Pac-10 Preview

1. Southern California

USC is still clearly the class of this conference. Sure, they lose quite a bit with quarterback Mark Sanchez and all three of their starting linebackers (Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews and Ray Maualuga) leaving for the NFL, among others, but Pete Carroll has a factory in Los Angeles. The stable of running backs returns, so does receiver Damian Williams. On the defensive end, super stud safety Taylor Mays returns. Maybe this team doesn't contend for a national title, but they certainly should win the Pac-10.

2. Oregon

Mike Bellotti leaving is a big, big deal but first-year head coach Chip Kelly is not being left with an empty cupboard. Jeremiah Masoli has emerged as a playmaker at quarterback and tailback LaGarrette Blount is one of the top runners in the country. The Ducks should be explosive but questions remain on both sides of the line.

3. California

I really wanted to pick this team to finish second, but Jeff Tedford's teams haven't been able to live up to the hype or challenge for the conference title despite many people feeling like they should. They do have Jahvid Best, who might just be the best back in the country this year. They have a good defense that returns nearly everyone. They lack that playmaker at quarterback that Kevin Riley has proven not to be. They don't have big play receivers and they lost Alex Mack, perhaps the best lineman in the conference. There are plenty of pluses and some minuses with this team.

4. Oregon State

Jacquizz Rogers is a beast in a conference of stellar running backs. The Beavers will play Mike Riley style of football by running the ball and playing defense. I'm not sure this team is going to go 7-2 in the conference again or challenge for the title this year, but they'll beat every team they should beat and they will be a pain for USC, Oregon and Cal.

5. Arizona State

Quarterback is a big problem for the Sun Devils (John Elway's kid didn't even want to play there anymore) but this team has a lot of talent and Dennis Erickson got a pretty good recruiting class to Tempe. Following a very bad year, the Sun Devils have a lot to prove and should be a hungry team.

6. UCLA

This team's defense will be very, very good. The offense...well...not so much. The recruiting classes are getting better and the attitude is changing. However, points are going to be very hard to come by. I'm not sure who the quarterback will be midway through the season, but it needs to be a guy who won't turn the ball over. That means you, Kevin Craft.

7. Arizona

It took nine years, but Willie Tuitama is finally no longer the quarterback at Arizona. Didn't it seem like he was there forever? This team seemed to be turning a corner last year, but big losses on the offensive side might set them back. They have eight starters back on a good defensive squad, so they should be able to stay close in a lot of games.

8. Stanford

I wanted to pick this team above Arizona, but I'm just not sure this team is going to get to that elusive sixth win. I see another 5-7 record in their future, but they will work hard, hit hard and play hard. Jim Harbaugh has the program going in the right direction, but he still has plenty of hurdles to get over, including getting top talent to come to Palo Alto.

9. Washington

Steve Sarkisian will be a nice, fresh start for an abysmal Huskies program. But he doesn't have much to work with. The cupboard is very, very bare. Jack Locker is not a world beater and he certainly can't do it on his own. Maybe they are more competitive and they probably don't go 0-12, but it's a long road a ho.

10. Washington State

They beat Portland State and Washington last year. Not exactly two stellar teams. I was looking at their stat leaders from last year and I don't know who those guys are. Unless they resurrect Drew Bledsoe or Ryan Leaf, this team is losing at LEAST 10 games. They have chances to win against UW and SMU. That's it.