The big question remain the offensive that gave up far too many sacks a year ago. Many of those players are gone, which could be a good thing.
The defense should be similar to last year, which is decent.
It looks like the Sun Devils will get off to a 3-0 start before facing Georgia at home, a game I don’t see them winning.
That is the first of a brutal six-game stretch where they travel to Cal, USC, OSU, and Washington, surrounded with a home game against Oregon and two off weeks.
I have the Devils going 1-5 in that tough stretch, which is why they will only end in a mid-level bowl.
The season ends the way it starts with home games against WSU and UCLA before a short trip to Arizona.
4. California (7-5, 5-4)
This is shaping up as another one of those decent years for the Bears.
The quarterback situation is up in the air again between Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley. Whoever wins the quarterback job will miss not having their top four receivers from last year, including draft picks DeSean Jackson and Lavelle Hawkins.
The ground game will also be different without Justin Forsett, but speedster Jahvid Best looks like more than a capable replacement.
Some good news for Cal is their defense should be the best it has been in a few years.
Cal opens the season with an interesting game against Michigan State and travels to Maryland the third game of the year.
The Bears only have four Pac-10 road games, which could set up a decent run in the conference. Trips to USC, OSU, and Arizona will be hard, so it will be vital to win the Sep. 6 trip to Wazzu.
A three-game stretch with Oregon, USC and OSU will determine their fate.
5. Arizona (8-4, 5-4)
The Wildcats haven’t been to a bowl game in a decade, but that should change this year.
Willie Tuitama is the best QB in the conference and should shatter the school’s passing yardage record.He will have the top four receivers all returning and the offensive line blocking for him is a big, solid group, making this the most explosive offense in the conference.
Nicholas Grigsby is returns at running back after a solid freshman season.
However, defense has been a problem for the Wildcats, despite having a defensive coach in Mike Stoops.
After losing several players from an underachieving defense a year ago, it will be up to a new cast of characters to put Arizona back on the map.
The schedule is in their favor with only five road games all year. Three of those games are against Pac-10 teams who were below .500 overall a year ago.
Trips to Oregon and New Mexico won’t be easy though.
Don’t foget about the upset victory over USC on Oct. 25. Mark it on your schedule.
This has the potential of a special year in the desert.
6. Oregon State (6-6, 5-4)
It should be an interesting year for the Beavers.
The key to the season will be if either Sean Canfield or Lyle Moevao can step up at the QB position.
Yvenson Bernard is gone in the backfield, but there is a highly touted freshman expected to start in Jacquizz Rodgers.
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