[FreakNasty]

Pac 10 Preview

Projected Order of Finish

[SIZE=3]USC
[/SIZE]Last Season: 11-2 (beat Michigan in Rose Bowl)
Head Coach: Pete Carroll (7th season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: John David Booty (269-436, 3347 yards, 29 TD, 9 INT)
Rushing: Chauncey Washington (157 att, 756 yards, 9 TD)
Receiving: Fred Davis (38 rec, 352 yards, 3 TD)
Tackles: Keith Rivers (85)
Sacks: Ellis/Cushing (4.5)
Interceptions: Taylor Mays (3)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Idaho (W)
Sept. 15 at Nebraska (W)
Sept. 22 Washington State (W)
Sept. 29 at Washington (W)
Oct. 6 Stanford (W)
Oct. 13 Arizona (W)
Oct. 20 at Notre Dame (W)
Oct. 27 at Oregon (W)
Nov. 3 Oregon State (W)
Nov. 10 at California (W)
Nov. 22 at Arizona State (W)
Dec. 1 UCLA (W)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 12-0 (9-0 Pac 10)
7 “swing” games
Notes: USC has it’s strongest defense in recent memory with 10 returning starters and the best line backing core in the country… The offense was “disappointing” last season, averaging 30.5 point per game and getting only four yards per carry… Even though they have one of the toughest schedules in the country with road games at Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon, Cal, and Arizona State, I think they have the talent to run the table and win it all.

[B][SIZE=3]UCLA
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 7-6 (lost to Florida State in Emerald Bowl)
Head Coach: Karl Dorrell (5th season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: Patrick Cowan (145-276, 1782 yards, 11 TD, 9 INT)
Rushing: Chris Markey (227 att, 1163 yards, 2 TD)
Receiving: Marcus Everett (31 rec, 450 yards, 5 TD)
Tackles: Chris Horton (95)
Sacks: Bruce Davis (12.5)
Interceptions: Chris Horton (3)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 at Stanford (W)
Sept. 8 BYU (W)
Sept. 15 at Utah (W)
Sept. 22 Washington (W)
Sept. 29 at Oregon State (W)
Oct. 6 Notre Dame (W)
Oct. 20 Cal (W)
Oct. 27 at Washington State (L)
Nov. 3 at Arizona (W)
Nov. 10 Arizona State (W)
Nov. 24 Oregon (W)
Dec. 1 at USC (L)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 10-2 overall (7-2 Pac 10)
10 “swing” games
Notes: The defense was spectacular last season, holding offenses to 2.8 yards per carry. With 10 returning starters, they should be one of the best units in the country… The offense should improve, but a huge QB battle will be between Olson and Cowan. Olson is older and has more talent, but Cowan led the Bruins upset of USC last season. The Bruins could be 11-0 by the time they play at USC, and if the offense improves they have an outside shot at an undefeated season despite a difficult schedule with an unheard of 10 swing games.

[B][SIZE=3]Oregon
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 7-6 (lost to BYU in Las Vegas Bowl)
Head Coach: Mike Bellotti (13th season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: Dennis Dixon (197-322, 2143 yards, 12 TD, 14 INT)
Rushing: Jonathan Stewart (183 att, 1029 yards, 10 TD)
Receiving: Jaison Williams (68 rec, 984 yards, 6 TD)
Tackles: Patrick Chung (84)
Sacks: Nick Reed (3.5)
Interceptions: Jairus Byrd (5)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Houston (W)
Sept. 8 at Michigan (L)
Sept. 15 Fresno State (W)
Sept. 22 at Stanford (W)
Sept. 29 California (W)
Oct. 13 Washington State (W)
Oct. 20 at Washington (W)
Oct. 27 USC (L)
Nov. 3 Arizona State (W)
Nov. 15 at Arizona (W)
Nov. 24 at UCLA (L)
Dec. 1 Oregon State (W)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 9-3 overall (6-3 Pac 10)
8 “swing” games
Notes: Oregon quit after losing at USC last season losing four straight games including an embarrassing bowl game to BYU… Jonathan Stewart was one of the top RB coming out of high school, and should have a strong Junior season… The Ducks are probably the second most talented team in the Pac 10, but the big question is will they play to their potential.

[B][SIZE=3]Cal
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 10-3 (beat Texas AM in Holiday Bowl)
Head Coach: Jeff Tedford (6th season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders[/B][/I]:
Passing: Nate Longshore (227-377, 3021 yards, 24 TD, 13 INT)
Rushing: Justin Forsett (119 att, 670 yards, 4 TD)
Receiving: DeSean Jackson (59 rec, 1060 yards, 9 TD)
Tackles: Joey Baroque (98)
Sacks: Dorian Smith (9)
Interceptions: Derrick Doggett (3)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Tennessee (L)
Sept. 8 at Colorado State (W)
Sept. 15 Louisiana Tech (W)
Sept. 22 Arizona (W)
Sept. 29 at Oregon (L)
Oct. 13 Oregon State (W)
Oct. 20 at UCLA (L)
Oct. 27 at Arizona State (W)
Nov. 3 Washington State (W)
Nov.10 USC (L)
Nov. 17 at Washington (W)
Dec. 1 at Stanford (W)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 8-4 overall (6-3 Pac 10)
7 “swing” games
Notes: Tedford has installed a quality offense during his tenure. They haven’t averaged under 32 points per game since he arrived in 2002... They have a tremendous wide receiving core led by DeSean Jackson, who also doubles as a punt returner… Cal has enough talent to contend for the Pac 10 title again (tied with USC for first last season) but a schedule that has most of their quality conference foes on the road will hamper them.

[B][SIZE=3]Oregon State
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 10-4 (beat Missouri in Sun Bowl)
Head Coach: Mike Riley (7th season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders[/B][/I]:
Passing: Sean Canfield (28-45, 335 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing: Yvenson Bernard (296 att, 1364 yards, 12 TD)
Receiving: Sammie Stroughter (74 rec, 1293 yards, 5 TD)
Tackles: Joey Baroque (98)
Sacks: Dorian Smith (9)
Interceptions: Derrick Doggett (3)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Aug. 30 Utah (W)
Sept. 6 at Cincinnati (W)
Sept. 15 Idaho State (W)
Sept. 22 at Arizona State (W)
Sept. 29 UCLA (L)
Oct. 6 Arizona (W)
Oct. 13 at California (L)
Oct. 27 Stanford (W)
Nov. 3 at USC (L)
Nov. 10 Washington (W)
Nov. 17 at Washington State (L)
Dec. 1 at Oregon (L)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 7-5 overall (4-5 Pac 10)
8 “swing” games
Notes: After finishing -14 in turnovers in 2005, they finished +8 in 2006 and won five more games… Bernard ran for over 1300 yards last season, but only had 4.4 yards per carry (ninth out of the returning rushing leaders in conference), that should improve this season. They have a very experienced defense led by JUCO’s, and they are good enough to go to a bowl again despite a brutal road conference schedule.

[B][SIZE=3]Arizona State
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 7-6 (lost to Hawaii in Hawaii Bowl)
Head Coach: Dennis Erickson (1st season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: Rudy Carpenter (184-332, 2523 yards, 23 TD, 14 INT)
Rushing: Ryan Torian (223 att, 1279 yards, 7 TD)
Receiving: Michael Jones (20 rec, 318 yards, 3 TD)
Tackles: Josh Barrett (82)
Sacks: Dexter Davis (40)
Interceptions: Josh Barrett (3)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 San Jose State (W)
Sept. 8 Colorado (W)
Sept. 15 San Diego State (W)
Sept. 22 Oregon State (L)
Sept. 29 at Stanford (W)
Oct. 6 at Washington State (W)
Oct. 13 Washington (W)
Oct. 27 California (L)
Nov. 3 at Oregon (L)
Nov. 10 at UCLA (L)
Nov. 22 USC (L)
Dec. 1 Arizona (W)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 7-5 overall (4-5 Pac 10)
8 “swing” games
Notes: Dennis Erickson returns to the Pac 10 after one season at Idaho (previously coached at Washington State and Oregon State). Ryan Torian came out of nowhere last season to run over 1200 yards. At 6’1 213 pounds he has good versatility and could be a first round draft pick… The defense loses three of the top four tacklers, and while a lot of experts are calling the Sun Devils a possible 10 win team, I think they’ll be a mid-level Pac 10 team this season.

[B][SIZE=3]Washington
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 5-7 (no bowl)
Head Coach: Tyrone Willingham (3rd season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: Carl Bonnell (72-164, 916 yards, 7 TD, 11 INT)
Rushing: Louis Rankin (142 att, 706 yards, 4 TD)
Receiving: Anthony Russo (32 rec, 552 yards, 2 TD)
Tackles: Roy Lewis (66)
Sacks: Greyson Gunheim (6)
Interceptions: Mesphin Forrester (2)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Aug. 31 at Syracuse (W)
Sept. 8 Boise State (W)
Sept. 15 Ohio State (L)
Sept. 22 at UCLA (L)
Sept. 29 USC (L)
Oct. 13 at Arizona State (L)
Oct. 20 Oregon (L)
Oct. 27 Arizona (W)
Nov. 3 at Stanford (W)
Nov. 10 at Oregon State (L)
Nov. 17 Cal (L)
Nov. 24 Washington State (W)
Dec. 1 at Hawaii (L)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 5-7 overall (3-6 Pac 10)
8 “swing” games
Notes: This is probably the best team Willingham has had here in his three years… It looks like the quarterback will be Jake Locker, who was very sought after out of high school and has great speed… Washington lost two tough overtime game last year, otherwise they probably would have been in a bowl. With perhaps the hardest schedule in the country, it’ll be hard to gain bowl eligibility.