Thoughts on the PAC-10 - Can USC be stopped?

Today's college football thoughts move west to the PAC-10......

1. Southern Cal (12-0) - as usual, everything begins and ends with the Trojans......whether you love them or hate them, you have to admit they are having a dynasty similar to that of Miami (Fla) in the 1980s and early 90s....USC has a tough road schedule: Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Cal....as they learned last year, they cannot overlook any opponent as both Oregon State and UCLA beat them....offensive tackle Sam Baker may be the best player on the team....the defense is loaded with 10 returning starters led by linebackers Keith Rivers & Brian Cushing...

2. UCLA (10-2) - was the monumental win over USC last year the victory that the UCLA football program needed to get back into the elite?.....well, Westwood returns 10 starters on both offense and defense from last year's 7-6 squad....offensive lineman Shannon Tevaga anchors the line who protect QB Ben Olson and block for 1,000 yard rusher Chris Markey....don't be surprised if the Bruins start of 8-0....

3. Oregon (8-4) - the Ducks always have a good team, but 4 of the last 5 years they have hit stretches in their season where they would lose 2 or 3 games in a row and end up underachieving....Oregon has the best running back in the conference in Jonathan Stewart....the defense returns seven players, but none are highly ranked in the conference...their defense will keep them from having a great season.....

4. Oregon State (8-4) - the Beavers caught the nation's attention by dumping USC last season....offensive lineman Jeremy Perry and defensive lineman Roy Schuening are pre-season All-Americans....both sides of the ball return 8 starters each from a 10-4 team....Sean Canfield will take over at QB, but he has running back Yvenson Bernard back who rushed for 1,364 yards...Sammie Stroughter (photo) was the top receiver in the PAC-10 - not Dwayne Jarret, Steve Smith, or DeSean Jackson last season...in 2005, the Beavers defense gave up 33 PPG, but improved to 22 PPG last season....this is a sleeper team...

5. Cal (7-5) - gone is Marshawn Lynch, but Justin Forsett steps into the running back spot....the Bears return Nate Longshore at QB and Alex Mack on the line.....but the playmaker on offense is DeSean Jackson - a stud with Ginn-like speed who can change the game....what hurts Cal though is that only 5 starters return on a defense that allowed 19.3 PPG.....it will be an up-and-down year for the kids at Berkely....

6. Arizona (7-5) - this is head coach Mike Stoops fourth year in Tuscon and he needs to produce - now!.....the offense will go as far as QB Willie Tuitama will lead them....he was a disappointment last season throwing only seven TD's.....the key to the Wildcats season is their defense which returns 9 starters and gave up 19 PPG last year....Antoine Cason may be the best corner in the conference....linebacker Spence Larsen is a stud....the Cats will pull off an upset on November 3rd when UCLA invades...if Tuitama improves, they may even go 8-4....the defense will carry this team though....

7. Arizona State (7-5) - Dennis Erickson lands in Tempe as he makes he way through all the west coast schools....one thing for certain, the Sun Devils will be a better football team fundamentally....they return nine players on offense including QB Rudy Carpenter and RB Ryan Torain....the porous defense returns five guys from a team that gave up 25 PPG....Arizona State always seems to underachieve....

8. Washington (6-6) - beginning his third season, Ty Willingham may be starting to rebuild the Huskies....last season they finished 5-7 and were driving to beat Southern Cal until the clock ran out....what hurts them is that they lost their top QB and WR from last year...QB Carl Bonnell played some last year, which will be helpful early in the year - especially when Ohio State comes marching into Seattle....they just may surprise a team or two during the year....there has been pre-season talk about pressure on Ty to start winning this year.....the university will make a big mistake if they don't give this guy some time....

9. Washington State (4-8) - the Cougars were 6-6 last season and only lost to USC by 6 points.....its just unfortunate they play in the tough PAC-10....yes Les Miles, the PAC-10 is a tough conference.....it also doesn't help that they open at Wisconsin....

10. Stanford (1-11) - young head coach Jim Harbaugh will learn that the jump from I-AA to I-A is not easy.....not everyone is a Jim Tressel....plus, Harbaugh has little to work with at Stanford....the Cardinal will play more spirited football this year - that is for sure....

Upset Alert
September 15 - USC @ Nebraska - the children of the corn will be loud and hungry....very hungry....
October 20 - Oregon @ Washington - the Ducks have pounded the Huskies 110-41 over the last three seasons.....this game is in Seattle....not so fast Oregon fans - this is not an easy W!!!....
October 20 - USC @ Notre Dame - Southern Cal should roll Notre Dame....but this game is in South Bend and the Irish are long overdue to beat USC....
November 3 - UCLA @ Arizona - it is quite possible that UCLA comes into this game with 0 or 1 loss....this will be a benchmark game for Mike Stoops....

Best Players
Southern Cal - Sam Baker, ot; John David Booty, qb; Fred Davis, te; Lawrence Jackson, de; Keith Rivers, lb; Brian Cushing, lb; Sedrick Ellis, dt; Terrell Thomas, cb
UCLA - Bruce Davis, de; Shannon Tevaga, og; Chris Markey, rb
Oregon - Jonathan Stewart, rb; Dennis Dixon, qb; Jaison Williams, wr; Max Unger, c
Oregon State - Roy Schuening, og; Sammie Stroughter, wr; Yvenson Bernard, rb; Derrick Doggett, lb; Sryan Payton, s; Alex Serna, k
Cal- DeSean Jackson, wr; Nate Longshore, qb; Justin Forsett, rb; Alex Mack, ol
Arizona - Antoine Cason, cb; Louis Holmes, de; Spencer Larsen, lb
Arizona State - Ryan Torain, rb; Brandon Rodd, ot
Washington - Greyson Gunheim, de
Washington State - Alex Brink, qb
Stanford - Alex Fletcher, og

Best coach - Pete Carroll, Southern Cal - next question please....
Best quarterback - John David Booty, Southern Cal - Nate Longshore and Dennis Dixon are good quarterbacks, but Booty is the best in the conference....
Best offensive player - Sammie Stroughter, Oregon State - most people would say DeSean Jackson, but S2 had more receptions and yards receiving....my sleeper pick for this award was almost offensive lineman Sam Baker (photo) from USC....
Best defensive player - USC Defense - take your pick.....let me say this though, the best non-USC defensive player is Arizona cornerback Antoine Cason....

Overview - about 10 years ago the PAC-10 was an embarrassment....but right now, they are one of the elite....Southern Cal is a special program which makes it hard for other quality PAC-10 teams to win the conference....but if you look at last year's USC record, they had three close calls within the conference (along with the two losses): Washington State 28-22; Washington 26-20; Arizona State 28-21....Arizona has to make a move this season and take that next step, if not, Mike Stoops may be gone....Oregon State is a sleeper team who many on the east coast know nothing about...UCLA has a chance to regain some of its lost luster - and I think they will....also, I have to pay homage to the USC Song Girls too...they are incredible, even though the Oregon cheerleaders are highly under-rated....one thing though, you think the USC sports department would get the Song Girls underpants that fit properly.... Fight On!