Five Pac 10 Pre-season Questions
1. Will anybody dethrone USC?
Travis: USC has either won or shared the title the last seven years. I don’t see much changing this year. This team will have to replace QB Mark Sanchez and 8 starters on defense; making USC the most vulnerable they’ve been since 2004. All that happened that year was some guy named Matt Leinart replaced Carson Palmer and won a national championship. I would say the questions at QB linger, but when a pedigree of Palmer to Leinart to Booty to Sanchez is the track record, whether it’s Aaron Corp or Matt Barkley, the smooth transition should continue. If there is a team that can do it, I see Cal being that team. They get the Trojans at home and in early October before USC is usually flying high. If Cal can win the previous week at Oregon, that game suddenly has national title implications. I like Cal to beat the Trojans, but Cal’s Achilles heel has been consistency. They’ve had upsets (06 at Arizona) and meltdowns (07 altogether) that have prevented them from taking the next step. I see Cal slipping up in conference play somewhere. I guess until I see otherwise, I’ll put USC back in the Rose Bowl.
Chip: The USC QB situation is overblown in my opinion, as is their replacing 8 starters on defense. The Persain army couldn’t replace Immortals as quick as Carroll replaces 4 and 5 star recruits. This makes their QB “problem” about as much of a problem as deciding whether or not to go out with Jessica Alba or Vanessa Hudgens. Can one really go wrong? The guy has 3 Gatorade players of the year at QB, 2 will be on the bench (Corp, Mustain), and I seriously think I could step in behind that offensive line and with the skill position talent that they have and lead them to a 7-2 conference record. Having typed that however, I still think this just may be Cal’s year especially since they get the Trojans at home. But in typical Cal fashion I still think they drop one on the road (of course this is Cal so who knows maybe they drop 3) and I’m guessing that happens up in Autzen. I pick Cal and USC to both go 8-1 in the Pac 10 with Cal beating USC and Oregon beating Cal. Thus Cal gets sent to the Rose and USC heads to the Fiesta as obviously any Pac 10 team with one loss is not going to make a National title game even if every other conference champ has a loss.
2. Any hope in the state of Washington?
Travis: Are you kidding? Not this season. Both teams will be bad. Maybe Jake Locker can spark an upset but he’ll be learning a pro style offense and since he’s a below average passer, he’ll struggle a little bit. Both Steve Sarkisian and Paul Wulff have long rebuilding processes. Sarkisian has hit the recruiting trail hard but I wouldn’t expect anything until his third season. Both programs are starting from ground zero. Buy your tickets for Crapple Cup II.
Chip: Yeah right, I have a larger chance of landing a three way with Eliza Dushku and Minka Kelly than either of these teams do of having a winning record. At least the Huskies give you the intrigue of getting to see Locker who is an amazing athlete. I’d rather sit down and watch Saw XXXV on a Trans Atlantic flight with a screaming infant behind me than watch the Cougars play.
3. Who could surprise and who could fall?
Travis: It seems every year the pre-season pundits under sell one team short and over sell another, last year being ASU and OSU. I was shocked that UA was picked eighth in the media poll. There are quarterback questions but that offense is never about the QB, it’s about the system. It’s why Texas Tech and BYU have been able to pick people off an assembly line. The Cats have playmakers and depth at every skilled position. As for a team that could fall, I’m not sold on the hype Oregon is getting. They lost 60% of their o-line, their starting RB (although Blount is a beast), top two WRs, 3 starters on the d-line (including Nick Reed), half their secondary, and their Head Coach. They have talent, but it wouldn’t surprise me if this team fell out of the top half of the conference.
Chip: As for who could surprise, well…………if you go by Arizona getting picked to finish 8th I would have to say they will be the surprise team. With their loaded skill player depth, knock out defense and in my opinion an underrated line I just do not see them finishing 8th. The only reason some are picking them there is QB uncertainty but neither Scott nor Foles are slouches. As for who could fall I agree with Travis that Oregon has the best shot. I still have them picked third as they have a favorable schedule Pac 10 wise as in they get USC and Cal at home. I am not as worried about their replacing the starting RB, the WR’s as I think Chip Kelly will keep things rolling. Their secondary got a boost when Harris was declared eligible but with their Defensive and Offensive line exodus they would definitely be the team I pick to keep an eye on to fall.
4. Are there any coaches on the hot seat?
Travis: For the first time in awhile, I don’t see any coach really on the hot seat. I guess Mike Stoops could be again if the Wildcats fall flat but considering the athletic department just extended him five years and replaced their basketball coach, they’re not going to want to eat that contract. It’s amazing to think six schools (ASU, Oregon, UCLA, Stanford, UW, WSU) all have Head Coaches with less than three years of tenure.
Chip: Stoops, simply because Arizona fans can be some of the dumbest I have ever met. Yes I am talking to you Keystone Light pounding, push and then jump back so my boys can “hold” me back, suit over T-shirt wearing, I’ve won 5 straight National Titles in NCAA “insert year here” so why can’t we have a QB who goes 37-43 with 7 TD’s “Brah”. I have never seen a guy take more flak while building a program. Seriously, in 2002 Arizona was the worst program in a BCS conference. Since Stoops has taken over UA’s speed and talent have increased dramatically. The school now has DEPTH, but I’m sure if the Wildcats finish 7-5 even with a new QB some fans will grumble that they didn’t fair better. None of the other schools have coaches with enough tenure (see Travis’ list) to catch much flack and I highly doubt Riley, Carroll or Tedford will wind up on the hot seat with the jobs they do year in and year out.
5. Besides any matchup with USC, what Pac 10 non-conference games interest you?
Travis: The opener with the Ducks going to the smurf turf for Thursday night ESPN affair to start the season is a great one. That place will be nuts for the biggest game ever in the state of Idaho and Boise State’s BCS hopes hinge on that game. Also, week 3 non-conference tilts. Remember last year it was week 3 the conference looked inferior to the Mountain West and took a beating nationally. Arizona and Cal head to Big 10 territory to play Iowa and Minnesota while Arizona State has a rematch between the Hedges in Athens. Cal should handle Minnesota but they were flat when they went to Maryland last year for a 9am kickoff, the same scenario they face this year, in the Gopher’s brand new stadium. That’s the definition of a trap game. Will Arizona have a QB and will they be ready for its first road test? UA should be faster and more athletic than Iowa, but are they ready to win on the road? ASU will catch a rebuilding Georgia early, but still any cross country flight to SEC territory is no easy task.
Chip: How can Boise St vs. Oregon not be number 1? ESPN, prime time, smurf turf, two top 20 teams, you can not beat that. Arizona at Iowa catches my eye. If UA gets decent QB play from whomever starts I think they take that game as they have superior team speed. ASU vs. Georgia does not interest me because I think even a rebuilding Georgia will wax ASU in Athens as the cross country flight and Georgia size and speed will be too much for the Devils.