PAC 10 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2008

MATT FAIRCHILD BREAKS DOWN THE PAC 10 CONFERENCE AND GIVES HIS PREDICTIONS
The PAC-10 has become USC's bitch. They do what they want and pay their players and get away with a lot of shit because they bring in so much money. Without USC would anyone really even talk about the PAC-10? Probably not. We know we are guaranteed some entertaining high scoring late night battles on FSN when we are piss drunk but other than that we see a bunch of average teams and the one superpower in USC. Will this year be different? NEGATIVE!


THE ELITE TEAMS:

USC TROJANS-Pretty simple to explain USC dominance the past 6 years: talent. They have so much talent, the most in the country, the only reason why they haven't won more National Titles is complacency. Gone is Booty at QB while Mark Sanchez and his dirty kneecap enter the equation. The Trojans are loaded everywhere on the field except one important position: offensive line. Only one starter returns which is why I think the Buckeyes will beat them early in the season at the Coliseum. Fortunately for the Trojans the rest of the conference still hasn't caught up to them and Notre Dame has yet to come even close to them minus the 2005 game. Double digit wins are for sure with their talent but I wouldn't be surprised if they lost 3 games this year especially with the questions at QB and offensive line.

THE CONTENDERS:

ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS-ASU had the look of a smoke and mirrors team last year. Coach Dennis Erickson did an excellent job in his first season taking the Sun Devils to the Holiday Bowl only to get smoked by Texas. Senior QB Rudy Carpenter might be the best in the PAC-10 but he will be working behind the worst offensive line in the conference. The Sun Devils have talent but they will be over powered at the line of scrimmage by teams such as Georgia and USC. A lot of people like the Sun Devils and think they can repeat if not better the 10 victories of last season. I'm not one of them.

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS-Cal is going with QB Kevin Riley behind a veteran and talented offensive line with one of the best RB's in the conference in Jahvid Best. Jeff Tedford should have his team ready from a second half collapse which included losing 6 of their last 7 games after ascending to #2 in the rankings. The defense returns 8 starters and even though I don't think they are top 10 material I could see them flirting with a top 15 ranking by the end of the season. Cal will go bowling again with Tedford and could provide an upset or two this season.

OREGON DUCKS-Losing QB Dennis Dixon and RB Jonathan Stewart will hurt the Ducks but they have enough talent to compete for a bowl game this season. Coach Mike Bellotti should have a good running game despite the loss of Stewart with Jeremiah Johnson and Andre Crenshaw both back and ready to kick ass behind one of the nation's best offensive lines. Defensively the Ducks are second only to the Trojans and they should have a solid chance of repeating the 9 wins they had last year.


FALLING BACK TEAMS:

UCLA BRUINS-This could be a really brutal first season for coach Rick Neuheisel considering only 9 starters return from a team that managed to lose to Notre Dame at home last season. They don't have a healthy QB and the offensive line is a bunch of unknowns so it would almost be a shock if the Bruins have a winning record. With a coach like Neuheisel and OC Norm Chow it is just a matter of time before they get the right recruits and build a power who can potentially challenge the Trojans for conference titles but this year is not the year. Look out for freshman safety Rahim Moore, he has the ability to be one of the best in Bruins' history.

ARIZONA WILDCATS-It's do or die time for head coach Mike Stoops at Arizona. Entering his 5th season, Stoop's Wildcats return 10 starters on offense and should be able to put up a lot of points especially with a senior QB in Willie Tuitama. Sophomore TE Rob Gronkowski is one of the best at his position in the country and WR Mike Thomas is capable of improving on last year's numbers(1038 yards receiving, 11 TD catches). A potential weak spot for the Wildcats is only 1 returning starter among the front 7 on defense so it could be an uphill battle for the Wildcats to get to their bowl game since 1998. With Tuitama at QB I think they can get at least 7 victories this season and finally make a bowl game and perhaps save Stoops job for the time being.

OREGON STATE BEAVERS-I love Beaver, just not the one coached by Mike Riley.

TEAMS THAT SUCK AND BLOW AT THE SAME TIME:

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS-First year head coaches usually have a tough time transitioning to a new program especially when that particular program has only 8 conference wins in the last 3 seasons. Paul Wulff inherits 14 returning starters including an All-American candidate at WR in Brandon Gibson but the Cougars just don't have enough to compete with the upper echelon of teams in the PAC-10 and could finish in the basement this season.

STANFORD CARDINALS-Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has the Stanford Cardinal heading into the right direction with the huge upset over USC last season but talent wise this program is still one of the weakest in the Pac-10. The QB position should be solid with either Tavita Pritchard or Alex Loukas taking the reigns this year until heralded freshman Andrew Luck matures. 9 starters return on defense which should keep them competitive in most of their games.

WASHINGTON HUSKIES-The Huskies have won only 6 conference games in the Willingham era(worst in conference) and this year they face another uphill battle with 5 road games including the first brutal match up in Eugene. QB Jake Locker is the Tim Tebow of the West and he should be able to run the ball for over a 1000 yards but the WR crew is bad. Their out of conference schedule includes BYU, Oklahoma, and Notre Dame. All 3 will be losses in the final brutal season for the Losingham era at Washington.

BEST GAME: OHIO STATE AT USC (September 13th)-If you are a true college football fan or even a novice one you owe it to yourself to watch this night game. Two of the most storied programs who for the most part only meet in the Rose Bowl, the Trojans have lost the last 5 games in the series. Who ever wins this game will likely be the #1 team in the country and have a great shot at a BCS Title game.

WORST GAME: WASHINGTON STATE AT BAYLOR (September 13th)-Both programs are probably the worst in their respective conferences.

MOST OVERRATED GAME: NOTRE DAME AT USC(November 29th)-Until Notre Dame gets the balls to come out and punch USC in the fucking mouth this game between the two programs is usually a blow out with USC winning the last 6.

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Washington QB Jake Locker is a one man wrecking crew and it's really too bad he does it on such a bad team.

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: USC LB Rey Maualuga scares the piss out of me and I can only imagine how much he scares the opposition.

BEST FRESHMAN: UCLA safety Rahim Moore will start immediately and be one of the best players on the field for the Bruins.

MOST LIKELY TO GET ARRESTED: The Washington State Cougars have been racking up Fulmer Cup points so far this season with 25 players either being arrested or charged with an offense in the past 18 months.

MOST LIKELY TO BE FIRED: Washingon head coach Ty Willingham will be fired and paid handsomely again to be a shitty coach at a program he no longer coaches at. He will remain stoic and become the molder of terrible teams in the meantime.

PLAYER WHO WILL BE BETTER THAN WHAT PEOPLE THINK: Oregon defensive end Nick Reed doesn't get a lot of recognition but last year he led the PAC-10 in sacks and tackles for loss.

DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AWARD: Why nobody in the PAC-10 has been able to develop a program capable of challenging USC for the conference. There is so much talent in the state of California you would think somebody like UCLA or even Oregon could knock them off of their perch just once.

THE WINNER IS:
USC is by far the most talented and well coached team in the PAC-10. I'm still surprised other teams in the conference haven't caught up with them but then again it just goes to show how great Pete Carroll is in establishing a dynasty and maintaining it. Trust me it pains me to call the Trojans a dynasty but they are what they are and right now they are still heads and shoulders above anybody in the PAC-10.