meoveryouxinfinity
5/20/2009, 02:41 PM
Umm entering week 2 of summer break (1.5 weeks left until summer classes begin..ugh) and I have nothing better to do.
Pac-10
Schedules:
Arizona (http://arizona.rivals.com/schedule.asp)
Arizona State (http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/asu-m-footbl-sched.html)
California (http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/cal-m-footbl-sched.html)
UCLA (http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/ucla-m-footbl-sched.html)
Oregon (http://www.goducks.com/SportSchedule.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=233)
Oregon State (http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/orst-m-footbl-sched.html)
Southern California (http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/usc-m-footbl-sched.html)
Stanford (http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/stan-m-footbl-sched.html)
Washington (http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/wash-m-footbl-sched.html)
Washington State (http://wsucougars.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/wast-m-footbl-body.html)
Predictions:
Arizona: Arizona finished off the 2008 season with a 10 point win over No. 17 BYU in the Vegas Bowl. They ended the season 8-5, with their first bowl victory in 10 years. In 2009, Arizona will be looking to replace the quarterback position. The defense is experienced while the offense will be filled with fairly young guys. [depth chart (http://arizona.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp?Team=ARIZONA)]
They have a pretty tough road schedule (according to Pac-10 standards). They play @Iowa, @Oregon State, @Washington, @Cal, @ASU, and @USC. My gut says they go 3-3 at best. They have a shot at beating Iowa and should take it to win-less Washington. However, this is the Pac-10 we are talking about. At best they finish the season 8-4. But is their defense good enough to anchor them through the season? Realistically, they will finish 4th or 5th in the Pac-10, losing to the likes of USC, Oregon, Oregon State, and possibly Arizona State. I'd bet on them going bowling for the second year in a row, though.
Arizona State: ASU went 5-7 last year, finishing only above the Washingtons and UCLA last year in the Pac-10. ASU is NOT a good team. 6-6 is reaching for them in 2009. I see them losing @UGA, vs Oregon St, vs Cal, vs USC, @Oregon, and possibly dropping a game they "should have won" (Zona, the Washingtons, or UCLA). They'll be really lucky if they get to a bowl. I think they will, once again, finish 6th in the Pac-10.
California: Cal finished 4th in the Pac-10 last year, going 9-4 and beating Miami in the Emerald Bowl in their own back yard. In the third quarter of the Cal-Maryland game last year, UMD had a 28-6 lead. I think Cal will win this non-conference battle, however, I wouldn't be surprised to see UMD steal another one. I think Cal will lose at least 4 conference games, but they have a legit chance to upset USC at home on the first Saturday in October. I think they will finish 3rd in the conference, slightly outside of the top 25.
UCLA: Oh gah. They finished 8th in the conference last year, going 4-8, and I don't see it getting much better for the Bruins. I see them losing: @Tenn, @Stanford, vs Oregon, vs Cal, @Zona, @Oregon State, and @USC. Anyone else on their schedule, including K-State, has a chance at taking it to this direction-less team. I'd bet they finish 9th in the Pac-10.
Oregon: This year will be the inner-state fight for second in the conference: Oregon vs Oregon State. Both showed signs of whats to come in the future in 2008. Oregon finished 10-3, 2nd in the Pac-10, and absolutely shellacked Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl. They might have lost quite a bit of talent last year (including their coach), but their schedule is very promising--their road games include: @Boise, @UCLA, @Washington, @Stanford, and @Zona. @Boise (who they lost to last year at home) will be a very tough test. If they can get through this, they might come close to a 11-1 season. If they win all of their non-conference games (Boise, Purdue, Utah), they will be more than ready for the Pac-10. Plus, they definitely have a shot to beat USC at home. Last year they had a number of good wins, and I expect them to repeat and finish 2nd in the Pac-10.
Oregon State: Jaquizz Rodgers is awesome to watch (at least vs USC) but how will he react with a target on his back? His name is out there, can he live up to expectations? Can he be consistent? Oregon State finished 9-4 last year, 3rd in the Pac-10, and beating No. 20 Pitt in the most boring college football game ever witnessed. The final score was 3-0. I think OSU will lose vs Cinci in the non-conf, @USC, @Cal, and @Oregon, and possibly dropping another game along the way. 8-4 would be awesome for them but 7-5 is more realistic. I think they will finish 4th in the Pac-10.
Southern California: It's good to be a trojan, right? With one loss in the Pac-10, all of USC's national title hopes come crashing down. It should be a breeze in the Pac-10, but USC has a knack for losing one. This year they have a couple trap games on the schedule (well, when you're USC, what isn't a trap game?): most notably @Oregon and @Cal. They also play @ND (ha) and @Ohio State. I highly doubt they will get through their conference schedule unscathed, and would be very surprised if they escape with a huge victory in Columbus (I can however see them getting away with a Bush-push kind of win). October will be absolutely PIVOTAL for USC, where they play @Cal, @ND, Oregon State, and @Oregon. They will finish 1st the the Pac-10, but will lose a game (and hopefully a couple scholarships once the NCAA grows a pair).
Stanford: In 2008 they went 5-7. Expect them to slide a little bit in the Pac-10, Probably below Washington. Beating SJSU, and upsetting UCLA or Arizona State should be their goal. I think they will go 2-10, finishing last in the Pac-10.
Washington: Washington got so close on so many occasions in 2008, I was really pretty shocked they went win-less. They play vs LSU in the non-conference, which I expect them to keep up for at least a half. I say they get 3 wins this year, along with a 7th place finish. I also think they have more upside than Wazzu, UCLA, and Stanford combined: Jake Locker and a new coach (I don't even know his name but it's gotta be better than Willingham).
Washington State: WSU will have to improve quite a bit to get where they want to go (yes, even 8th place). Last year they got blown out in just about every game. This year this schedule is easier (SMU, and ND in place of Ok St and Baylor non-conference). I think they will almost certainly lose @USC, @Oregon, @Cal, @ND, @Zona, vs Oregon State, and probably @Washington. They will be very lucky to finish 8th in the conference.
2008 Pac-10 Standings
1. USC
2. Oregon
3. Oregon State
4. California
5. Arizona
6. Stanford
7. Arizona State
8. UCLA
9. Washington State
10. Washington
2009 Predicted Standings:
1. USC
2. Oregon
3. California
4. Oregon State
5. Arizona
6. Arizona State
7. Washington
8. Washington state
9. UCLA
10. Stanford
Pac-10
Schedules:
Arizona (http://arizona.rivals.com/schedule.asp)
Arizona State (http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/asu-m-footbl-sched.html)
California (http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/cal-m-footbl-sched.html)
UCLA (http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/ucla-m-footbl-sched.html)
Oregon (http://www.goducks.com/SportSchedule.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=233)
Oregon State (http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/orst-m-footbl-sched.html)
Southern California (http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/usc-m-footbl-sched.html)
Stanford (http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/stan-m-footbl-sched.html)
Washington (http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/wash-m-footbl-sched.html)
Washington State (http://wsucougars.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/wast-m-footbl-body.html)
Predictions:
Arizona: Arizona finished off the 2008 season with a 10 point win over No. 17 BYU in the Vegas Bowl. They ended the season 8-5, with their first bowl victory in 10 years. In 2009, Arizona will be looking to replace the quarterback position. The defense is experienced while the offense will be filled with fairly young guys. [depth chart (http://arizona.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp?Team=ARIZONA)]
They have a pretty tough road schedule (according to Pac-10 standards). They play @Iowa, @Oregon State, @Washington, @Cal, @ASU, and @USC. My gut says they go 3-3 at best. They have a shot at beating Iowa and should take it to win-less Washington. However, this is the Pac-10 we are talking about. At best they finish the season 8-4. But is their defense good enough to anchor them through the season? Realistically, they will finish 4th or 5th in the Pac-10, losing to the likes of USC, Oregon, Oregon State, and possibly Arizona State. I'd bet on them going bowling for the second year in a row, though.
Arizona State: ASU went 5-7 last year, finishing only above the Washingtons and UCLA last year in the Pac-10. ASU is NOT a good team. 6-6 is reaching for them in 2009. I see them losing @UGA, vs Oregon St, vs Cal, vs USC, @Oregon, and possibly dropping a game they "should have won" (Zona, the Washingtons, or UCLA). They'll be really lucky if they get to a bowl. I think they will, once again, finish 6th in the Pac-10.
California: Cal finished 4th in the Pac-10 last year, going 9-4 and beating Miami in the Emerald Bowl in their own back yard. In the third quarter of the Cal-Maryland game last year, UMD had a 28-6 lead. I think Cal will win this non-conference battle, however, I wouldn't be surprised to see UMD steal another one. I think Cal will lose at least 4 conference games, but they have a legit chance to upset USC at home on the first Saturday in October. I think they will finish 3rd in the conference, slightly outside of the top 25.
UCLA: Oh gah. They finished 8th in the conference last year, going 4-8, and I don't see it getting much better for the Bruins. I see them losing: @Tenn, @Stanford, vs Oregon, vs Cal, @Zona, @Oregon State, and @USC. Anyone else on their schedule, including K-State, has a chance at taking it to this direction-less team. I'd bet they finish 9th in the Pac-10.
Oregon: This year will be the inner-state fight for second in the conference: Oregon vs Oregon State. Both showed signs of whats to come in the future in 2008. Oregon finished 10-3, 2nd in the Pac-10, and absolutely shellacked Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl. They might have lost quite a bit of talent last year (including their coach), but their schedule is very promising--their road games include: @Boise, @UCLA, @Washington, @Stanford, and @Zona. @Boise (who they lost to last year at home) will be a very tough test. If they can get through this, they might come close to a 11-1 season. If they win all of their non-conference games (Boise, Purdue, Utah), they will be more than ready for the Pac-10. Plus, they definitely have a shot to beat USC at home. Last year they had a number of good wins, and I expect them to repeat and finish 2nd in the Pac-10.
Oregon State: Jaquizz Rodgers is awesome to watch (at least vs USC) but how will he react with a target on his back? His name is out there, can he live up to expectations? Can he be consistent? Oregon State finished 9-4 last year, 3rd in the Pac-10, and beating No. 20 Pitt in the most boring college football game ever witnessed. The final score was 3-0. I think OSU will lose vs Cinci in the non-conf, @USC, @Cal, and @Oregon, and possibly dropping another game along the way. 8-4 would be awesome for them but 7-5 is more realistic. I think they will finish 4th in the Pac-10.
Southern California: It's good to be a trojan, right? With one loss in the Pac-10, all of USC's national title hopes come crashing down. It should be a breeze in the Pac-10, but USC has a knack for losing one. This year they have a couple trap games on the schedule (well, when you're USC, what isn't a trap game?): most notably @Oregon and @Cal. They also play @ND (ha) and @Ohio State. I highly doubt they will get through their conference schedule unscathed, and would be very surprised if they escape with a huge victory in Columbus (I can however see them getting away with a Bush-push kind of win). October will be absolutely PIVOTAL for USC, where they play @Cal, @ND, Oregon State, and @Oregon. They will finish 1st the the Pac-10, but will lose a game (and hopefully a couple scholarships once the NCAA grows a pair).
Stanford: In 2008 they went 5-7. Expect them to slide a little bit in the Pac-10, Probably below Washington. Beating SJSU, and upsetting UCLA or Arizona State should be their goal. I think they will go 2-10, finishing last in the Pac-10.
Washington: Washington got so close on so many occasions in 2008, I was really pretty shocked they went win-less. They play vs LSU in the non-conference, which I expect them to keep up for at least a half. I say they get 3 wins this year, along with a 7th place finish. I also think they have more upside than Wazzu, UCLA, and Stanford combined: Jake Locker and a new coach (I don't even know his name but it's gotta be better than Willingham).
Washington State: WSU will have to improve quite a bit to get where they want to go (yes, even 8th place). Last year they got blown out in just about every game. This year this schedule is easier (SMU, and ND in place of Ok St and Baylor non-conference). I think they will almost certainly lose @USC, @Oregon, @Cal, @ND, @Zona, vs Oregon State, and probably @Washington. They will be very lucky to finish 8th in the conference.
2008 Pac-10 Standings
1. USC
2. Oregon
3. Oregon State
4. California
5. Arizona
6. Stanford
7. Arizona State
8. UCLA
9. Washington State
10. Washington
2009 Predicted Standings:
1. USC
2. Oregon
3. California
4. Oregon State
5. Arizona
6. Arizona State
7. Washington
8. Washington state
9. UCLA
10. Stanford