2010 College Football Preview: Oregon Ducks Flying Towards Pac-10 Title

The Pac -10 has had a very interesting offseason that included a little bit of everything, including sanctions, transfers, and a conference shake up.

The biggest news was that they will add two teams after this season, as both Utah and Colorado agreed to join the Pac -10. This move will give the conference an entirely new look as it heads into the future.

Several of the programs, most notably USC and Oregon, were mired in offseason troubles that resulted in punishments from the NCAA and players being removed from the team. It will be interesting to see how these offseason changes will affect the Pac -10 as they head into the 2010 football season.

Brobury Sports has posted the odds on each team to win the Pac-10 conference. These odds are placed on each team and their chances to win the Pac-10.

Here are my predictions for the Pac-10 in 2010, which include where the teams will finish in the standings and which one will be the eventual champion.

2010 PAC-10 Predictions:

1. Oregon Ducks

Their odds to win the Pac-10 are 2.5 to 1.

Like USC, Oregon had their fair share of problems in the offseason. QB Jeremiah Masoli was released from the team for his criminal offenses and star running back LaMichael James received a one game suspension for his involvement.

Despite all the off-field issues, Oregon will field a good team that is capable of winning the Pac -10. Head coach Chip Kelly will have to choose between Nate Costa and Darron Thomas to play quarterback and take over for the departed Masoli .

Oregon returns ten starters on the offense, including the entire front line and a handful of playmakers . This offense averaged 412 YPG and 36 PPG and should do well again this year.

The defense is quick and takes advantage of other teams' mistakes. The schedule sets up nicely and they will get solid quarterback play as the Ducks make a run for the Rose.

2. USC Trojans

The USC Trojans are not eligible to win the Pac -10.

The Trojans had a tumultuous offseason, to say the least. Pete Carroll left after a successful run to coach in the NFL and that may have been the first indication that USC was going to be punished by the NCAA.

The Trojans hired Lane Kiffin as head coach and then they were slammed with a two-year postseason football ban and lost 10 football scholarships. Recruits started to scramble to get out of their letter of intent and somewhere among the madness, the Trojans have to prepare for the upcoming season.

QB Matt Barkley is back and the Trojans still managed to have one of the best recruiting classes in the country. They only have 12 returning starters and this team will take a few games to gel under Kiffin, but the schedule favors the Trojans and they should be among the top teams in the Pac -10.

3. Washington Huskies

The odds to win the Pac-10 are 5 to 1.

Washington was one of the few Pac -10 teams to actually get good news in the offseason. Superstar quarterback Jake Locker announced he was coming back to Washington when most people thought he would head to the NFL. Head coach Steve Sarkisian returns 20 players to this team from a year ago.

The offense is in place and looks to be deadly again, but the defense will need to improve. The Huskies were ninth in the league in run defense, pass efficiency defense, and scoring defense and if that happens again this year, the Huskies won’t compete for the title.

Jake Locker and this offense will carry the team and a return to the postseason is very likely.

4. Oregon St. Beavers

The odds to win the PAC-10 are 2.5 to 1

Jazquizz Rodgers and his brother James return on offense for the Beavers and they should electrify the field with some highlight reel plays this year. In all, the Beavers return 17 players, but a lot of the success this year will rest in the hands of sophomore Ryan Katz as he will get the nod at quarterback to start the year.

The defense must step it up this year and improve on a lackluster turnover and sack totals from a year ago.

The schedule maker didn't do the Beavers any favors, as they get TCU and Boise State out of conference early in the season. They do get home games against Oregon and USC but this team is not ready to grab a Pac -10 title just yet.

5. Arizona Wildcats

The odds to win the PAC-10 are 5 to 1.

The Wildcats return a solid core of superstars on offense, led by QB Nick Foles and RB Nic Grigsby . With the offense set, head coach Mike Stoops will have some work to do on the defensive side of the ball. The Wildcats lose seven starters, two on the inside, the entire linebacker core, and a pair of All-Star defensive backs.

Ricky Elmore returns after notching 10.5 sacks a year ago but if he doesn’t get any help, the Wildcats could be looking at a very long season in 2010. The schedule provides a tough out of conference matchup against Iowa and the Cats look as though they will finish in the middle of the pack this year.

6. Stanford Cardinal

Odds to win the PAC-10 are 8 to 1.

Jim Harbaugh has turned the Stanford football program into a respectable team, capable of playing with some of the best teams in the country. QB Andrew Luck returns to lead a talented offense that brings back eight starters from a year ago.

With RB Toby Gerhart headed to the NFL, Stanford will pass the ball more and showcase Luck at the helm.

The problem is the defense that allowed 402.7 YPG and 26.5 PPG last season. The defensive unit finished ninth in Pac -10 total defense and will have to fill some holes to compete this year. Stanford will not fly under the radar like they have in years past and that will make it tough for them to finish at the top of the Pac -10.

7. UCLA Bruins

Their odds to win the PAC-10 are 3.5 to 1.

Rick Neuheisel has the UCLA fan base excited about 2010 after the 7-6 finish from a year ago. The Bruins looked solid on defense last year but had big problems moving the ball on the ground. The Bruins averaged just 114.6 RYPG last year, which ranked 97th in the nation.

QB Kevin Prince returns for the Bruins and he is joined by top rusher Johnathan Franklin, top receivers Nelson Rosario and Taylor Embree , and his complete offensive line.

Consistency is good on offense and that will lead to an improvement in the win column by this team. They have been straddled with a killer out of conference schedule, as they face Kansas St., Houston, and Texas.

An eight-win season is not out of the question for the Bruins, but it will be close.

8. California Bears

Odds to win the PAC-10 are 8 to 1.

The Bears should not be overlooked in the Pac -10, due to a dynamic offense. The Bears bring back third-year starting QB Kevin Riley, up-and-coming megastar Shane Vereen , leading receiver Marvin Jones, and nearly the entire offensive line.

The problem is on defense, as the Bears got torched on a regular basis last year, especially through the air. If the secondary does not show improvement, the quarterbacks of the Pac -10 will feast on the Bears.

If young players step up on defense, the Bears will compete and upset some quality teams that may look past them. A middle of the pack finish is likely for California in 2010.

9. Arizona St. Sun Devils

Odds to win the PAC-10 are 12 to 1.

The Sun Devils have plenty of work to do this year as they return the fewest number of players in the Pac -10, with just 10 players coming back.

Head coach Dennis Erickson hired Noel Mazzone to call the shots on offense but he will have his work cut out for him to improve on the dismal 22.3 PPG that this offense averaged. The coaching staff is putting in a spread offense, but without the players to execute it, the offense will need help from the defense.

The Sun Devils defense was a bright spot last year as they averaged 297.6 YPG and 21.1 PPG . Pac -10 Defensive Player of the Year in MLB Vontaze Burfict , returns to lead this defense, but he will not be able to do it alone.

The Sun Devils are in a rebuilding year and the final record should reflect that, as the Sun Devils will battle to stay out of the basement in the Pac -10.

10. Washington St . Cougars

Odds to win the PAC-10 are 25 to 1.

Things are looking pretty grim for Washington St in 2010. They were winless in the Pac -10 last year and are just 3-22 in the last two years. They return 18 players from a year ago but that may not matter, considering they had the worst offense and defense in the league.

QB Jeff Tuel was the lone bright spot for this team last year before getting injured. This team is not yet ready to compete in the Pac -10 and a last place finish is more than likely for the Cougars.

The Pac-10 should provide some entertaining football for this season and it will be interesting to see how the season unfolds.

Here are some other college football previews and predictions for the 2010 season.

2010 BCS Championship College Football Predictions

2010 SEC Preview and Predictions

2010 College Football Big East Preview and Predictions

2010 College Football Big Ten Preview and Predictions

2010 College Football Big 12 Preview and Predictions

Handicapping the Heisman Race in 2010