Should the UCLA Bruins be more optimistic about their chances in the College Football Playoffs after their win over the Wisconsin Badgers last weekend? That’s what USA TODAY believes in their bowl projections following Week 7.
In last week’s projections, USA TODAY had UCLA falling in the first round of the CFP at the Rose Bowl against Ole Miss. This time around, USA TODAY writer Erick Smith has the Bruins winning a CFP game before ultimately seeing their season end in the CFP quarterfinals.
In the projection, USA TODAY has UCLA as the No. 7 seed following the Bruins’ 6-0 start to the season. The No. 7 seed Bruins are projected to face, and defeat, the Tennessee Volunteers in round one in Pasadena.
Smith projects UCLA’s season coming to a close in the Peach Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs on New Year’s Day. The ultimate goal is a national title but a trip to the CFP quarterfinals in year one under head coach Bob Chesney would be an impressive start to his tenure in Westwood.
Chesney’s Bruin team is not set to face any SEC schools in the regular season but would be matched up with back-to-back CFP matchups against SEC schools. Tennessee climbed into the playoffs after their win over Alabama last weekend, while Georgia dropped from the No. 1 spot after losing 27-24 to Auburn.
Chesney and UCLA will look to keep the momentum rolling for the program this weekend, facing a 2-5 Michigan State team. UCLA will host the Spartans at the Rose Bowl, with the Bruins being 14 point favorites for the Big Ten Conference showdown.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA to the CFP quarterfinals? USA TODAY projects the CFB bowl games