Pacific-10 Preview

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Southern California's two most difficult conference games are at home, where the Trojans rarely lose. For all those Stanford fans who just raised their hands in protest, reminding anyone who still wants to listen that their boys beat the Trojans at the Coliseum just last season, well, what can we say? Count your blessings. Between a trio of running backs (Stafon Johnson, Joe McKnight and C.J. Gable) that averaged 6.6 yards per carry last season and a linebacker corps that ranks among the top handful in the nation, the Trojans, who have won at least 11 games in each of the past six seasons, appear poised to run through the Pacific-10 unblemished.

Dennis Erickson led Arizona State to a 10-win season in his first campaign. With an explosive offense led by senior quarterback Rudy Carpenter and a more experienced defense, the Sun Devils are the ideal long-shot candidate, just good enough to get noticed and with just enough flaws to be cast aside. The month of October will be rough -- conference matchups at California, at USC and against Oregon -- but if Erickson's crew can win two of those three, they'll be in good shape entering the season's homestretch. Carpenter has enough offensive targets to pull off such a feat. The question will be whether the defense can do its part.

Now that Tim Tebow has proved it is possible for an underclassman to win college football's most prestigious award, why not consider a quarterback of a similar mold. Washington sophomore Jake Locker threw for 2,062 yards last season and rushed for 986 more, with 27 touchdowns. The Huskies might not contend for a conference title, but Locker should garner some Heisman attention nonetheless.

-- Steve Yanda

Having Locker run the offense might not be enough to balance out a porous defense, much less allow for Washington's Tyrone Willingham to keep his job. The Huskies have not won more than five games during the three seasons of Willingham's tenure, and the school has begun making its frustration public. A winning season would go a long way toward ensuring Willingham is around to see Locker finish out his collegiate career.

Arizona State at Southern California, Oct. 11: The Trojans made quick work of the Sun Devils in 2007, winning by 20 points in Tempe. On the road against a national powerhouse, Arizona State could make a huge statement with a win over the conference favorite.

Finish

20071. Southern Cal

1st2. Arizona State

2nd3. Oregon

4th4. California

7th5. Arizona

6th6. UCLA

5th7. Washington

10th8. Oregon State

3rd9. Washington State

8th10. Stanford

9th