USC has at least won a share of the Pac-10 title for the last seven years. Every season, the “experts” are saying “could this be the year the streak is broke,” and every year the Trojans repeat. This reoccurrence is not because of the Pac-10’s weakness (the Pac-10 was undefeated in bowl games in ’08) but rather the shear dominance of the USC Trojans. This year, however, the Pac-10 has four teams all with a legitimate shot at the title. The fall of Troy will happen this season.
- Oregon 11-1 (8-1)
- USC 10-2 (7-2)
- Oregon State 10-2 (7-2)
- UCLA 9-3 (6-3)
- California 9-3 (6-3)
- Arizona State 7-5 (5-4)
- Arizona 6-6 (3-6)
- Washington 3-9 (2-7)
- Stanford 3-9 (1-8)
- Washington State 2-10 (0-9)
The Oregon Ducks are loaded to make a run at both the conference title and the National Championship game. With studs like runningback LeGarrette Blount and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli at the reigns, the offense that ranked number two in the nation last season will only be better. This is head coach Chip Kelly’s first season as a D1 head football coach. Typically, this would be a signal for the team to drop in the rankings. However, Kelly was running the offense and moved into the head coach position with very little change actually occurring. The biggest obstacle for this team is the opening game at Boise State. The Broncos are a really good team and are claiming that this is the biggest home game in school history. If Boise State wins that game, they have a free shot to a BCS bowl. Will the Ducks have any opening game jitters under a new head coach? Oregon has to come out fired up for this one, or the dream season everyone in Eugene is hoping for may be over before it really got under way. The rest of the Oregon schedule is very favorable with key match-ups at home.
USC is in National Title contention every year. Thus, they are always picked to take the Pac-10. True Freshman Math Barkley may be the weak link on this team. Will a true freshman be able to handle all the pressure that comes with leading one of the nation’s best teams? Just last year, this guy was playing high school ball, and now he is playing for a National Championship. I just don’t see it. The Trojans do have an excellent offensive line that will be able to really help Barkley out. Even so, USC drops games at California and at Oregon.
The Oregon State Beavers are continually one of the most underrated teams of the last five years. Year after year, the Beavers get off to a slow start. They dig themselves into holes with 1-3 or 2-4 records to start the season only to win the next eight games to go 9-3. Oregon State has 28 victories over the last three years, including two wins against USC but no one really knows or cares. This season, the Beavers have a very favorable early season schedule that should allow the team to be 6-0 going into a showdown with the Trojans. Veteran quarterback Lyle Moevao returns with standout brothers, runningback Jacquizz Rodgers receiver James Rodgers. This team will use its speed and run the fly sweep to stretch the defenses out only to rebuttal with a deceptively powerful between the tackles rushing attack. Oregon State is a serious threat in the Pac-`0. Never count head coach Mike Riley out of a game.
UCLA is going to surprise teams this season. Rick Neuheisel is in his second year with the Bruins and should have the team pointed in the right direction. UCLA returns 16 total starters, but they have gaping holes on the offensive line. If this defense is as good as it was last year, the Bruins will turn some heads from the nation. UCLA will win games it shouldn’t and then drop games that it controlled. This is just another rebuilding year for the Trojans’ little brother.
The Golden Bears of California boast the nation’s best preseason runningback, Jahvid Best. In a conference that gives up a lot of rushing yards, this could be a Heisman-type year for the back. The Bears have not been to the Rose Bowl in over 50 years, and Berkeley is chomping at the bit at the near concept of having a shot at taking the Pac-10. California has a tough schedule to start the Pac-10 with trips to Oregon and UCLA with USC at home between the two. If the Bears get through this gauntlet, they will take the conference title.
The remainder of the conference is left in the dust. The Arizona schools always have potential to upset teams and ruin seasons. The Sun Devils play under Dennis Erickson and thus always have a good shot in games. Stanford is a team trying to rebuild, and Washington State is going to be pitiful. Washington is a team to keep an eye on. After going winless last season, a new head coach has LSU in its season opener. The Huskies have a quarterback in Jake Locker that would be a Heisman candidate on any decent team. If the LSU tigers come out slow, the Huskies may put a scare into the people of Baton Rouge.
Tomorrow, I will have my bowl predictions up. I will also have a new category with weekly game and score predictions for all of the top 25 and other significant games. The season starts tomorrow!
Peterson's Prognostics 