UCLA Bruins 2014 Future Betting Odds
Jim Mora Jr will serve on his third season as head coach of the UCLA Bruins football program, and if we base our analysis on how he has done in the recent past, 2014 should be a great year for his team.
In two years, Mora and his staff have won 19 games and now have 15 starters returning this season, which makes you wonder if this season, with a college football playoffs system in place, they might be able to fight for a national championship.
The Bruins had the 21st scoring offense in the nation last season, averaging close to 37 points; their quarterback Brett Hundley is a double threat QB listed 16/1 to win the Heisman Trophy.
“People have a tendency at times to see an African-American quarterback and say, ‘Oh, he’s a runner.’ I hate that stereotype, and I always have,” said Mora Jr. “I coached Michael Vick, and my belief (is) that we stereotype those guys started with him. I don’t want that to happen with Brett, and I’m going to make sure that it doesn’t, because it shouldn’t.
“The guy’s a passer.”
“Maybe he wins the Heisman, maybe he’s the first pick of the draft, maybe he leads his team to some sort of championship,” said added. “I think it was a great decision.”
The Bruins are rated +1400 to win the National Championship, something that hasn’t happened for them in 59 years.
Their defense allowed 23.2 points per game last season 35th best in the country and will have to replace linebacker Anthony Barr, who joined the Minnesota Vikings drafted as the 9th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
UCLA is listed +300 to win the PAC-12 Conference, only the Oregon Ducks are above them in terms of chances. The Bruins have climbed fast in terms of respect in the Conference, and their program is viewed as a better place than the USC Trojans and the Stanford Cardinal at the moment; something crazy not so long ago that why head coach Jim Mora is not moving anywhere.
“It is always flattering when someone is interested in you,” coach Mora told the Los Angeles Times, “but I am committed to being the UCLA coach.”
UCLA will have a lot to show, especially in November when they close a brutal schedule with the Arizona Wildcats, Washington Huskies, USC Trojans and Stanford Cardinal.
2014 UCLA Bruins Schedule
- Sat, Aug 30 @ Virginia 12:00 PM ET ESPN
- Sat, Sept 6 vs Memphis 10:00 PM ET Pac-12 Network
- Sat, Sept 13 @ Texas 8:00 PM ET FOX
- Thu, Sept 25 @ Arizona State 10:00 PM ET FOX Sports 1
- Sat, Oct 4 vs Utah TBD
- Sat, Oct 11 vs Oregon TBD
- Sat, Oct 18 @ California TBD
- Sat, Oct 25 @ Colorado TBD
- Sat, Nov 1 vs Arizona TBD
- Sat, Nov 8 @ Washington TBD
- Sat, Nov 22 vs USC TBD
- Fri, Nov 28 vs Stanford 3:30 PM ET ABC
Zack is a tour guide whose favorite sports are football, baseball, and golf. He enjoys giving obnoxious commentary during games and hopes to some day write a book about sports. His favorite underdog victory was the Diamondbacks beating the Yankees in game 7 of the World Series.
