College Football Preview: Pac-10 Predictions

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TRUE OR FALSE?

We took our predictions to those who know the league the best.

WE SAY: USC again will claim it's the best team in the nation at the end of the season, but it won't play in the national championship game.

Former USC coach JOHN ROBINSON says: That's false. This is the year they're going to be in it. I think Texas and Oklahoma are going to knock each other out. I'm a believer in (quarterback) Aaron Corp -- and I'm a believer in what they do. If Aaron isn't the All-American-type quarterback, he can be efficient enough to make it work. They don't have to win games 48-14; they can win 28-14.

WE SAY: Coach Jim Harbaugh will lead Stanford to a bowl game for the first time since 2001 -- then leave for the NFL.

Former Stanford defensive back and ESPN analyst ROD GILMORE says: You're right: Harbaugh will lead Stanford to a bowl. The schedule is better, and Harbaugh has built a tougher, more physical team. Add new QB Andrew Luck -- he's legit -- to Toby Gerhart's running, and Stanford will have more offense to go with an underrated defense. But you're wrong about Harbaugh leaving. He knows he's a great fit for the college game. I don't believe he'll consider it until he has built a Rose Bowl contender.

WE SAY: UCLA will return to the top half of the league.

Oregon cornerback WALTER THURMOND says: Coach (Rick) Neuheisel is doing a great job, and they've got a lot of starters returning. All they need to do is find a quarterback and they can be back in the top half. They have to compete with USC -- that's motivation enough.

WE SAY: Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli will be a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Oregon quarterback DAN FOUTS says: He's certainly on the right track. If he can build on his last two games, which were outstanding -- great leadership in both of them -- if he can play at that level, then you may be talking about a trophy.

WE SAY: California's Jahvid Best will rush for 2,000 yards.

Former Washington coach DON JAMES says: He's a great back, but I just know how difficult it is to stay healthy and pick up that many yards. You would have to break a lot of long runs to do something like that. If you just nickel-and-dimed it, picking up 4 or 5 yards a carry, you are going to take a lot of hits. A lot of great running backs have probably had the potential to do it, but how often has it happened?

SN'S PAC-10 ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Offense

QB: JEREMIAH MASOLI, Jr., Oregon
RB: JAHVID BEST, Jr., California
RB: JACQUIZZ RODGERS, Soph., Oregon State
OL: JEFF BYERS, Sr., USC
OL: MITCHELL SCHWARTZ, Soph., California
OL: KRISTOFER O'DOWD, Jr., USC
OL: CHARLES BROWN, Sr., USC
OL: CHRIS MARINELLI, Sr., Stanford
WR: DAMIAN WILLIAMS, Jr., USC
WR: JAMES RODGERS, Jr., Oregon State
TE: ROB GRONKOWSKI, Jr., Arizona

Defense

DL: TYSON ALUALU, Sr., California
DL: BRIAN PRICE, Jr., UCLA
DL: WILL TUKUAFU, Sr., Oregon
DL: DEXTER DAVIS, Sr., Arizona State
LB: REGGIE CARTER, Sr., UCLA
LB: KEATON KRISTICK, Sr., Oregon State
LB: MICHAEL MOHAMED, Jr., California
DB: SYD'QUAN THOMPSON, Sr., California
DB: TAYLOR MAYS, Sr., USC
DB: DEVIN ROSS, Sr., Arizona
DB: WALTER THURMOND, Sr., Oregon

Specialists

K: KAI FORBATH, Jr., UCLA
P: BRYAN ANGER, Soph., California

PROJECTED FINISH

1. USC 10-2 (9-0)
2. OREGON 10-2 (8-1)
3. CALIFORNIA 9-3 (7-2)
4. OREGON STATE 8-4 (5-4)
5. UCLA 7-5 (5-4)
6. ARIZONA STATE 6-6 (4-5)
7. STANFORD 6-6 (4-5)
8. ARIZONA 4-8 (2-7)
9. WASHINGTON 2-10 (1-8)
10. WASHINGTON STATE 1-11 (0-9)

COACH OF THE YEAR: CHIP KELLY, Oregon
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JEREMIAH MASOLI, QB, Oregon

This story first appeared in the August 17 edition of Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.

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