The Sports Flow: Pac 10

Showing posts with label Pac 10. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

2010 College Football Preview: Pac-10

So at this point it's not exactly a preview but we'd still like to keep going with our predictions. I've got the Pac-10, Big XII and Big East so should have the other two up later this week, establishing at least a little credibility without the benefit of three weeks of scores to look at.

1. Oregon - Granted, one could look at the score of 72-0 over New Mexico and make a pretty strong case for their ability to challenge for the Pac-10 title. LaMichael James's return only strengthens a team that could contend for the national title if their offense clicks like it has been, even without Jeremiah Masoli.

2. Stanford - losing Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart hurt, but QB Andrew Luck will be a first-round draft pick and has one of the better WR committees in the Pac-10.

3. USC - talent-wise USC is as good as ever, but their defense is young. Sophomore QB Matt Barkley should live up to the hype this year and into the next two seasons, if he stays in college football.

4. Oregon State - RB Jazquizz Rodgers is an early favorite for the Heisman, and if he can come on like he did late last season they could end up higher than 4th.

5. Arizona - They face a tough challenge in week three vs. Iowa. It should tell us a lot about where this team is at and if they could contend for a BCS bowl.

6. Arizona St. - they came on last season but still have some work to do, a tough matchup at #11 Wisconsin could be painful if they can't stop the run.

7. Washington - At this point, if Jake Locker can't live up to all the hype this team is in for a long season, playing three top 25 Pac-10 teams on the road.

8 . Washington State - A lack of playmakers doesn't give WSU much of a dynamic offense.

9 . California - Losing Jahvid Best gave them too much to make up

10. UCLA - A bad loss to Kansas State doesn't bode well for a down year at UCLA.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

2008-2009 College Basketball Conference Preview: Pac 10

Predicted Order of Finish

1. UCLA

UCLA may have lost Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, and Luc Ruchard Mbah a Moute, but they still have one of the best PGs in the nation in Darren Collison and Josh Shipp looked like one of the best players in the early part of last season. Alfred Aboya and James Keefe are both capable post presences and Michael Roll should be healthy. Also, the top recruiting class in the nation should help with the draft losses. Recruit Jrue Holliday should fill in right away at SG.

2. Arizona St.

The Sun Devils are out to prove they truly are a NCAA Tournament team, they want to prove the NCAA that they belong this season. The Sun Devils have all the pieces this season to top UCLA for the Pac 10 Title. James Harden, arguably the best player in the conference is back along with 4 other starters, which includes forward Jeff Pendergraph. With experience and talent returning look for ASU to have a bright season.

3. USC
OJ Mayo is gone, but freshman Demar DeRozan is ready to step in and help USC get back to the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans return some key players that can help compete with UCLA and ASU atop the Pac Ten standings; PG Daniel Hackett, SG Dwight Lewis, and PF Taj Gibson are among those returning. USC could make some noise in March, especially if DeRozan lives up to his billing.

4. Washington St.

Even though they lose some key players, I think the Cougars will surprise some people and put up some fights with the upper echelon of the Pac Ten. Taylor Rochestie, Aron Baynes, and Daven Harmeling are all returnees who provide leadership and experience for this squad. The key will be the other two starters and bench. If some young, inexperienced players can step in and provide some balanced scoring and good depth, Wazzou can make its third straight NCAA Tourney appearance.

5. Washington

The Huskies have the potential to be a serious contender in the Pac 10. They've underachieved quite a bit since they were last in the big dance. All-conference PF Jon Brockman along with other key players return. With Justin Dentmon, Quincy Pondexter, and Artem Wallace all back they can contend. Plus, they finally have a PG in recruit Isiah Thomas, who can step in and get this team back on the right track.

6. Arizona

Zona has gone through a lot of changes in the off season. Head Coach Lute Olson stepped down, prized recruit Brandon Jennings decided to play in Europe, and now other recruits left after Olson left. But the Wildcats are moving on and want to forget the past. Chase Buddinger returns and is one of the best players out there. PG Nic Wise is one of the top PGs in conference, and post Jordan Hill returns as well. There may be some growing pains right away, but they have enough talent to still be a threat.

7. California

There is no doubt that the Bears have a strong frontcourt, but their backcourt is pretty bare. Mike Montgomery is the new coach, but it will take him a few years to get this team back in the upper tier of the Pac 10.

8. Oregon

The Ducks must replace three starters and break in a big freshman class. This team will be inexperienced with few veterans returning. Look for Tajuan Porter to be an all-conference player, but that's all this team will have to look forward to.

9. Stanford
Johnny Dawkins, former assistant under Coach K at Duke, is now the head coach for the Cardinal. Dawkins can get this team on the right track and back to the top of the conference, but it will take a couple of years.

10. Oregon St.
Not much talent for this team, but they can only go up after a winless conference season in 2007-2008.

Player of the Year: James Harden, F- Arizona St.

Freshman of the Year: Jrue Holliday, G- UCLA

Coach of the Year: Herb Sendek- Arizona St.

Three Big Games:
UCLA at Texas- Dec. 4, USC at UCLA- Feb. 4, UCLA at Arizona St.- Feb. 12.

Friday, August 10, 2007

College Football 2007 Conference Preview: Pac 10

College Football is just around the corner and today is Day 1 of The Sports Flow's big 2007 College Football preview. Today we are starting with conference previews. First up, the Pac 10.

Pac 10 Conference Preview:
This race will be a dog fight. The Pac 10, in my eyes, is the 2nd best conference in the country. 2nd place all the way down to 8th place is wide open with any other team being capable of finishing in either spot.

Predicted Order of Finish
1. USC
USC is the obvious favorite returning 17 starters. QB John David Booty returns and should only benefit with the experience back. Former WR's Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith won't be missed as much as expected with Jr. Patrick Turner and So. Vidal Hazelton back. Turner is very similar to Mike Williams and will be one of the top WR's in the conference. They can go 7 deep at RB and will have one of the best backfields in the nation. Also, the defense will be stellar returning 10 starters and should be the best LB corps with Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga, and Brian Cushing. 2. California
Cali returns a solid offense and will compete with USC once again for the Pac 10 Title. The Golden Bears will be able to light up the scoreboard with QB Nate Longshore and arguably the best WRs in the nation De'Sean Jackson back. They did lose Marshawn Lynch, but Justin Forsett is a very capable back and will produce good numbers. The defense won't be bad but will need to step up in order to top USC on November 10.

3. UCLA
UCLA returns 20 starters and should be improved from last season. The offense returns 10 starters and will be led by QB Ben Olson and RB Chris Markey. Markey rushed for 1,107 yards last season and will be one of the RB's to keep an eye on in the Pac 10. 10 starters are also back on the defensive side, which was much improved towards the end of last season.

4. Arizona St.
The Sun Devils return 16 starters which includes QB Rudy Carpenter who passed for 2,523 yards and 23 touchdowns. RB Ryan Torain is back as well who rushed for 1,229 yards in '06. The offense is loaded but they need the defense to step up in order to finish high in the conference standings. Luckily for them the majority of their big games are at home.

5. Oregon St.
The Beavers return 15 starters which is a great start after a big '06 season with a win over USC and a bowl win over Missouri. They do lose their QB in Matt Moore, but RB Yvenson Bernard is back to give them some stability in the backfield. WR Sam Stroughter is also back and is one of the most explosive players in the conference. The defense should be there with 8 starters back. Oregon St. is back and has proved it can contend for the conference title, they just need to find a proven QB.

6. Arizona
Zona will have one of the best defenses in the conference with 10 starters back including one of the best DB's in the nation in Antoine Cason. The offense shouldn't be bad with 9 starters back; they just need more consistent play from QB Willie Tuitama, if he can do that look for the Wildcats to pull an upset or two and possibly play in a bowl game this year.

7. Oregon
A lot of people may feel Oregon should be higher but they ended last season with 4 bad losses and QB's Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf struggled dramatically in the spring. The defense needs to show they can stop the run or else the Ducks may be in for a long season.

8. Washington St.
It will be tough to replace standout WR Jason Hill, but QB Alex Brink returns. The Cougars have a tough schedule from the get go and will visit Wisconsin, USC, Arizona, Oregon, California, and rival Washington. Look for Washington St. to have about another .500 season after losing some key players.

9. Washington
I don't think Washington is that bad of a team but they have the toughest schedule in the country playing Boise St., Ohio St., USC, Oregon, Arizona, California, and rival Washington St. at home and traveling to Syracuse, UCLA, Arizona St., Oregon St., and Hawaii. Otherwise they would be a threat to make a bowl game this year. They just have too many holes to fill and too many inexperienced players.

10. Stanford
Stanford does have something to look forward too with 15 starters back, but that won't be enough to keep them out of the cellar in the Pac 10. Jim Harbaugh is a great choice to get the program back on it's feet, but it will be a few more years to get it jump started again.