The Top Five Reasons Why Cal Will Win The Pac-10 Football Title in 2009

(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

1. Defense wins championships in the Pac-10 

Even with the loss of Zack Follett, Worrell Williams, and Anthony Felder, the Cal Bears defensive unit has all the makings of a very special unit in 2009. 

"The Bears defense, dare we say it, in a conference lorded over by USC, might actually end up as the Pac-10’s best unit."
-ESPN's Ted Miller

The Bears "Bend but don't break" defensive philosophy shows in the fact that while the unit finished fourth in yards given up per game, the Bears gave up less than 20 points per game in 2008 (second only to USC). Cal finished ahead of USC in Red Zone defensive statistics. Cal returns eight starters from it's defensive unit of last year.

Cal's defensive front is rock solid and their secondary is completely intact from last season, with likely All-American Syd'Quan Thompson as the units leader.

As stated earlier.  Defense wins championships in the Pac-10. Look for the Bears to finish number one in defense next season.

2. Jeff Tedford and Andy Ludwig will be on the same page on offense

When Tedford left Fresno State for Oregon, Ludwig replaced Tedford at Offensive Coordinator for the Bulldogs. Ludwig later replaced Tedford at Oregon as Offensive Coordinator when Tedford left for Cal. 

Now the two are back together again and the offense will be in sync and powerful.

Last season with Utah, Ludwig helped coach the Utes to a 15th ranked offense in the nation with an average of 37.4 points per game. The Utes quarterback, Brian Johnson, earned Mountain West Player of the Year honors. 

Look for the Bears to strike quick and often next season under Ludwig who looks like he he might be in line for a head coaching position in the not too distant future. 

Ludwig has followed in Tedford's footsteps for the past several years now. Could Tedford and Ludwig be Cal's version of Oregon's Mike Bellotti and Chip Kelly, where Kelly replaced Bellotti, who ascended to the position of Athletic Director? Only time will tell.

One thing is certain. These two coaches will be on the same page when it comes to leading the Bears to the Pac-10 title next season and a BCS Bowl Game.

3. Cal has the best one-two running back combo in the conference

Jahvid Best finished number one in rushing yards in the Pac-10. Cal's Shane Vereen, a true freshman last season, finished number 10 in rushing in the conference. Only Oregon has two top-10 rushers returning this season, but one of those is their quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.

Both Best and Vereen are sprinters on Cal's track team. Combined, Best and Vereen ran for nearly 2300 yards averaging 7.1 yards per carry as a team. 

Jahvid Best is a legitimate contender for the Heisman Trophy next season if he can top last seasons stellar performance.

4. USC talent attrition was too great this past year to prevent their falling a notch

I know, I know. USC football players are like teeth in a great white shark's mouth. One falls out to the NFL draft and two grow back in its place. 

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