College Football Preview-PAC-10

Continuing of coverage of the west coast we make our stop at the PAC-10. Of course in this lovely conference at the center of the town, a monument so larg that not even reporters or analysts (Lee Corso) can see past it. That monument would be USC no not the gamecocks, the University of Southern California Trojans. They are 3rd among active FBS teams in National Championships, they lead the conference in Conference Championships with 30+. They dominate with a ferocious combination of speed, strength, and strategy. Last year the Men of Troy finished with only 1 loss and an impressive Rose Bowl win (yet again) this time over Penn State. A top 5 recruiting class is a given and a top 5 pre season ranking soon followed. Though the university has sometimes been enveloped by controversy (Reggie Bush, O.J. Simpson and Mayo, Matt Leinart) none of it matters. Coach Pete Carrol continues to land every very Blue Chip Prospect known to man and with the midas touch every quarterback he touches turns to gold at the college level. Though in the NFL his starters turn into back ups (Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, Dwayne Jarret) and his back ups become starters (Steve Smith, Matt Cassel, Lendale White) Still only reporters complain about him having too many good players at skill positions. How many coaches, at any level can complain or would complain about having to much talent. Well Pete doesnt. He has managed to stay humble, and as much as people love to hate him, he is a gentlemen when it comes to winning and losing. People say he wouldnt do well at any other university and that almost any coach could go to USC and win. WRONG! People said the same bout Phil Jackson, well do you think that Stan Van Gundy or even Papovich could handle the star power of the Jordan, Pippen, and the ever insane Denis Rodman, no way. Or even could anyone handle putting a young Shaq and Kobe together, no way either. Well thats what Pete does at USC, he takes anyone they throw at him and makes even the most selfish man a team player in his system. I havent heard Johnson or McKnight complain about not getting enough touches. Or Mitch Mustain complaining about not getting enough snaps. it just doesnt happen. And do you think Bob Stoops or Urban Myer would punk their players with a prank done by Will Ferrel. So expect these men of Troy to win 10+ games, win the conference and possbly play for a National Championship. They are lead by their awesome running game, but drug down by so many losses on Defense, and sometimes a little over confidence ex. Stanford, Oregon State. But anyway lets not forget about the rest of the conference. Oregon returns alot of starters. They have two super fast QB's and a secondary tht has the potential to mae teams 1 dementional. The ducks could have a 10 win season and mayb even surprise the Trojans and give them a run for conference champion. The Autzen Zoo should be loud and crowded and those Nike uniforms should glisten in the Oregon sun (granted if you manage to see it) Next is Oregon State, they lost some ver important talent, and recruiting wasn't terrible but its not as good as their instate rival. But they have something that is comparable to what high schoolers experiance in class every time a tacher has a bad week. a 'pop' "Quiz" just like his name implies, he comes at you suddenly angry, you never know what hit you and by the time you do, your disappointed and explainig to someone why it went poorly. Yup Rodgers is the real deal, and impossible tackle almost. (Just ask Tommy Trojan what happened in Corvalis last year) Even sure he just transitions us into our next team. Cause he is only the second best RB in the PAC. Jevon Best is the best. No one out runs him, out efforts him or overcomes what he has. Cal is a major sleeper team cause they have the ability to run the ball every play and havepure consistency from the man in th back field. Look for Cal and Oregon State to finish with 8 or 9 wins on their way to the bowl games. The rest of the conference is like any other. Weak in many places with a few surprises at every corner. Washington is still pretty good behing the "Lock" man,UCLA is well...UCLA, Stanford has an awesome band, and Arizona and Arizona State could both make bowl games this year. My predictions for this year. 1st. USC 11-1 Rose Bowl, 2nd. Oregon 10-2 Bowl Game, 3rd. Cal 8-4 Bowl Game, 4th. Oregon State 8-4 Bowl Game, 5th.Washington ,6th UCLA 7th. Arizona State, 8th. Arizona,9th. Stanford, 10th. Washington State . - Nick (R.I.P. Jason "Gunner" Hunter)