on the scoreboard. We lack depth at a lot of positions as as the season continues and more players get hurt, our lack of depth is going to hurt us. What last night showed me though is what this program is capable of and that is going to keep me excited whether we win 5, 6 or even 8 games.

by ryebreadraz on Sep 2, 2008 1:05 PM PDT 0 recs

My only prediction is this

I will try to eat bratwurst on game day. Why? Last year, Mr. BB and I went to the game against Oregon and tailgated with his sister and dad. We ate bratwurst and we won. Flash forward to yesterday. Mr. BB and I had leftover bratwurst for lunch and we won again.

Yes, I am incredibly superstitious, but why mess with a good thing?

by bruinbabe2000 on Sep 2, 2008 1:18 PM PDT 0 recs

and....

it’s Bratwurst. Can’t ever go wrong with that.

by artybruin on Sep 2, 2008 3:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

Mr. BB was born in Milwaukee

It was kind of a package deal.

by bruinbabe2000 on Sep 2, 2008 4:26 PM PDT up 0 recs

Strangely this doesn't change my predictions

That is because I am allowing my optimism to cloud my judgement. I expected this game to go as it did. As elated as I am, I knew deep down this was how it would go. I think Coach Neuheisel will give us 2 better than .500 because he knows what he is doing, and the players are learning and believing. I would be a little disappointed in 6 wins, but not in our new coach, or the players. They have such a tough slate, I would not hold them to such a high standard, but I have a gut feeling that we will see much better.

by isodore on Sep 2, 2008 1:24 PM PDT 0 recs

my expectation remains the same

but my prediction has changed. I realize that this may be a very thin line i’m drawing.

With the injuries and thinning depth chart, I still expect about 6 wins. If they pull that off, I’m satisfied with the season and I certainly won’t hold them to anything higher. Before last night’s game, my prediction and expectation were the same.

But my prediction has changed and it’s 100% attributable to my optimism. I knew we had a great coaching staff, but we really saw something special last night. I think they have the drive and the passion to pull out 8. Why 8? I don’t know… there’s nothing scientific about it.

by UCLAbruin920 on Sep 2, 2008 5:15 PM PDT up 0 recs

this just bumps my prediction

from 6 wins to 7. I thought we’d be 6-6; now we’ve stolen one of the losses. I still say we beat Arizona, Washington, WSU, Stanford, Fresno, and OSU. Losses to BYU, Oregon, Cal, SC, and ASU will be tough to avoid; though I think we can also beat BYU.
So I say 7-5; best case 9-3, worst 5-7

by bucknellbruin on Sep 2, 2008 2:34 PM PDT 0 recs

Predictions

If last night’s game showed anything, it is that predictions are not worth the virtual paper we’re writing them on. The entire country whiffed on our game. I do believe, as I did several months ago when we debated it on this blog, that the improvement in our coaching staff should be worth 2-3 more wins than if we had last season’s staff. But that doesn’t mean we’ll get 9 wins or 6 or 7; it just means we’re better off having RN, NC, DW and company.

I continue to predict and expect that we will put a product on the field that plays better as a team, competes every week, and gets the most out of the talent it has. (Incidentally, I think many people have underestimated our talent level and would argue that UCLA has average Pac-10 talent, clearly behind USC, close to Cal, ASU and Oregon and probably better than everyone else. Injuries have diminished our talent, but it hasn’t made us into UW or WSU.) I hope that getting the most out of what we have will result in 10 wins or more, I could see us playing well every week and winning about 8 games, and I could see us playing well but not being able to overcome some of the challenges we face and going more like 6-6 or 5-7. I will stay away from predictions, or even expectations of a W-L record, and I will be happy, whatever the record, if the team continues to show the character and resiliency that it showed last night.

And in a recent , pleasant dream, UCLA was 8-3 heading into the game against USC, but I haven’t dreamt the outcome of that game.

by BruinsRule on Sep 2, 2008 2:41 PM PDT 0 recs

Hrmmphhh...

I am immensely optimistic about this program, but I think the win against Tennessee was highly fueled by emotion as well. Not to take credit away from any of the players or coaches. We will have far worse days than this. I still think we’re looking at 4-5 wins. A bowl game would be fantastic, because it would allow for extra practice, which would be very beneficial for this team and for the coaches going into next year. I’d be quite happy with Las Vegas or the Emerald Bowl.

by tasser10 on Sep 4, 2008 11:54 AM PDT 0 recs