PAC-10 PREVIEW

 

(Each of my conference previews are determined in part by using a simple formula using certain nine variables to determine a teams ability to win games. These nine categories are as follows: Quarterback, RB/WR/TE, Offensive Line, DE/LB, Secondary, Coaching, Schedule Difficulty, Home Field Advantage, and Player Experience. Each team is ranked in descending order according to their strength in these areas. For example, the team in a conference with the best QB will be given a one, the second best rated team by QB will be given a 2, and on down through the remaining teams in that conference. This formula goes on for all categories. After all categories and teams are ranked, those rankings are added up to give the team’s a total score. The lower the score, the more likely a team will be successful this year and win more games than teams with higher overall scores. By no means is it an exact science, just my personal predictions for the upcoming season.)

 

 

For the past seven years, the Pac-10 conference has been more like “USC and the PAC-9”. The choke hold that Pete Carroll and his Trojans have had on the rest of the league has been rather impressive, similar to the way Florida State owned the ACC in the 1990’s. But with the loss of QB Mark Sanchez and a severe lack of experience on defense, can the Men of Troy keep the dominance going?

 

THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS

 

1. Jahvid Best will be in New York in December as a Heisman finalist. No, he’s not a quarterback, but he is an absolute speed demon who, despite not having much size, isn’t afraid to take a hit. Not to mention his moves, seen here:     He makes more cuts on the football field than Governor Schwarzenneger does to the California state budget.

2. Freshman QB Kevin Prince will lead UCLA back to a bowl. One of the most heralded recruits from 2007, Prince has the tools to make the Bruins at least competitive this year. Last year, 6 of UCLA’s 8 losses were by 20 points or more. Much of that was due to inconsistent play from their quarterbacks. Prince knows the system after one year as a redshirt, and is ready to step in with a capable offensive group around him.

3. Cal will dethrone USC and play in the Rose Bowl. The biggest question mark for both teams will be the quarterback position, but beyond that, Cal has much of the advantage. I don’t foresee either team ending undefeated, so all the chips will be on the table for their matchup in early October.

 

THREE GUYS READY FOR DRAFT DAY

 

1. Taylor Mays, S, USC- Could be the first DB taken in the draft. Great open field tackler with toughness.

2. Jahvid Best, RB, Cal- Speed. Quickness. If he stays healthy he’ll be like Barry Sanders at the next level. (Don’t get mad..I said LIKE.)

3. Dexter Davis, DE, Arizona St.- The only player in the nation to have recorded back-to-back double-digit sack seasons, Davis can get after the QB like few can.

 

Davis is hoping for his third straight double-digit sack season.

THREE “CAN’T MISS GAMES”

 

1. USC at Ohio St., September 12- Early test to prove just how “real” the Trojans are this year.

2. Cal at Oregon, September 26- The toughest road game for the Bears this season. They can’t look past Oregon to the next week’s matchup. The Ducks can play.

3. USC at Cal, October 3- There’s a good chance both teams come into this game undefeated, but either way, it will have a huge impact on who claims a trip to Pasadena on New Year’s Day.

 

Cal hasn't played in a Rose Bowl since 1959. Beating USC would help them get there.

 

THREE THINGS WE WON’T SEE THIS YEAR

 

1. A quick turnaround for Washington. Despite the end of the Ty Willingham era, Huskies’ fans won’t be eying bowl tickets just yet. Former USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will develop Washington into a contender eventually, and Jake Locker being behind center gives them glimmers of hope in 2010, but this season, expect much of the same.

2. A USC QB to make the All Pac-10 First Team. No Palmer. No Leinart. No Sanchez. No first team QB. Does that mean the cupboard is bare? Not at all. In fact, depth wise no one competes with USC in the QB department. But whether it’s Aaron Corp, Mitch Mustain, or Matt Barkley behind center, expect rookie mistakes this year from the Trojan gunslingers.

3. Dennis Erickson avoid the hot seat. That’s not to say he’ll get fired should the Devils miss a bowl berth again, but everyone expected more from ASU the past few years. They were thought to be one of the top teams in the Pac-10, but have quietly eroded into mediocrity. Now with the rise of rival Arizona, the Devils need to win and win soon.

 

THREE REASONS TO WATCH THE BIG EAST

 

1. The fall of Troy? Be it the Yankees, Lakers, or New England Patriots, every sport has their most hated team. That hate breeds typically from jealousy of a team’s success. In college football, USC is that team. There’s no question of the tremendous success that the Trojans have experienced. For the first time in a long time, however, they’re not a clear cut favorite to win the Pac-10. Tons of football fans will be watching just to cheer on anyone NOT named Southern Cal.

2. Jake Locker. He may be the best QB that you’ve never heard of. Despite playing on bad teams, Locker has provided some offensive spark to an engine otherwise dead. Perhaps now with a new coach, Locker can get some help so he doesn’t have to do it all on his own. Think of Locker as a poor man’s Colt McCoy.

   

   Locker leads a revived Huskies' offense.

3. The “Civil Wars”. This could be one of the better year’s in recent memory for the conference’s rivalries. Oregon/Oregon State probably being the most notable, especially since both teams should be strong. USC/UCLA will garner more attention, as will Arizona/Arizona State.

 

BOWL QUALIFIERS

Cal, USC, Oregon State, UCLA, Oregon, Arizona