Pac-10 Previews

Arizona. After finally breaking through with a bowl berth in Coach Mike Stoops' fifth season at Arizona in 2008, Wildcat fans might be saying "what have you done for me lately" in 2009. Arizona figures to struggle this season, with a tough schedule that includes road games at Iowa, Oregon State, California, Arizona State, and USC. Arizona also must replace quarterback Willie Tuitama. Running back Nic Grigsby should lead the Wildcats until the quarterback position is settled. Arizona's defense will be led by a talented secondary, but a second straight bowl game will be tough to come by, placing Stoops back on the hot seat.

LAST YEAR: 8-5 (5-4 in Pac-10, 5th), BOWL GAME: Las Vegas Bowl, def. BYU, 31-21, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 7-5, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 2-0, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 1-3

Arizona State. After Coach Dennis Erickson won 10 games and a share of the Pac-10 title in his debut season in 2007, Arizona State crashed back to earth in 2008, winning only five games and breaking a streak of four straight bowl games. Arizona State will have a new quarterback in 2009, and the Sun Devils will need to improve a running game that averaged 89 yards per game last season. Defensively, however, Arizona State should be among the best in the Pac-10, led by defensive end Dexter Davis. Place-kicker Thomas Weber is a pre-season all-American. The latter half of the Arizona State schedule is brutal, with road games against Stanford, Oregon, and UCLA, and home games against USC, California, and Arizona.

LAST YEAR: 5-7 (4-5 in Pac-10, tie-6th), BOWL GAME: None, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 4-6, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 0-2, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 1-0

California. The Golden Bears bounced back from a disappointing 2007 season to post nine wins in 2008 and to set up expectations for even greater success this season. The Golden Bears return one of the best running backs in the country in Jahvid Best, who had 1,580 yards last season. Experienced players surround Best on offense. Defensively, California returns eight starters from a group that had some ups and downs in 2008. At least the Bears will know where they stand by early October, as they play at Oregon Sept. 26 and at home against USC Oct. 3. If California survives those back-to-back challenges, this could be the year Cal's 51-year Rose Bowl drought ends.

LAST YEAR: 9-4 (6-3 in Pac-10, 4th), BOWL GAME: Champs Sports Bowl, def. Miami, 24-17, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 9-4, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: N/A, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 1-2

Oregon. After the retirement of Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti at the end of last season, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly steps into the head coaching chair with a Duck team poised for a big season. Unlike most Pac-10 teams, the Ducks are settled at quarterback, behind Jeremiah Masoli. Running back LeGarrette Blount returns as well for an Oregon offense that averaged 41.9 points per game in 2008. However, the Ducks defense figures to struggle again after allowing 28.2 points on average. Oregon does get both California and USC at home this season, and the Ducks toughest road trip figures to be the season opener at Boise State in a Thursday night ESPN game.

LAST YEAR: 10-3 (7-2 in Pac-10, tie-2nd), BOWL GAME: Holiday Bowl, def. Oklahoma State, 42-31, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 7-6, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: N/A, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 2-1

Oregon State. Coach Mike Riley has quietly built a very strong Oregon State program, totaling 28 wins over the past three seasons. The Beavers were the only team to defeat USC last season, winning 27-21, and they lost only 31-28 at Utah, which finished undefeated. In fact, Oregon State was one win away from a Rose Bowl berth, before losing 65-38 at home against Oregon in the season finale. Receiver James Rodgers and running back Jacquizz Rodgers give Oregon State a strong one-two punch on offense. The Beavers also have two quarterbacks with extensive starting experience in Lyle Moevao and Sean Canfield. Oregon State's offense will have to carry the load as the Beavers break in several new players on defense. Outside of three very difficult road trips to USC, California, and Oregon in the latter half of the season, the Beavers schedule is manageable.

LAST YEAR: 9-4 (7-2 in Pac-10, tie-2nd), BOWL GAME: Sun Bowl, def. Pitt, 3-0, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 9-3, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 1-0, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 2-1

Stanford. Cardinals Coach Jim Harbaugh led his team to an upset win of USC in his debut season in 2007, the Cardinal couldn't duplicate an upset of that magnitude in 2008. However, Stanford improved its win total to five games, and lost three additional games by a touchdown or less. If Stanford is to challenge for a bowl game in 2009, it will likely rely on new quarterback Andrew Luck, the son of a former NFL quarterback (Oliver Luck). Overall, Stanford is a bit short on playmakers, which may explain why Harbaugh looked at four players as two-way players during the spring. Stanford's November schedule is brutally tough, with games against Oregon, USC, California, and Notre Dame, although three of the four are at home.

LAST YEAR: 5-7 (4-5 in Pac-10, tie-6th), BOWL GAME: None, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 7-5, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 3-0, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 0-1

UCLA. The Bruins may have seen its six-year streak of qualifying for bowl games broken under first-year head Coach Rick Neuheisel during a 4-8 season in 2008, but the Bruin program still seems to have plenty of positive momentum heading into 2009. Seventeen starters return for UCLA, which figures to take a big step forward offensively under Neuheisel after a dismal 2008. UCLA will be relying on several highly regarded newcomers on offense in hopes of improving on the 21 interceptions and 35 sacks it allowed a year ago. Defensive tackle Brian Price leads what should be a solid Bruin defensive unit. Oregon, California, and Kansas State all play at UCLA in the first half of the season, and UCLA travels to Stanford and Tennessee in the first four games, so the Bruins should learn whether they've improved as much as hoped very quickly.

LAST YEAR: 4-8 (3-6 in Pac-10, 8th), BOWL GAME: None, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 7-5, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 4-2, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 1-0

USC. The Trojans allowed just 9.0 points per game last season, but their all-star defense's one primary slipup, at Oregon State in late September, cost USC a shot at the national title. Oregon State scored the most points against the Trojan defense last season, defeating USC, 27-21. Outside of that game, USC dominated its schedule, winning 11 of 12 games by at least two touchdowns and holding six opponents without a touchdown. Although USC will have a new quarterback, its offensive line, running backs, and receivers should be outstanding. Safety Taylor Mays will lead the rebuilt Trojan defense. USC will have a pair of new coordinators in 2009. Road trips to Ohio State, California, Notre Dame, Arizona State, and Oregon would challenge most teams, but USC seems to thrive on tough road trips under Coach Pete Carroll, who had to deal with another NCAA investigation just before pre-season camp began.

LAST YEAR: 12-1 (8-1 in Pac-10, 1st), BOWL GAME: Rose Bowl, def. Penn State, 38-24, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 7-6, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: N/A, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 2-4

Washington. There's nowhere to go but up for Washington and new Coach Steve Sarkisian after a winless 2008, which included an overtime loss to Washington State. The Huskies will receive a big boost from the return of one of the Pac-10's best quarterbacks, Jake Locker, who missed much of 2008 with an injury. Still, Washington has a long way to go to become competitive in the Pac-10, as the Huskies lost nine times by 20 or more points. Washington's losing streak should reach 15 games after it opens the season against LSU, but the Huskies have a great chance to break the skid at home against Idaho Sept. 12.

LAST YEAR: 0-12 (0-9 in Pac-10, 10th), BOWL GAME: None, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 1-11, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 1-5, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 0-1

Washington State. The best thing about 2008 for Washington State football? At least the Cougars weren't Washington. Washington State might have had a dismal 2-11 record in 2008, but the Cougars did manage to beat cross-state rival Washington, which finished 0-12. If Washington State is to continue to remain ahead of Washington in the Pac-10 standings, the Cougars will need to be much improved over 2008, when they allowed 58 or more points six times. Washington State's injury-plagued offense was held without a touchdown five times, and it only topped the 17-point mark offensively two times last season, once against I-AA Portland State.

LAST YEAR: 2-11 (1-8 n Pac-10, 9th), BOWL GAME: None, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 4-8, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 2-4, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: N/A