[washingtonismoney]

10-point favorites over UCLA? I like the optimism for Homecoming, but I can't agree with it.

It's an interesting line. I have a hard time assessing UCLA.

PROS:
1) high-upside QB who has top-ten draft pick potential
2) experienced offensive line
3) a guy in the conversation for highest-impact defensive player in the Pac-12, Anthony Barr

CONS:
1) Only returning 11/12 starters, depending on whether Odigizhuwa returns or not
2) iffy special teams, defense
3) Neuheisel recruited (in terms of ratings) really well at first, before falling off once it became obvious his regime at UCLA wasn't working out. And Mora has started recruiting well. But there's a gap in the middle -- unfortunately for Mora, that gap has to take charge now. The start-off-with-a-bang before regressing a bit pattern is pretty common in college football -- see Charlie Weis and Brady Hoke.
4) not a lot of proven playmakers behind the headline names; not a ton of depth.

?:
1) How good a coach is Mora, really? His first UCLA team certainly passed the eye test. On the other hand,  he had the benefit of a lot of Neuheisel leftovers plus a pretty soft schedule. And his NFL coaching career was not exactly exemplary.

I think it's fair to say there's a lot undetermined about the UCLA team. I wouldn't be surprised by a wide range of results this year -- the only team in the Pac-12 I think is as difficult to predict are their LA rivals. (Third place: ASU.)

[washingtonismoney]

10-point favorites over UCLA? I like the optimism for Homecoming, but I can't agree with it.

It's an interesting line. I have a hard time assessing UCLA.

PROS:
1) high-upside QB who has top-ten draft pick potential
2) experienced offensive line
3) a guy in the conversation for highest-impact defensive player in the Pac-12, Anthony Barr

CONS:
1) Only returning 11/12 starters, depending on whether Odigizhuwa returns or not
2) iffy special teams, defense
3) Neuheisel recruited (in terms of ratings) really well at first, before falling off once it became obvious his regime at UCLA wasn't working out. And Mora has started recruiting well. But there's a gap in the middle -- unfortunately for Mora, that gap has to take charge now. The start-off-with-a-bang before regressing a bit pattern is pretty common in college football -- see Charlie Weis and Brady Hoke.
4) not a lot of proven playmakers behind the headline names; not a ton of depth.

?:
1) How good a coach is Mora, really? His first UCLA team certainly passed the eye test. On the other hand,  he had the benefit of a lot of Neuheisel leftovers plus a pretty soft schedule. And his NFL coaching career was not exactly exemplary.

I think it's fair to say there's a lot undetermined about the UCLA team. I wouldn't be surprised by a wide range of results this year -- the only team in the Pac-12 I think is as difficult to predict are their LA rivals. (Third place: ASU.)