2010 College Football Predictions: Pac-10

FROM: http://machorhino.com/?p=15999

This is the last season of the Pac-10, as they will welcome Utah and then Colorado to the new Pac-12 over the next two years.

This season should be a great year, as there are several teams bunched up that are looking for breakout years.

The conference is loaded with great quarterbacks of which three should be future first round picks in the NFL draft. This is a season that should go down to the last weekend before a champion is crowned.

1. Oregon (8-1)

If Jeremiah Masoli hadn't been kicked off the team, the Ducks would be easy favorites to win the Pac-10 and serious national title contenders. They’ve got a lot of starters back from a very good team last year, but the question at QB creates some doubt as to how good the Ducks can be.

Coach Chip Kelly is good with quarterbacks though, and once he finds his man I expect them to be in the BCS again this year, with LaMichael James carrying the load on offense until they get a QB comfortable.

2. Oregon State (7-2)

Jacquizz Rodgers will once again carry the offense as the Beavers break in a new quarterback. They’ve got a solid defense that they’ll need to step up against a tough non-conference schedule that includes TCU and Boise State. Mike Riley is a great coach and will have his team at the top of the Pac-10, setting up a huge Civil War again to end the season.

3. Washington (6-3)

Jake Locker has been tremendous in camp and should make great strides in year two under Steve Sarkisian. The rest of the offense should be good, and if they can get Nick Holt’s defense to make some plays, they’ll be in the hunt for the league title all season.

4. Arizona (6-3)

The Wildcats decided to keep Mike Stoops around a couple years ago and have been rewarded with the program gaining ground in the conference. The ‘Cats think this could be one of the best teams since the “Desert Swarm” days.

Stoops thinks he’s got the guys to make big plays on both sides of the field and take a step towards another big bowl game...hopefully better than the shutout Nebraska handed them last season in the Holiday Bowl.

5. Stanford (6-3)

Andrew Luck returns as the outstanding signal caller for Jim Harbaugh at Stanford. The Cardinal must replace running back Toby Gerhart, who had an amazing season in 2009. They’ll look to Luck and the passing game a little more this year, and with an improved defense they jump up and have a shot to contend.

6. USC (5-4)

I think USC is overrated this year. We’re not really sure what Lane Kiffin can do. He’s had to deal with NCAA sanctions in the offseason and inherits a team that is coming off the worst season at USC in nearly a decade.

Matt Barkley returns at quarterback for his sophomore season, and he’ll be great, but the rest of the league looks good this year. The Trojans may prove me wrong, but I think they’re in the bottom half of the Pac-10 this season.

7. UCLA (4-5)

Rick Neuheisel is getting things headed in the right direction and is ready to take a step forward this year. They’ve got a brutal non-conference schedule, including Houston and Texas, so it might be a stretch to see the Bruins in a bowl, but they’ll be improved over last season, even though their record might not show it.

8. California (2-7)

Can Jeff Tedford get the Bears back to being one of the top teams in the Pac-10? It doesn’t look like it’ll happen this year. They were 5-4 in the league last year, but I think other teams will surpass them this year and make it a long year for Cal.

9. Arizona State (1-8)

After a great first year in the desert, Dennis Erickson’s program has gone downhill since then. This year things don’t look to be turning around. The Pac-10 has a lot of good teams, and the schedule doesn’t help the Sun Devils. They’ll need to simply find guys who can hang for four quarters with all the great athletes in the conference this season.

10. Washington State (0-9)

Washington State will simply try to be competitive this season. They don’t have enough talent to challenge most of the teams in the league. They can hope to steal a win at home, but it’s unlikely.

CHAMPION: Oregon Ducks

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State)

COACH OF THE YEAR: Steve Sarkisian (Washington)

Top Five Games

1. Oregon at Oregon State (December 4)

Should be like last year’s game, where the winner leaves the conference champion.

2. Oregon State vs. TCU (September 4)

The Beavers have the chance to ruin TCU’s season right off the start. If they win this, they can show just how strong the Pac-10 is this year. A loss gives TCU BCS credibility.

3. USC at Stanford (October 9)

You’ve got the feeling both of these coaches will want to run up the score on the other. It should be a great game that’s huge for both teams wanting to improve their conference records.

4. Washington at Arizona (October 23)

This will probably be a third-place game in the conference. It’ll be a big step for both programs if they can finish this high, so a lot will ride on this game in Tucson.

5. Oregon State at Boise State (September 25)

Oregon State has another chance to crush one of the non-AQ schools in September, as they travel to play the Broncos on the smurf turf in Boise. If the Beavers make it to October without a loss, they’re national title contenders. I don’t give them much of a chance of winning in Boise.