The Pac-10

SportsbyFletch continues its preview of the college football season by today looking into the Pac-10. Next season the Pac-10 will grow to the Pac-12 with Colorado and Utah, but honestly, will it matter?
I say no.
And this year won't matter either. Why? Because as much as I dislike Lane Kiffin, he has the best team in USC, but the coaches decided NOT to put him in their polls and he cannot go to a bowl game. So even if he WINS the Pac-10, he won't, and therefore we'll have a 9-3 Oregon in the Rose Bowl SANS J.Masoli.

Boring.

Let's start with our overview and projected order of finish....

1) USC. Wait, that can't be. IT IS in SBF-land. Matt Barkley is the best QB in the country and the sophomore should get better because (through gritted teeth) Lane Kiffin can groom a QB. And while some talent flew the coop, most of it is still there. They will easily win 10 or 11 games. Book it. Too bad they'll be at home and NO ONE in the AP will even pretend to float USC a championship vote because they all hate Kiffin. Next season maybe Utah? or Oregon? can challenge them, but not this year. Though Kiffin is good for at least one L the team shouldn't just like Petey.

2) Oregon. LaMichael James is pretty good when he isn't in jail. Chip Kelly did very well in his first season with Masoli; you'd think he could do it again. They'll lose a few, but still go to the Rose Bowl because USC cannot.

3) Oregon State. I am a FAN of Mike Riley. He always has his team ready to knock off one of the big guys (too bad he loses to Boise State every know and then) and with Quizz Rodgers and his brother on the squad, these guys could certainly challenge USC and make the Civil War mean something. But I think he falls to maybe UCLA or someone he shouldn't lose to, which costs his squad.

4) Stanford. Screech's cousin has certainly turned out to be a COACH, baby! Throw in Andrew Luck and this team looks pretty good offensively. Too bad Toby left the squad. They could have used him this season. The unknown running game is worrying me. Go Jamal Patterson!

5) Washington- Jake Locker was smart to return for this season. Under Coach Sark last year he finally scratched the surface of his talents. Perhaps this season he takes that next step. Too bad they don't have much else.

6) UCLA. Norm Chow is good for 4 conference wins, right?

7) Arizona. They let the wrong Stoops go to FSU. And they looked AWFUL in that bowl game. Mikey Stoops might still be in trouble. I do like Nick Foles at QB though.

8) Arizona State. They nearly won last year in Athens. That will likely be the high point in THIS season too...

9) Cal. I am surprised Jeff Tedford hasn't put another QB bust in the NFL in a while...

10) Wazzou. Let's just move on.

Tomorrow, the BigXII