No. 16 USC | No. 18 Georgia | Top 25
No. 17: UCLA
Last Season: 8-5 (5-4 Pac-12 South)
The Bruins' defense, which played most of 2015 without its three best players, welcomes back nine starters, including LB Jayon Brown and DT Eddie Vanderdoes, who was injured for much of the season. Only four starters return on offense, but one of those is extremely talented QB Josh Rosen (3,668 yards in '15). And the Bruins' schedule is on their side: They avoid Washington and Oregon and have just four Pac-12 road games -- three of them against teams with losing records in conference play last year. Don't be surprised when they win the Pac-12 South this season.
UCLA's chances to win each game
09.03 @Texas A&M: 39.4%
09.10 vs. UNLV: 97.1%
09.17 @ BYU: 71.3%
09.24 vs. Stanford: 67.6%
10.01 vs. Arizona: 76.9%
10.08 @ Arizona State: 73.1%
10.15 @ Washington State: 65.1%
10.22 vs. Utah: 80.4%
11.03 @ Colorado: 77.1%
11.12 vs. Oregon State: 93.5%
11.19 @ USC: 52.2%
11.26 @ Cal: 71.8%
With a deep, experienced defense and arguably the country's most talented quarterback, UCLA is a real threat to go 10-2 in the regular season and win its first conference title since 1998. -- Kyle Bonagura
The only real question surrounding the Bruins is who will step up to support quarterback Josh Rosen? The defense is solid, the offensive line should be steady and head coach Jim Mora is 16-4 against the Pac-12 South since 2012. A minimum of 9-3 should be expected for a team with this kind of potential. -- Kevin Gemmell
Josh Rosen will lead the Bruins to a 9-3 season but expect plenty of new names and faces to appear as Mora looks for his playmakers around his quarterback (as well as plenty of quote-worthy moments from the sophomore QB). -- Chantel Jennings
If the Bruins can tighten up their run defense in Year 2 of the Rosen era, they should be considered favorites to win the Pac-12 South. Their secondary was already solid last season, and the return of defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes from injury can help UCLA to a 9-3 finish atop the South. -- David Lombardi
The Bruins are the favorites in the South Division in large part because they have the nation's most talented quarterback in Rosen, a true sophomore. But they also have an outstanding secondary, good running backs and a scattering of A-list linemen, which makes a 9-3 record a good start for an over-under. -- Ted Miller
No. 16 USC | No. 18 Georgia | Top 25
