Okay so I could not go another week without NOT writing college football. I'm more excited than Richard Simmons getting ready to do one of his blistering workout videos.
Here is your 2009 CollegeFootball Previews. I will be doing this everyday this week previewing the major conferences, but you'll have to wait to see the SEC and Big 12 (later this week). Lets start out West where the babes are 'smoking' hot, Mercedes are driven like golf carts at your local golf club, and the weather is absolutely incredible.
1. California: 11-1
Unlike USC, the schedule favors the Bears this year. They get USC and Maryland (season opener at home), while their difficult road games will be against Oregon and UCLA (which they will have two weeks rest). The Bears have a well-rounded offense with a returning starting QB (Kevin Riley) and a projected first round running back, Jahvid Best, who rushed for well over 1,500 yards. This is a solid team who returns a tone of starters on offense, not to mention they are coming off a huge bowl victory over the “U.” I expect Best to carry the load (though the Golden Bears defense is their strength) and march the team to a Pac 10 title. Sorry Pete Carol, you’ll have to pass the torch for at leas tone year. (Note: Please do not find this shocking. Cal was number one in takeaways and second in scoring last season in the Pac 10 Conference.)
2. USC: 10-2
After QB Aaron Coorp went down with a leg injury, Freshman QB Matt Barkley will start in the opening game verse San Jose State at the Coliseum in Pasadena. USC Coaches have praised Barkley since he arrived on campus in January. Barkley graduated early to get an early grasp on the playbook. With a first-year QB, I expect the Trojans to be in a lot of close games. Yes, we know that Pete Carol’s teams are deep at all positions, but when your star player is a defensive guy (Taylor Mays), then you know it’s a “somewhat” down year. Not to mention their rough schedule (@ Ohio State [[2nd week]], @ Cal, @ Notre Dame, and @ Oregon). This does not make USC a “bad” team, just a slow year for a premier program.
3. UCLA: 8-4
Rick Neuheisal will have a much better season than last year because he’s got a load of talent back. 17 returning starters equal a better record and a better year for the Bruins team. However, their one BIG problem … who will be their Quarterback? Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Kevin Prince will be relied on heavy. The Bruins return three All-Pac 10 players including DT Brian Price who is projected as a first round draft pick. Mark my words; UCLA will be the most improved team in the Pac 10. But first, they will have to travel to Knoxville in Week 2 and prove they are here for good.
3. Oregon: 8-4
The Ducks have some of the best athletes in the entire nation, but open with a game in Boise, Idaho that is the Broncos biggest game of the decade on the “smurf turf,” while it’s Oregon’s fourth biggest game of their season. They will score a ton of points, but the defense will be the key of the year. They have to replace two huge pieces in the secondary, CB Jairus Byd and SS Patrick Chung, who were the keys to last year’s defense. How they rebound from their Week 1 loss will determine the Ducks outcome early.
5. Oregon State: 8-4
Mike Riley is (by far) the most underrated coach in America for this past decade. In his tenure as the Beavers coach, he’s never lost a bowl game and has beaten Pete Carol’s Trojans twice now. Name me “even” one coach that has done that … hmmm. Obviously, Oregon State will rely heavily on their Offensive Player of the Year last year in Jacquizz Rodgers. But the schedule is a little bumpy for me with games at Arizona State, USC, California, and Oregon. They might have the toughest road schedule in the conference. Coach Riley is one of my favorites in the entire nation, but I have the Beavers struggling a bit this season. Another 8 or 9 win season and a bowl victory will only build Riley’s status up even more at a lower tier school (absolutely nothing wrong with that)!
6. Stanford: 7-5
One sentence should sum this Cardinal team up: One of the most improved teams in the entire nation. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh will make Quarterback Andrew Luck (in his second year) look like an upcoming NFL Drat pick this year. First of all, Harbaugh’s “specialty” position is QB and he will expose Luck unlike some coaches would do with a young Sophomore Quarterback. Nevertheless, the schedule favors the Cardinal. They virtually have their toughest opponents at home (UCLA, Oregon, Cal, and Notre Dame).
7. Arizona State: 6-6
Dennis Erickson is clearly not the answer in Sun Valley. I understand the Sun Devils do not come in with high expectations like last year, but Erickson’s could be fired after this season with no run game, no offensive line, a young defensive line, and a new Quarterback. Not much to say here besides a big GOODLUCK. They’ll have the support (rowdy fans and an inspirational recruiting class), but will they believe in themselves in the middle of the season when they play a gauntlet of talent (starting Oct 24. – @Stanford, Cal, USC, @Oregon, @UCLA, Arizona)?
8. Arizona: 5-7
Good luck Willie Tuitama, you’re their only hope this year after an 8-win season in 2008. The Wildcats will be the most disappointing teams in the Pac 10 Conference this year.
9. Washington: 3-9
Love new Head Coach Steve Sarkisian. He will be able to turn this program around – guarantee – sooner or later. Love the direction the program went. Put it this way, if Sarkisian had Jake Locker, who is one of the prominent QB’s in the nation, he would have been to a New Year’s Day (or better) Bowl by now.
10. Washington State: 1-11
(I think this is where I am supposed to be comical). Well … the record says it all I guess.
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