Phil Steele predicts UCLA FB to finish year ranked #24

by insomniacslounge on Jun 7, 2009 2:48 PM PDT

Every year, I look forward to the release of Phil Steele's college football preview. For me, t's kind of like the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups of sports mags, combining detailed and thorough analysis with gambling trends and insights. As well as being comprehensive, it's also usually rather accurate as far as preseason mags go.

The issue came out this week, and Steele has UCLA as his 3rd most improved team for 2009 and to my surprise, predicts that they will finish the year ranked #24 in the country. His reasoning includes 16 returning starters and expected improved play from the O-line and QB position. He also believes UCLA won't commit as many turnovers this year (god, I hope not) which will translate into more wins.

Considering that our O-line still needs to get a lot of work together and Prince is a first year starter, this seems like a pretty bold prediction to me. As a point of reference, the #24 team in the final AP poll last season was Michigan State with a 9-4 finish (including a bowl loss). Personally, I would be thrilled if the Bruins were to finish the regular season 7-5 (especially if it included a win over USC) and returned to the postseason.

In any event, I think it's great to see that a respected, national writer sees progress in the development of our football program.

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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You know...

I don’t know about #24 (although I would be totally amped if we broke the top 25), but I think there is an excellent chance of winning games we wouldn’t have last year just due to the fact that there is virtually no chance that’ll we’ll throw so many pics.

by captainqtp on Jun 7, 2009 11:40 PM PDT reply actions

Interesting

The analysis is almost like, “Well, we can’t be as horrible as we were last year, so the only way to go is up.”

Being #24 doesn’t sound too bad for this program for this year.

by Barnes2JJ on Jun 8, 2009 12:07 PM PDT reply actions

Higher!!

I say top 20 but I might be biased.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Jun 8, 2009 4:46 PM PDT reply actions

TOP 10 OR BUST!!! ;-)

by impaulv on Jun 8, 2009 8:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Being ranked in the top 25 seems a little optimisitc to me. I’d be happy with a 1-over .500 year this year. But hey, I’m not a professional sportswriter, what do I know?

by Harsha on Jun 9, 2009 7:54 AM PDT reply actions

Which would either be

a 7-5 record with a bowl loss, or a 6-6 record with a bowl victory…

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on Jun 9, 2009 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah...

… but would we get into a bowl game with a 6-6 record? Doesnt every FBS team with a 7-5 record have priority over one that’s 6-6? I can’t see us losing the lowest eschelon Pac-10 bowl berth, the Pac-10 bowl games, other than the Rose Bowl, thanks to brilliant contracting, should barely be competitive.

by Harsha on Jun 9, 2009 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions