Comments on: 2007 Pac-10

By: RoseBowlBears

RoseBowlBears — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:54:38 +0000

One correction – Washington actually beat UCLA last year…because of predictable ol’ Dorrellian play calling. Calling runs up the gut every time you get into field goal range aint the way you put a team away.

Is there a bigger pretender in the country than UCLA? There’s only one returning guy at UCLA that matters – Dorrell. The guy couldn’t coach his way out of a paper bag. If it wasn’t for Walker’s miracle job on the defense (which was okay at best), leading them to a win over USC, Dorrell’s seat would be the hottest in the country.

How is UCLA getting so much love and OSU gets none? Yeah they lost their QB, but they have two of the most underrated players in the country in Sammie Stroughter and Yvenson Bernard, and 18 starters back from a 10 win team that beat USC.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 20:13:10 +0000

The main quibble I have is UCLA’s “great” defense. Didn’t any offense not named USC with a pulse put up 30+ points on them?
Yes, UCLA held OSU to 7 points as well, but I just don’t buy that 2 good games doth a great defense make.
That said, I could see taking them over OSU with a new QB, but I think Oregon should be better than predicted here.

By: LaughingBear

LaughingBear — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:06:10 +0000

Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I predict a USC offensive collapse — last year, the pure talent of Booty/Jarret/Smith overcame some pretty mediocre play-calling. But they don’t have nay experienced recievers entering the season. Also, while loosing Kiffen isn’t too damaging to the “brain trust” it does hurt their continuity.

USC is facing national-caliber defenses in AZ, OSU, UCLA. Then add getting into a offensive shootouts with Cal and Nebraska, and I see them dropping at least 2 of these games.

While Cal faces the toughest defenses at home (AZ, OSU USC), so Longshore will be able to make sight adjustments/audibles that he couldn’t do last year in hostile stadiums. Finally, “Speed Kills” — and Cal is the fastest team in the Pac10 on both sides of the ball.

Cal may lose to USC, but USC will lose more games, that’s why I have Cal at #1.

AZ is too low — great defense, and with the Texas Tech offense, I actually think they will be in the hunt for #3 (w/ OSU, ASU, UCLA)

Also, it seems like Oregon is imploding – Dixon is thinking about his baseball career and they lost one of their star defenders, so I’d drop them down a bit.

By: build-a-bear

build-a-bear — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:42:54 +0000

Jon, I like your picks for the this upcoming season. They match mine except I have Stanfurd at #11 right below UC Davis, haha.

As far as the Cal Tennessee game goes, I could see it going both ways. Of course I’m pulling for a Cal win. My only concern is that when they do, and then run up the non-conference games after that, will they go into pac10 play overconfident like they normally do after big wins or comfortable stretches. That’s why I saw last year’s Tenn game as being a “great loss” because Cal then used the non conference games after that to better prepare for conference play. But we all know they eventually got overconfident and were upended by Arizona =/

I don’t want to see that again.

By: Pete Morris

Pete Morris — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:39:56 +0000

I can’t really argue with your ballot, but I’ll quibble anyway. First, the gap between USC and Cal is lessened by (a) Cal’s deeper pool of experienced playmakers on offense, and (b) the Berkeley location of their November showdown. Second, I’d flip-flop ASU and UofA. For a midlevel team, having home games against the two conference giants, which you can’t realistically expect to win, is not an advantage; ASU would be better served by having the more beatable Bruins and Ducks at home.