2008 Pac 10 Predictions
Written June 14, 2008 by Jason Lowry
The upcoming NCAA Football season is just getting closer and closer, and Jason Lowry is ready to make his 2008 Pac 10 football predictions. The Pac 10 is known for producing some high quality players and excellent football players. Over the last few years it has been the USC show as they have been winning division and national titles like its easy. The Pac 10 sent 34 players to the NFL in this year’s draft, including first round picks USC DT Sedrick Ellis at #7, USC OLB Keith Rivers #9, Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart # 13, USC OT Same Baker #21, Arizona CB Antoine Carson #27, and USC DE Lawrence Jackson #28. Here is a look at where we got the teams finishing the upcoming Pac 10 season.
#1) USC Trojans
The Trojans weren’t as dominant as some years, as they finished the 2007 season at 7-2. The Trojans had a big time loss against Stanford at home, and a heartbreaker at Oregon. The team rolled through Illinois in the Rose Bowl, and with the talent they bring back and get every year there is no way you can’t pick them at the top of this conference.
#2) Arizona State Sun Devils
The Sun Devils posted the same record as USC last season at 7-2 in the Pac 10, but the 20-point loss at home against the Trojans pushed them to 2nd place. They are returning 16 players from last year’s team, and with games against USC and Georgia in the first half of their season, we will know just how good this team is before the stretch run.
#3) Oregon Ducks
Coming off a share of 4th place last season the Ducks will need to find replacements for departed quarterback Dennis Dixon and running back Jonathan Stewart. The team does have 13 returning starters, and a lot will rely on how the new quarterback does.
#4) Oregon State Beavers
The Beavers are only returning 10 players from last year’s team that went 6-3 in the Pac 10 for 3rd place. We still think this will be a good team and can wind up in the top half of the conference. They have what looks to be a very tough schedule in 2008.
#5) California Golden Bears
Some people have this team a little higher than what we have them, but we just aren’t sure that a team returning 13 starters can make that big a difference on a team that finished tied for 7th last year at 3-6.
#6) UCLA Bruins
We got the Bruins sharing this spot, but even with a 6th place finish they can find themselves in a bowl game. Last season they were 5-4 in conference play, but we are not sold on the Bruins that has a lot of big holes to fill before the season gets underway.
#6) Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats were ever so close at getting a shot at their first bowl game in nearly 10 years, and we got a good feeling that the wait might be over this season. We really feel that either the Bruins or Wildcats will finish with 6 wins.
#8) Washington Huskies
While we got this team finishing 8th, its only a matter of time before this team makes a big turn around. They are loaded with young talent and are likely a year away from a big season.
#9) Stanford Cardinals
The Cardinals return a ton of players, as they bring back 16 starters off of last year’s team. The team finished just 2-6 in conference play, but the win over USC has fans thinking this team can be much better than the 2007 squad.
#10) Washington State Cougars
To round out the rankings we got the Cougars finishing last, as they try and do better than there 3-6 performance in conference play a year ago. With a new coach coming to town, we don’t think a big change is coming just yet.
If you are looking for a closer look at each team, be sure to check out professional handicapper Jason Lowry’s team-by-team previews of each team. If you are looking to get a head start on the upcoming football season, head over to Bodoglife.com and get an account going today.