subject: PAC 10 Football Predictions 2010 [print this page] PAC 10 Football Predictions 2010 PAC 10 Football Predictions 2010
Pac-10 Predictions
1. USC Trojans - USC has been taken down a few notches since missing out on at least a share of the Pac-10 title for the first time since 2001 last season. Now, the program will have to suffer through a two-year bowl ban and a reduced amount of scholarships. While not having the opportunity to compete for a national title stinks, there should still be plenty of excitement surrounding USC football after new head coach Lane Kiffin locked up the nation's best recruiting class. Winning the Pac-10 is USC's Super Bowl this season, and I fully expect the Trojans to get the job done.
2. Oregon Ducks - Oregon appeared to poised to win the Pac-10 again in 2010 until starting QB Jeremiah Masoli was convicted of theft charges that will cost him the season. The offense will still be good, but not as good with either Nate Costa or Darron Thomas running the show. I expect this year's conference title to come down to an October 30th showdown at USC, which I have the Trojans winning. They will be hungry to avenge last year's loss in Eugene, and they will get the benefit of playing the game following a bye week.
3. Oregon State Beavers - It takes solid quarterback play to win big games, and that's something the Beavers likely won't have the luxury of following the departures of both Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao. The Beavers will win a lot of games thanks to the explosive Rodgers brothers, but they will probably come up short against Oregon and USC again in 2010.
4. Stanford Cardinal - The Cardinal will miss Heisman Trophy runner-up Toby Gerhart, but I still think they will remain competitive. Now that Gerhart is gone, it will be Andrew Luck's time to shine at the QB position. Some experts project him as a top-10 NFL draft pick.
5. Arizona Wildcats - Arizona has produced consecutive winning seasons for the first time since the late 1990s. A good offense, led by QB Nick Foles and running back Nate Grigsby, will give the Wildcats an excellent opportunity to make it three straight winning campaigns, but a suspect defense will keep them from competing for the conference crown.
6. Washington Huskies - Led by NFL prospect Jake Locker, an offense which returns 9 starters should be one of the toughest units to stop in the league. The problem is that Washington's defense might not stop anybody. After all, the Huskies allowed 31 or more points six times last year. If this unit can make a bigger stride than expected, the Huskies could be a sleeper.
7. California Golden Bears - Shane Vareen showed that he can have big games in Jeff Tedford's offense. This means that we shouldn't see much of a drop off, if any at all, following the departure of Jahvid Best. Where we will see a drop off is on the defensive side of the football where the losses of Tyson Alualu and Syd'Quan Thompson will really hurt.
8. UCLA Bruins - The Bruins have been making progress under Rick Neuheisel. The team built off of its 4-8 campaign in 2008 and went 7-6 last season. The progress should continue in 2010, but unfortunately it may not be seen in the win column due to a tough schedule which includes non-conference contests with Texas, Houston and K-State.
9. Arizona State Sun Devils - ASU won just 2 games in Pac-10 play last season, and that number could be reduced to 1 with the Sun Devils having to go to Washington this year. The Sun Devils did boast one of the very best defenses in the Pac-10 in 2009, but a poor offense wasn't able to put enough points on the board to win many games.
10. Washington State Cougars - The Cougars finished 1-11 last season, including 0-9 in Pac-10 play. They are now just 3-22 two years in with Paul Wulff, and it figures to be another trying season.
If you would like to get my take on all the other leagues across the country, be sure to check out my 2010 college football predictions.
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