UCLA Football: Staff predictions for UCLA vs. Oklahoma

The UCLA Football Bruins host the fifth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners in a game on Saturday that has the potential of getting ugly for the home team.

After a surprising loss to the San Diego State Aztecs, the UCLA football team hosts the fifth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday and will be tasked with slowing down Jalen Hurts and that incredible offense.

The only problem is that every team tries to do that and Oklahoma is great for a reason: that offense is very hard to stop. With an offense that has been lackluster thus far this year, not many people are giving UCLA much of a chance.

As we do every week, the LA Sports Hub staff got together to predict how we think the game is going to go. Here are our staff predictions for the UCLA football team in Week 3.

Jamaal Artis (2-2): 49-3, Oklahoma

Last week I said I wouldn’t pick the UCLA Bruins until I could trust their offense. This week they play the Oklahoma Sooners at home.

The only reason to go watch this game is if you want to work on your tan sitting in the Rose Bowl. A year after being beaten by the Sooners 49-21 and their Heisman winning QB Kyler Murray, this year they get Jalen Hurts, who transferred from Alabama with a National Championship ring and decided to mount his own Heisman campaign.

Hurts has completed 83 percent of his passes. On second thought, don’t go to the Rose Bowl for a tan, go to the beach.

Hil Lopez (1-2): 42-24, Oklahoma

UCLA is coming off a brutal home loss to San Diego State while Oklahoma is coming off of a rout of South Dakota at home. Oklahoma boasts Heisman candidate Jalen Hurts and most of the offense of Oklahoma go through him as he is the leading passer and rusher for the team.

On the other hand, UCLA is just trying to get in the win column as they have struggled only scoring 14 points per game in their first two games. Meanwhile, Oklahoma, ranked #5 in the country, can score at will. Overmatched overwhelmingly, UCLA will try to keep this game close but will be dismantled by Oklahoma.

Redan Lopez (2-2): 52-20, Oklahoma

UCLA does not stand a chance against Oklahoma. Oklahoma Quarterback Jalen Hurts is on the rise and will not be stopped. With an average of nearly 60 points scored against Houston and South Dakota in the first two weeks, the offense is firing on all cylinders.

Meanwhile, UCLA and its football program continue spiraling downward. Coming off a 23-14 loss to the San Diego State Aztecs, concern for the team and where it is headed is quickly creeping up the surface.

The UCLA players held a players-only meeting this past Tuesday which signals that problems within the team may be deeper than we thought. We can even call into question if Chip Kelly is the right coach for the team. Dorian Thompson-Robinson does not seem to be capable of leading the Bruins offensively, failing to put together consecutive scoring drives so far this season.

This will be a huge problem against a Sooner team that has a knack for scoring in bunches.
Sadly, the Sooners will run over the Bruins. This game won’t be close.

Jason Reed (2-2): 49-10, Oklahoma

What else can I add that hasn’t been said? Oklahoma is one of the best schools in the nation and will compete for the College Football Playoff. The UCLA football program is a shell of its former self and Saturday’s game will be an embarrassment.

Don’t be surprised if you hear Chip Kelly hot seat rumblings after this game.

Jon Soden (1-1): 52-24, Oklahoma

This is not so much a prediction on if the UCLA Bruins will lose, but by how much they will lose. After getting off to an 0-2 start, the Bruins will face a title-contending Oklahoma Sooners, led by Alabama transfer quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Oklahoma will enter the Rose Bowl with one of the best offenses in the nation, who also has one of the best rushing attacks in the nation along with their passing ability.

On the other hand, the Bruins will trot out a struggling offense behind their inexperienced quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. It will take a miracle for him to keep pace with Hurts in this game.

While the Bruins have an improved defense this year, it does not belong in the same area code and the Sooners offense.

Barring one of the biggest upsets of the year, the Bruins will lose to the Sooners by a score of 52-24.