Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football 2018 kickoff preview: Games 1 through 4

By Sixto Ortiz

BOCA RATON, FL - DECEMBER 02: Devin Singletary #5 of the Florida Atlantic Owls rushes for a touchdown during the Conference USA Championship game against the North Texas Mean Green at FAU Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
BOCA RATON, FL - DECEMBER 02: Devin Singletary #5 of the Florida Atlantic Owls rushes for a touchdown during the Conference USA Championship game against the North Texas Mean Green at FAU Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins warms up for the the Cactus Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats at Chase Field on December 26, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins warms up for the the Cactus Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats at Chase Field on December 26, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

The Bruins and Sooners square off in Norman

This is another intriguing home game for the Sooners. Even though stellar quarterback Josh Rosen is now in the NFL, offensive wizard Chip Kelly has taken the reins of the Bruin program.  And with Kelly’s brand of offensive football, defensive coordinators never know what unique wrinkles he will bring to the Bruin offense. This is another game where the Sooner defense will be tested.

Rosen’s departure means the quarterback race at UCLA is wide open, with sophomore Devon Modster  likely to take over the signal-calling duties for the Bruin offense. Modster saw very little action in 2017, so it’s tough to judge how he will fare early in the season in a hostile road environment provided he wins the starting job.

Former Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight transferred to UCLA in the off-season, so it will be interesting to see how Speight will fit into Chip Kelly’s offense. Also, freshman Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a four-star, dual-threat quarterback from Las Vegas, may have something to say about who ends up starting for Kelly’s offense, a scheme that fits Robinson’s skill-set.

This means the Bruin offense will be more run-oriented in 2018, with redshirt junior Bolu Olorunfunmi leading the way for the UCLA rushing attack. Olorunfunmi had his best season in 2017 (565 yards, five TDs and a 4.8 yards-per-carry average), so if the trend is to be believed, those numbers should improve even more in 2018.

Offensively, UCLA finished 2017 ranked No. 4 in the nation in passing offense, thanks to Josh Rosen’s heroics. But with Rosen gone to the NFL, the Bruin passing game is likely to suffer, meaning the Bruins’ 115th-ranked running game will have to improve.

Given that the Bruins are in transition offensively, this matchup is an opportunity for the Sooner defense to flex its muscle and continue improving. UCLA had an atrocious defense in 2017, so once again the Sooner offense should have little trouble scoring points at home and could put this one away early.

Prediction: Oklahoma 45, UCLA 10

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