2008 CFN (College Football News) Pac 10 Preview

College Football News ^ | 24 Jun 2008 | Richard Cirminiello

[GOP_Raider]

This is the year that someone breaks through and ends USC’s six-year choke hold on the Pac-10 title.

Yeah, right.

Sure, the Trojans have shown signs of vulnerability the past two seasons, losing

head-scratchers to Oregon State, UCLA and Stanford, but when a November surge is needed, they always deliver. Plus, no one fills holes in a depth chart faster than the Men of Troy.

So, as USC feeds the NFL with a new crop of talent, there are a bunch of young players, likeDE Everson Griffen, RB Joe McKnight and QB Mark Sanchez, who are poised for stardom …and another BCS bowl game.

The nine teams chasing the Trojans can be broken down neatly into three groupings. In the first tier are Oregon, Arizona State and California — the schools best positioned for a Rose Bowl run. The Ducks begin life after Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart by hoping that a bunch of newcomers can keep the offense humming. Determined to build on last year’s banner season under Dennis Erickson, the Sun Devils first must figure out how to keep QB Rudy Carpenter from being treated like a piñata. Cal is looking to regain some street cred after back-to-back disappointing seasons, including last year’s second-half implosion.

[GOP_Raider]

The FR College Football Ping List FReepmail GOP_Raider to be on or off this list

[cdbull23]

Go Bears!

Haha, after last season's disappointment, I decided NOT to buy season tickets. I'll buy individual tickets.

[GOP_Raider]

Plus, no one fills holes in a depth chart faster than the Men of Troy.

And no one fills a sweater quite like the Women of Troy, right gentlemen?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I really like this graphic showing the locations of each team - cool!

[GOP_Raider]

How much are Cal season tickets these days? I remember when I was a much smaller kid than I am now in the East Bay they were practically begging people to buy season tix.

[GOP_Raider]

Well thanks! Eventually I’m going to get to the Big XII preview, but we have to have a Big 10/Pac 10 squabble before we get to your great plains and Texans squabbling. :)

[Dog Gone]

The USC songgirls are something else. Pick one at random. She’s a trophy wife.

I didn’t marry a songgirl, dammit, but I’m also glad my wife never reads my posts here.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

I agree with most the rankings except having UCLA in the mid-tier. Oregeon state is rebuilding this year after losing a ton of starters. They may end up losing 1 or 2 more games that predicted. UCLA has to play no less than 6 Top 25 ranked teams this year and have questions all over the place, including new coaches & system, and two fragile QB's who are both nursing serious injuries. Their schedule is a nightmare.

I believe university of washington will have a better record than UCLA at the end of the season. 6-6 and squeak into a bowl game. UCLA will be lucky to win 4 to 5 games this year. Thus swap their spots in the rankings and thats it. Besides that, the preview was spot on.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Let everyone get it out of their systems before posting Big 12.... ;^)

[Natchez Hawk]

Pac-10? (Yawn)

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I see an opportunity for blackmail....... I need my flowerbeds weeded.... ;^)

[Proud_USA_Republican]

No arguments from me here. Their cheerleaders are rediculously hot.

[GOP_Raider]

I believe university of washington will have a better record than UCLA at the end of the season. 6-6 and squeak into a bowl game.

I think as long as Jake Locker is in a Husky uni, UW will be competitive. While it might be a Las Vegas Bowl appearance kind of competitive, I think they'll be a decent/good team.

[So Cal Rocket]

TTIWWP!!

[GOP_Raider]

It’s that whole “demand for equal time” thing that I try to satisfy here. All this without one beg for the Fairness Doctrine.

(Hear that Congressional Democrats???)

[cdbull23]

They're something like $300.

Haha, I've seen you around (I notice the Raiders whenever I see the name!). A friend of mine had "early" access to ticket sales -- I've got myself tickets to the season opener vs. the Broncos (a Monday Night game, too ... can't get much better for a Raiders fan!) plus tickets to the Patriots game in December. Nice!

[Proud_USA_Republican]

The best recruiting tool in college football.

[GOP_Raider]

Yeah, I waited too long to get tickets for the Denver game but I’m going to see if one of my friends back in the Bay will let me use her ticket for the New England game.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Agreed. Locker is the key to UW getting to any bowl. They got a tough schedule just like UCLA, so its going to be an all out dogfight to get to 6 - 6, but I think they can do it.

[MissEdie]

Sorry to disappoint ya’ll, but the PAC 10 can’t hold a candle to the SEC.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Thats it everyone. The party is over. Let’s disband the conference because nobody can be as awesome as the SEC. The PAC-10 never gets to the BCS or wins national championships. It all must be hollywood special effects at work.

[saminfl]

Don’t forget the SEC alibi. They are so tough the teams beat each other up and that is why they can’t win titles.

[llevrok]

Sorry to disappoint ya’ll, but the PAC 10 can’t hold a candle to the SEC.

I agree with you. The SEC has a better balanced league (not meaning most are mediocre but more are contenders)

More enthusiastic followers too (go to a SC game and watch all the beautiful people preen for each other rather than cheer for their team)

[quadrant]

The PAC 10 is not bad, but for top to bottom strength the SEC is the best of all.

[GOP_Raider]

Last year I waited until the last preview thread to post the SEC preview, and I kept getting harped on “when ya gonna post the SEC preview, when ya gonna post the SEC preview?” So I’ll probably post it tomorrow.

[Dog Gone]

I don’t know who this Dog Gone fella is, but he sure doesn’t speak for me...

[Proud_USA_Republican]

The SEC. The class of the NCAA.

[rockthecasbah]

“I’m also glad my wife never reads my posts here”

You’re sure?

[dfwgator]

Don’t forget the SEC alibi. They are so tough the teams beat each other up and that is why they can’t win titles.

Which conference has the last two National Championships?

[GOP_Raider]

No one parties the way cajuns party!

[dfwgator]

Ahem, who just was named the “Number One Party School?”

[GOP_Raider]

Duly noted. However, I think we can credit Cajun Country for the glory that is the Hurricane Party.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

Coolest uniforms go to the Oregon Ducks. Love’um.

[llevrok]

God love those Southern coeds !

[fkabuckeyesrule]

****as USC feeds the NFL with a new crop of talent,****

Lee Corso once joked that the toughest adjustment going from USC to the NFL is the paycut. LOL!

[fkabuckeyesrule]

The first college football game I ever saw was Oregon State vs. Georgia. I won’t say what year that was.

[Dog Gone]

I think any recent bowl game which includes Notre Dame is among my favorites.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

***Ahem, who just was named the “Number One Party School?”***

What's wrong with you Gator people? You're slipping. How could you let UGA take the top spot there. Needless the say the UGA President was less than thrilled by that.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

BTW, when is the MAC preview?

[GOP_Raider]

I won’t say what year that was.

I can find this out ya know...;)

[GOP_Raider]

I’m going to post the SEC Preview late tonight/tomorrow morning, just so we can get that skirmish out of our hair. I’ll get to all of them...eventually.

[Dog Gone]

Absent some sort of psychological blow if they should happen to lose to Ohio State in their second game, USC should pretty much manhandle their conference opponents.

All of their tough games are at home, including the Ohio State game.

Virginia is an away game to start the season, so they need to be prepared. But in any kind of neutral evaluation of talent, Virginia is no USC.

[GOP_Raider]

Virginia is no USC.

I'm not sure UVa knows Hoo they're dealing with.

*rimshot* Thank you I'll be here all week...

But I did look at SC's schedule this year and I don't really see a "trap" game on their slate, certainly not in the conference. Maybe (and it's a GIGANTIC maybe) Oregon State in Corvallis but that's really pushing it.

[Dog Gone]

The only thing about Corvallis is that it can be wet and so foggy that you can’t see ten yards. A punt just disappears.

So that kind of game allows for an upset. But only if that kind of weather is present.

[hole_n_one]

Are you just gonna sit there, or what?

[hole_n_one]

I’m going to post the SEC Preview late tonight/tomorrow morning,......

I expect some to take issue if it's not posted in Breaking News.

[GOP_Raider]

I don’t really have the clout on FR to be bold enough to post it there. :)

[Man50D]

And no one fills a sweater quite like the Women of Troy, right gentlemen?

USC must rent them from Hefner.

[DeaconBenjamin]

Ahem, who just was named the “Number One Party School?”

Don't they have y'all losing to Petrino and the Hawgs?