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5 BEST NON-CONFERENCE GAMES IN 2006:
-USC at Arkansas
-Oklahoma at Oregon
-California at Tennesse
-Washington State at Auburn
-Notre Dame at USC
*Others receiving votes..Colorado at Arizona State, LSU at Arizona and Nebraska at USC
PACIFIC 10 Preseason Spring Predictions:
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Quick Slants on the upcoming season:
1. Is this the year the Pac-10 gets some national respect?
-Yes, this should finally be the year when the Pac-10 steps up and re-asserts itself as a national power conference. As opposed to last year when it was USC and the nine dwarfs, this year the conference has several marquee games that actually are winnable. Right off the bat several teams can make a splash including these three games:
-Washington State opens at Auburn Sept. 2nd, Auburn is a serious BCS contender with Kenny Irons, Brandon Cox and crew...but will have there hands full with the potent offense(WR Jason Hill and Co.) of the cougars which finished 8th in the nation in 2005.
-Oklahoma travels to the zoo to meet the high-flying Ducks Sept. 16th, Both teams should be in the top 12 by then and looking to stamp an early season ticket to the BCS. This game is a huge early season test as both teams will be preparing to face the likes of Texas, USC, Fresno State and Nebraska in the following weeks...and can afford no slip ups in there qwest for national titiles.
-Notre Dame travels to the city of angels for the possible "game of the year" with Southern Cal on Nov. 25th, This could easily match two undefeated top 5 teams with a possible trip to the 2006 National Championship Game on the line....and it will also be a huge grudge match for Charlie Weis and crew as they lost a heartbreaker last year in South Bend at the buzzer.
2. Who is the favorite to unseat USC as Pac-10 Champion?
-Again this year Southern California is everyones preseason darlings...even after losing two Hiesman winners and 5 potential first round draft picks. Heres a look at three possible suitors for that top spot in the conference:
-California Golden Bears...the bears were a consistent QB away from going 11-1 in 2005, now the question is can they take that next step toward being elite? Featuring a stout offense led be possibly the best backfield in the country in Marshawn Lynch and Justin forsett, add in Super soph WR Desean Jackson..Cal will be able to score with anyone. The question for Cal will be in the secondary and there schedual. Early tests at Tennesse and home with Minnesota will determine just how great this team will become.
-Oregon Ducks....... Last year the Ducks were 3 solid quarters away from going undefeated. Too bad those 3 quarters were against ..1 USC and a solid Oklahoma team that finished strong. Again this year Oregon's strength will be in its passing attack...led by both Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf. Both quarterbacks played superbly in place of injured Kellen Clemens last year...add in a year of experience and sophmore stud Jonathon Stewart at tailback..and this years offense could be even scarier than last year. Questions remain as to who will replace All-Pac 10 tackle Ngata and can the Ducks navigate there brutal schedual successfully? An early four game stretch has the Ducks at fresno St., home against Oklahoma, at Arizona St. and at Cal....to go along with a late game at USC. A winning record during this stretch and the Ducks should be flying high.
-Arizona State Sundevils....Last year ASU had a top 5 passing attack and the 2nd best offense(next to USC...of course) in the nation, in 2006 we can expect much of the same. Led by possibly the best quarterbacking duo anywhere in america, Sam Keller and Rudy Carpenter have all the tools to lead the Sundevils to unprecedented heights. Rudy, as a freshman led all NCAA quarterbacks in passing efficiency in 2005...and will open the year on the bench. Add All-Pac 10 TE Zach Miller and the offense should once again be clicking in 2006. Like the other contenders for the Pac 10 crown, defense will be ASU's achilles heel. With winnable non-conference games home with Nevada and at colorado...ASU has the chance to win there first Pac 10 title since the mid 1990's.
3. Who is this seasons Darkhorse in the conference?
-In 2005 UCLA stepped out of nowhere to win 10 games and challenge the mighty Trojans atop the conference. This season the Arizona Wildcats fit the mold and should be a solid team by the fall. Led by QB Willie Tuitama and a stoud defense under Coach Mike Stoops the 'Cats have a legit shot this fall. The schedual offers a mixed bag with games at BYU and LSU, but a winnable game with Stephan F. Austin should build confidence going into league play. While winning 10 games is a huge reach...theres a realistic shot at a bowl game, and confidence knowing there headed in the right direction. Should all go according to plan, look out for the Wildcats in 2007.
4. What are three marquee games that no one is talking about.
-Cal at Tennessee
Early season matchup for Cal could propel Bears into spotlite for a BCS Berth. With winnable games at home with Minnesota and USC and at Oregon...Cal has the BEST shot of any Pac 10 team for the Title Game. Marshawn Lynch can begin his Hiesman qwest as well with a solid outing.
Tennessee on the other hand has alot to prove themselves after a disasterous campain last fall. Early season excpectations ended in disappointment as they finished unranked. This is THE game for the Vols to right there ship...a marquee opponent at home. A loss and Phil Fulmer may begin feeling some warmth on his seat.
-Nebraska at USC
Following a big game with Arkansas....this is another chance for the Trojans to solidify there place amongst the elite in college football in 2006. With possibly the best defense in the west, USC is on a mission to prove they can win even without all that star power of previous years. A win here would be a huge confidence boost going into league play.
This is Nebraska's chance to prove it has the talent to compete with the best in the land. After several down years in Lincoln while learning Coach Callahan's west coast offense, this is the year Nebraska wants to reclaim its spot among the elite in the country. A win here would be a huge morale boost before facing the likes of Oklahoma and Texas in Big 12 play.
-Oklahoma at Oregon
Last season Oregon lost two games, to Number 1 USC(after leading at half) and Top 25 Oklahoma in the Holiday bowl. This is a grudge match for the Ducks who felt they were snubbed(again?) by the BCS and didnt play up to there potential during there bowl game. With the crazest fans in the west, and the loudest stadium on the west coast, this could easily be a win.....which is huge considering the Ducks follow up this game with trips to ASU, Cal and eventually USC in league play.
The Sooners should be advised, the last "Big Name" school to visit the "Zoo" Autzen Stadium for the first time was Michigan and they lost back in 2004. Even the Legendary offense of USC had problems for a half in 2005. This is a big game for the Sooners as they continue there qwest for another BCS berth. Along with Hiesman favorite Adrian Peterson, they boast an improved QB in Rhett Bomar and as always a top notch defense under Coach Bob Stoops. A win at Autzen sets up Oklahoma nicely as they head into league play with Nebraska, Texas and Co.
2006 Team previews coming soon!
2006 All-America teams:
1st Team All-American
QB- Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
RB- Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
RB- Marshawn Lynch, Cal
WR- Dwayne Jarrett, USC
WR- Sidney Rice, South Carolina
TE- Zach Miller, Arizona State
OL- Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
OL- Justin Blalock, Texas
OL- Sam Baker, USC
OL- Dan Mozes, West Virginia
OL- Arron Sears, Tennessee
DL- Gaines Adams, Clemson
DL- Quinton Moses, Georgia
DL- Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State
DL- Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan
LB- Patrick Willis, Ole Miss
LB- Paul Posluszny, Penn State
LB- Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma
DB- Laron Landry, LSU
DB- Antoine Cason, Arizona
DB- Michael Griffin, Texas
DB- Daymeion Hughes, Cal
K- Mason Crosby, Colorado
P- Nic Scmitt, Virginia Tech
KR- Quinton Jones, Boise State
PR- Ted Ginn, Ohio State
Second Team All-American
QB-Troy Smith, Ohio State
RB- Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois
RB- Michael Bush, Louisville
WR- Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
WR- Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame
TE- Greg Olsen, Miami (FL)
OL- Levi Brown, Penn State
OL- Doug Free, Northern Illinois
OL- Kyle Young, Fresno State
OL- Ryan Kalil, USC
OL- Ryan Harris, Notre Dame
DL- Brandon Mebane, California
DL- Adam Carriker, Nebraska
DL- Lawrence Jackson, USC
DL- Marcus Thomas, Florida
LB- H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh
LB- Brandon Siler, Florida
LB- Buster Davis, Florida State
DB- Brandon Meriweather, Miami
DB- Eric Weddle, Utah
DB- Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame
DB- Leon Hall, Michigan
K- Jad Dean, Clemson
P- Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor
KR- Tony Pennyman, Utah State
PR- Ryne Robinson, Miami (Ohio)
Third Team All-American
QB- Brian Brohm, Louisville
RB- Kenny Irons, Auburn
RB- Steve Slaton, West Virginia
WR- Tedd Ginn, Ohio State
WR- Jason Hill, Washington State
TE- Matt Spaeth, Minnesota
OL- Mike Jones, Iowa
OL- Samson Satele, Hawaii
OL- Kasey Studdard, Texas
OL- Jake Long, Michigan
OL- Mark Fenton, Colorado
DL- Baraka Atkins, Miami
DL- Sedrick Ellis, USC
DL- Andre Fluellen, Florida State
DL- Frank Okam, Texas
LB- Keith Rivers, USC
LB- Anthony Waters, Clemson
LB- Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech
DB- Wesley Smith, Memphis
DB- Marquice Cole, Northwestern
DB- John Talley, Duke
DB- Fred Bennett, South Carolina
K- Alexis Serna, Oregon State
P- Brandon Fields, Michigan State
KR- Terry Richardson, Arizona State
PR- Steve Breaston, Michigan
Heisman 2006 coming soon!
Bowl picks coming mid-season 2006!
