Pregame Guesses: UCLA Bruins Host Bowling Green

The UCLA football team kicks off the fifth year of the Chip Kelly era with its first ever contest versus the Falcons of the Mid American Conference.

Sep 02, 2022

UCLA senior quarterback, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, hands off to UCLA senior running back, Zach Charbonnet. (Photo Credit: uclabruins.com)

Good morning and welcome to first iteration of The Mighty Bruin’s 2022 Pregame Guesses! For the 2022 season, UCLA’s fifth under Head Coach Chip Kelly, the Bruins welcome three straight non Power Five foes to the Rose Bowl for non-conference matchups before the Pac 12 season starts. First up are the Bowling Green Falcons, who went 4-8 last year, 2-6 in the MAC.

But, first, for those who are new to this weekly article, here is a brief refresher. Pregame Guesses (PGG) works like this. The day before the game, I put forth three questions (plus at least one bonus question) about the upcoming UCLA football game and ask you, the readers, to predict the answers to certain questions about the game in the comment section below. I also add a song for your listening pleasure that may or may not have some relevance to the game.

I am going to keep the musical selection somewhat simple this week. Frankly, there are not a lot of options with Bowling Green. UCLA has no football history with the Falcons—-or any other present member of the MAC Conference, for that matter. So there is not much of a musical connection. Ric Ocasek of The Cars attended Bowling Green for a while before dropping out, which is about the best I can do, so I am picking a Cars song. Its finally football season, one day before kickoff, a time for optimism. I say bring it on and “Let the Good Times Roll” . . .

Hopefully, the Bruins can “Shake It Up” and get a win to start 2022. A convincing win at the Rose Bowl over a non-Power Five conference foe would be “Just What I Needed.” Enough with the dad jokes (other Cars songs for those not in the know)…on to the guesses.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been the UCLA quarterback for what seems like an eternity and now he returns for his final season in powderkeg blue and gold, having been given an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-shortened season of 2020. Thomspon-Robinson has come along way from the deer-in-the-headlights first year player who couldn’t hold onto the ball to the confident star who led the Bruins to a 62-33 victory over Southern Cal last season, hurdling his way into Bruin lore.

The senior signal caller is a nice, safe bet for PGG number one in week one. PREGAME GUESS NUMBER ONE: Guess Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s stat line, including passing attempts, passing completions, passing yards, passing tochdowns, rushing carries, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns.

The Falcons had the worst total offense in the MAC last season, but return a lot of players from last season, with nowhere to go but up. Senior quarterback Matt McDonald, a Boston College transfer originally from Newport Beach, CA, completed 236 of his 393 passes in 2021 (a 60.1% completion percentage), with twelve touchdowns and seven interceptions. McDonald is also a prototypical pocket passer, and does not present a rushing threat, something the Bruins have struggled with under Chip Kelly’s tenure. This figures to be as good of an offense and quarterback matchup as any for the Bruin defense to find its legs following a lot of turnover in both personnel and coaching. PGG number two is a two-parter. PREGAME GUESS NUMBER TWO: How many passing touchdowns will UCLA allow to McDonald? How many passing yards will UCLA concede to McDonald?

Zach Charbonnet is back and is a dark, dark horse Heisman candidate. He is also looking to make a splash before the 2023 NFL Draft. Unfortunately for Zach, the UCLA offensive line is in a bit of a transitional stage, especially at tackle. Will the line be able to give Charbonnet enough space to reach his potential? Will he start the season by fattening up against a defense that struggled against the run last year? PREGAME GUESS NUMBER THREE: How many yards will Zach Charbonnet rack up against the Bowling Green defense? Will he find the end zone rushing the ball ? If so, how many times?

Up until this season, UCLA has been one of only a few who teams who have never played a FCS school. That will all end next week against Alabama State. Boo. The three games nonconference this year, including this week’s Bowling Green, FCS Alabama State, and week three’s South Alabama, appear to be the weakest nonconference slate ever faced by UCLA, in my opinion. (Digression: Does anyone disagree? If so, what season do you believe was worse?) All nonconference games in 2022 are at the Rose Bowl, but there is not one marquee program that UCLA will face which will lure fans to the Rose Bowl before school starts. I am very curious to see how many fans show up for these games, especially tomorrow for an 11:30 am kickoff in Southern California on a holiday weekend. BONUS GUESS: Predict the attendance at the Rose Bowl tomorrow.

That is it for PGG this week. Please add your answers in the comment section below, and/or sound off on all thingUCLA football as we approach tomorrow’s game.

Go Bruins!!!!

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