Champion: USC
Runner-Up: California
Overrated: Arizona
Spread-Beater: Stanford

It would be very difficult and unwise to bet against USC to win the Pac-10 conference but this will be a less firm prediction than in most recent years. The Trojans return nine offensive starters but must replace QB Sanchez and the defense that carried the team much of the last two years brings back just three starters. The conference road games will be difficult and the early season game at Ohio State could steal some focus and attention that could be costly in the Pac-10 season. USC has been able to slip up in the conference season and still win the title each of the past three years so the question will be if any of the other contenders can make it interesting.

Coach Tedford has had seven straight winning seasons at California and this may be his best shot to unseat USC. The Bears have 15 returning starters including key players at every position and will get to host the Trojans early in the year. Cal must play a few tough conference road games however and they have not been a great road team in recent years including going just 1-4 S/U last season. The Bears have what it takes for a special season but a slip-up or two and just falling short seems to be the more likely scenario.

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The defense will need to be re-built but it is hard to argue with the success of Oregon State in recent years, now having won at least nine games in three consecutive years. The offense has great talent at every position and the schedule will provide some opportunities. Oregon State is a very tough team at home and they host UCLA, Arizona, and Stanford, the teams likely competing for these spots.

After the top two the Pac-10 is a toss-up at this point and Stanford could actually take a big leap after showing significant signs of progress in the last two years. The Cardinal won four conference games last season and will host many of the teams packed in the middle of the league. Seventeen starters are returning and the lines on both side of the ball should be among the better units in the conference even if the skill players do not quite measure up to some of the other standout players in the conference.

Another team looking to make a big leap in the standings will be UCLA. After starting the season with great promise last year in a big upset win, the Bruins struggled most of the season. 16 starters are back in play and more consistent performances can be expected. UCLA’s defense was respectable last season and injuries took a serious toll on what could have been a much better team.

After finally making a bowl game and winning eight games there will be a bit of relief for Arizona but the expectations should grow. The Wildcats face a very difficult road schedule this season and replacing QB Tuitama and top receiver Thomas will be difficult. The defense also must replace three of the top four tacklers on last year’s team. Arizona will be a solid team again this season but likely will remain stagnant in the middle-of-the-pack despite expectations of taking the next step.

One of the most disappointing teams in the nation last season was Arizona State as the Sun Devils were expected to be a national force and opened the year ranked #15. Six straight losses changed things considerably and ASU will have a hard time re-gaining that confidence. The early season schedule is soft outside of a non-conference game at Georgia so Arizona State could actually match last year’s win total by the halfway point. Coach Erickson has a tremendous career record so another losing season would be a surprise.

The one team that has often appeared ready to challenge USC in the Pac-10 is Oregon but the Ducks are in transition this year. It should be a smoother process than many other coaching changes but only nine starters are back in action which could limit the results through a tough schedule that is front-loaded with big games. Oregon could be a surprise team that gets on a roll late in the year but expect a slow start from the Ducks even though many of the early games are at home.

After a winless season, there is nowhere to go but up for Washington. New coach Steve Sarkisian knows this conference well and he should see immediate results with 18 returning starters and a talented QB that missed most of last season due to injury. A very tough non-conference schedule will likely prevent a huge jump in the overall record but getting to three or four wins would be a reasonable expectation for a team that greatly underachieved last season and appeared to give up in many games. With some huge spreads early in the season, the Huskies might be a dog worth backing.

Although Washington State won two games last season they were generally regarded as one of the worst teams ever in the Pac-10. WSU allowed 58 or more points six times last year with horrendous defensive efforts. There is some experience on this team and last season injuries were devastating, but this is still a team with a long ways to go.