- Ducks Fly Together
#20 Oregon – Returning 13 starters this season. But still lost a lot of their key players. Autzen Stadium is one of the toughest places to play, but that won’t help the ducks when the go on the road to USC and ASU. Currently they have a QB competition that the coaches say 7 guys have a legit shot… either that means you have done a hell of a job recruiting or the polar opposite. I’m predicting a 3 or 4 loss season, replacing Dennis Dixon, Jonathan Stewart and your 2 starting DT’s is just too much to expect a PAC 10 championship. My only question is will the have more uniform styles than losses?
#19 Illinois – Ron Zook looks to build on last season, and if Mendenhall would’ve stayed I would say they would have a legit shot at being the best in the Big Ten. That didn’t happen, so Zook will be relying on Juice Williams to carry the load. WIlliams could be a dark horse for the Heisman, especially if he comes out the gates quick against Missouri. 12 Starters returning, road trips to Missouri, Penn St, Wisconsin, and Michigan will test the 10 new starters for sure when the Buckeyes make the trip out for a late season showdown. Brutal Schedule will most likely result in 4 losses this season.
#18 Tennessee - Arian Foster will break 1,000 yards again, but the SEC is way too tough to be a one trick pony. New quarterback Jonathan Compton threw 12 passes last season, so hopefully he learned a lot as a backup cuz the game at UCLA is not a gimme. They’ll finish in the middle of the SEC.
#17 BYU – Another non-BCS school that will attempt to crack into the national title picture, tough to take them serious when they’re toughest games are UCLA, Washington, and TCU. Don’t believe the hype… they’ll have a solid record, but a sorry schedule will do that for you.
- Cougar showing off the baby he won at the game
#16 Arizona State – An experienced team in the PAC 10 that could sneak up on people. They have 14 starters returning and most of their statistical leaders from a year ago returning. But an early trip from Georgia and a trip to USC will kill their national title hopes but Dennis Erickson is improving this team annually.
