USA TODAY’s latest bowl projections have the UCLA Bruins making a serious run to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, a massive leap from last week’s outlook that had them exiting in round one. After their big win over the Wisconsin Badgers last weekend, Erick Smith from USA TODAY is now predicting a deep tournament run for the Bruins. Last week, it was a first-round exit at the Rose Bowl against Ole Miss, but things have definitely shifted for the 6-0 squad.
The Road Through Pasadena and Peach Bowl
So, how does this quarterfinal trip shake out? USA TODAY has UCLA as the No. 7 seed. That puts them up against the Tennessee Volunteers in round one, right there in Pasadena. And Smith’s got the Bruins taking that game! If that happens, it means their season would end in the CFP quarterfinals at the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day, where they are projected to face the Georgia Bulldogs. Talk about a brutal back-to-back! Tennessee just climbed into the playoffs after beating Alabama last weekend, and Georgia dropped from their No. 1 spot after losing a tight 27-24 game to Auburn.
Chesney’s Early Impact and What’s Next
For head coach Bob Chesney, a trip to the CFP quarterfinals in his first year in Westwood would be an absolutely incredible start to his tenure. His Bruin team isn’t even scheduled to face any SEC schools in the regular season, yet this projection has them matched up with two straight SEC powerhouses in the CFP. But before they can even dream of the quarterfinals, UCLA has to keep the momentum rolling. They’re hosting a 2-5 Michigan State team this weekend at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins are 14-point favorites for that Big Ten Conference showdown, and they’ll need to keep their focus to maintain that perfect 6-0 record.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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