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As we have discussed previously we are not going to put a specific number on expected wins for next season yet. But as gbruin noted in January despite a more challenging schedule in 2013, every game appears winnable for the Bruins. It appears that many others agree with us.
Respected national college football analysts such as Bruce Feldman agreed with our main point that heading into next season "UCLA should be better in 2013" despite a more difficult schedule. At the end of spring Jack Wang from "Inside UCLA" also came on board stating "double-digit wins and another Pac-12 South title are both very much attainable" for UCLA.
Now we have projections from our colleagues at SB Nation - who are predicting UCLA to win the Pac-12 South again in 2013 and compete for the conference championship:
North: Predicted order of finish | Average standing prediction | 2012 conference record | |
1 | Oregon | 1.19 | 8-1 |
2 | Stanford | 1.89 | 9-1* |
3 | Oregon State | 3.62 | 6-3 |
4 | Washington | 3.8 | 5-4 |
5 | Cal | 4.88 | 2-7 |
6 | Washington State | 5.56 | 1-8 |
South: Predicted order of finish | Average standing prediction | 2012 conference record | |
1 | UCLA | 1.85 | 6-4** |
2 | USC | 2.31 | 5-4 |
3 | Arizona State | 2.96 | 5-4 |
4 | Arizona | 3.08 | 4-5 |
5 | Utah | 4.76 | 3-6 |
6 | Colorado | 5.92 | 1-8 |
Last meeting | Oregon 49, UCLA 31 (2011 Pac-12 Championship) |
Series record | UCLA leads, 39-26 |
2013 F/+ ranking | Oregon 2, UCLA 45 |
Pac-12 championships | UCLA 17, Oregon 10 |
Last Pac-12 championship | Oregon 2011, UCLA 1998 |
Note the Bruins have 17 conference championships. Something to keep in mind next time you hear a Morgan Center lackie just talk up a "Divisional" championship (or whatever it is).
We will share our frontpagers cumulative predictions for this season later this summer. But it appears that a consensus is starting to emerge that folks expect Coach Jim Mora to follow-up his first season in Westwood with a big year in 2013 in which Bruins should be contending for a conference title. And, it goes without saying our expectations for this season will include a victory over Southern Cal at the Coliseum. Although, perhaps Mora shouldn't beat up on Hello Kiffin too bad b/c we want Lane to come back for another season.
GO BRUINS.