Pac-10 Football on Paper: Up for Grabs in 2009

Since 2002, the Pac-10 conference has been dominated by the USC Trojans. Year after year, the Trojans have been able to reload rather then rebuild, but this season could prove to be different.

When the 2009 college football season kicks off this year, the Trojans will have questions at various positions, including quarterback. With the amount of talent that left the Trojans to go to the NFL, the conference could be an interesting race between three teams, and a dark horse could certainly join the chase for the conference crown.

Since the Pac-10 plays a true round-robin schedule, allowing every team to play the entire conference, this will get settled on the field, but let's take a look at how they finish on paper.

No. 10: Washington State

Things have gotten tough up in the Pacific Northwest, and after a 2-11 record last year, things won't get much better for the Cougars.

Combined with a tough conference, the Cougars don't have it any easier in their out of conference play, which includes Notre Dame and Hawaii. In the end, WSU will be looking at another two-win season as it finishes 2-10.

No. 9: Washington

Out of all the teams in the Pac-10, Washington has to be chomping at the bit to get back on the field and erase the memory of their 0-12 2008 season. Not to be outdone by their in-state rival, Washington one-ups the Cougars with its out of conference schedule by playing both Notre Dame and LSU.

The Huskies' home schedule favors them as they play host to LSU, USC, Oregon, and Cal. Unfortunately, the home schedule will not matter. In the end, Jake Locker cannot get it done on his own, and the Huskies finish 2-10 but do defeat in-state rival Washington State.

No. 8: Arizona

After going 8-5 last year, the Arizona Wildcats face a tough schedule and will do so with unproven quarterback Matt Scott.

While their out of conference schedule should allow them to get out to a 3-0 start, Arizona only plays at home against one Pac-10 contender—Oregon.

With their inexperience at QB, I feel it could be a long year for Wildcat fans, as they go 4-8 and miss out on a bowl game.

No. 7: Stanford

After shocking the college football world in 2007 with their win over USC, the Stanford Cardinal failed to build on that momentum and register a signature win last year.

Stanford did take a step forward by winning one more game last year, but they step into this season with an unproven quarterback and some youth in their secondary.

I believe Stanford is on its way, but this is not the year for them, as they go 4-8 and take a step back from last year.

No. 6: Arizona State

After a promising 2-0 start to last year's season, the Sun Devils proceeded to drop their next six games and finish a mediocre 5-7.

This year, the Sun Devils continue the Pac-10 trend of having to break in a new quarterback, but will also have to do the same at running back.

While their schedule isn't awful, it does include trips to Georgia and Eugene to face the Ducks.

At the end of the year, I believe they pull out a win at home against Arizona to go 6-6 and be bowl eligible.

No. 5: UCLA

Coach Rick Neuheisel came in last year and made some noise and stirred up the rivalry between UCLA and USC. Unfortunately for Rick, he ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard when those two teams met.

This year, the Bruins return a lot of players on defense, but it will be the offense that determines how far they go.

It looks more and more likely that the Bruins will start redshirt freshman Kevin Prince, and to make things worse, they put him behind an offensive line that has some question marks.

With that said, the Bruins will likely make a bowl game, finishing with a 7-5 record.

No. 4: Oregon State

After staring 0-2, and looking bad in doing so, nobody saw Oregon State upsetting USC. Leading up to their final game against in-state rival Oregon, the Beavers would continue to run the table, winning all of their conference games.

With the conference title and a Rose Bowl berth on the line, the Beavers would have their dreams crushed as Oregon scored at will, winning 65-38.

This year, the Beavers could be the dark horse team in the Pac-10. They enter the year with senior quarterback Lyle Moevao (assuming he heals correctly from surgery), but more importantly, freshman sensation Jacquizz Rodgers will be in the backfield.

The downside for the Beavers is a young secondary in a pass-happy conference.

With all the young quarterbacks in the Pac-10, the Beavers may sneak up and take another run at the conference championship, but in the end they take a step back from last year and go 8-4.

No. 3: California

With Heisman candidate Jahvid Best on their side, Cal enters the season as one of the three teams that should challenge for the Pac-10 crown. Cal is also another team with a returning quarterback and plenty of talent on defense, including shutdown cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson.

With the way Cal's schedule is set up, we should know early if this team is for real. They face a trip to Minnesota early in the year, which could be a trap for this West Coast team. They follow that game up by staying on the road in Eugene and heading home to face USC.

This three-game stretch should tell fans all they need to know about Cal. If history has taught fans anything about Cal, it is that they have a tendency to lose some games they shouldn't. I feel that is the case this year, as the team goes 9-3 and finishes third in the Pac-10.

No. 2: USC

Yes, that is right—the USC Trojans check in at No. 2 in the Pac-10 this year.

Here's why. The Trojans enter the year needing to replace eight defensive starters and a new quarterback.

Defensive superstar Taylor Mays returned to USC and will help the defense dramatically.

Aaron Corp appears to be the front runner to take over the reins at quarterback, and that will be the biggest question mark for this year's team.

I am a believer that USC reloads and always has players ready, but their schedule sends them to Ohio State, to Eugene to face the Ducks (where they lost in 2007), to Cal, and to Notre Dame.

I feel that the game in Eugene on Halloween will be the game that trips up the Trojans, as they finish 11-1.

No. 1: Oregon

Coming into the 2009 season, you could argue that the Oregon Ducks have the strongest backfield in the Pac-10. Senior running back LeGarrette Blount returns for his senior year along with Jeremiah Masoli, who enters his junior year.

As last year wore on, Masoli found his stride and became both a pass and run threat. This prediction will look either really good or bad early on, as Oregon is at Boise State and then home for Purdue, Utah, and Cal.

Should the Ducks start off 4-0, or even 3-1, with this schedule, they will be in good shape as long as they beat Cal at home. The conference road schedule shapes up nicely for the Ducks, as their biggest test will be at Arizona late in the year.

Having USC at home this year will prove to be the difference, as the Ducks finish 11-1, losing out of conference, and punch their ticket to the Rose Bowl.