Pac-10 Preview - Week Seven

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

ARIZONA STATE at #5 USC
A few weeks ago, this looked like an interesting matchup between two very good quarterbacks on teams who shared a Pac-10 title last year and would likely be fighting for the Pac-10 title again.

Maybe not. First USC dropped it’s Pac-10 opener while Arizona State stumbled in an out of conference match-up, which sent them into a tailspin that has yet to come to an end.

Both quarterbacks are in danger of missing a matchup already robbed of some of its luster. Sun Devil quarterback Rudy Carpenter sprained his ankle in last weekend’s loss to California while USC quarterback Mark Sanchez sustained a bone bruise during the Trojan victory against the Oregon Ducks. Both are hoping to play in a very important conference game, but either player could be a huge loss for their team, with Carpenter more likely to miss the contest.

If Sanchez cannot go, Pete Carroll will turn to Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain who looked good last week when he entered the game (5-of-8 for 111 yards and a touchdown). Mustain also threw an interception. While Sanchez knows the offense better and is an important leader on the sidelines, Mustain has worked hard to get up to speed on the subtleties of Carroll’s offense and he should be able to move the chains if he is called upon to play.

If Carpenter cannot go, things are a little dicier. Coach Dennis Erickson will have to hope that junior Danny Sullivan can stay vertical behind a shaky offensive line. But that’s really the least of ASU’ issues. The run game has been non existent this season and the team is turning over the ball at an alarming rate – five times over the last three games.

If ASU hands the ball to USC’s defense like that, it may not matter who is taking snaps under center.

ARIZONA at STANFORD
The Wildcats sit atop the Pac-10 rankings with California, clearly in the drivers seat. However, a title is long way away and they will have to avoid a letdown to Stanford.

So far, Arizona has played well, limiting turnovers, moving the ball efficiently and into the end zone regularly. However, their victories have come largely at the expense of teams that were not powerhouses and even then, they managed to lose a match-up they should have won versus New Mexico. The coming games will be a real challenge to Arizona. The offensive line will need to make sure they give quarterback William Tuitama enough time to find his receivers and sophomore running back Nic Grigsby lanes to run through.

Stanford has been very streaky, at times they are able to move the ball well and score points but just as often they turn the ball over and struggling on both sides of the ball. Coach Jim Harbaugh will need to get his team to remain focused after their tough loss at Notre Dame, mainly quarterback Tavita Pritchard, who will need to stop throwing interceptions if he wants to keep his team in the game. The rushing game will need to get some momentum going. If they can control the clock via the run and keep from turning the ball over, they might be able to wear the Wildcats down and send Arizona home with a loss.

UCLA at OREGON
It looks to be a very long day waiting for coach Rick Neuheisel’s Bruins as they will feel the wrath of an Oregon team that was abused by the USC Trojans last week. Oregon will look to get the running back duo of Jeremiah Johnson and LaGarrette Blount back on track after being limited to just 45 yards against USC. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli will also look to rebound from a subpar game.

UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft has been a good caretaker the last few games, but that won’t be enough against a dynamic Duck defense, nor will it be enough to keep up with an explosive Oregon offense. Craft was never meant to be the starter and his lack of ability will keep UCLA from really making a game of it at Autzen Stadium this weekend.

WASHINGTON STATE at OREGON STATE
Despite their upset win over USC, Oregon State has largely been ineffective. The lone bright spot has been freshman phenom Jacquizz Rodgers who came to prominence in that victory over the Trojans. Rodgers has been on point since the second week against Penn State where he totaled 127 yards combined and two touchdowns. Win or lose, Rodgers is a threat every time he gets the ball.

You can’t say enough about how much Washington State has struggled. Nothing much has gone right for the Cougars this season from injuries to bad penalties to a misfiring offensive and defensive schemes. It’s hard to pinpoint what might turn them around, especially when they were just blown out by the woeful Bruins last week. This game looks to be exceedingly lopsided and it will be all the Cougars can do to just keep it close.

Pac-10 Week Four Preview

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

Arizona @ UCLA
Both teams are in need of a win in order to right ships that just a week ago appeared strong and sturdy. Before the Wildcats suffered a tough loss to New Mexico, quarterback Willie Tuitama was playing mistake free football. He needs to put his two interception performance against New Mexico behind him, because a shaky Bruins’ secondary lies in the waters ahead. They also need tailback Nic Grigsby to revert to form as well—he totaled 304 yards and five touchdowns. On the other side of the field, Coach Rick Neuheisel is wondering just which team is going to show up this weekend. The fighting, clawing, ‘never say die’ scrappers from the victory against Tennessee, or the not quite ready for prime time players that got blown out by BYU? Sadly, it is probably more the latter than the former. Quarterback Kevin Craft cut down on his mistakes against BYU, but still has a long way to go as a starter. That goes for the team around him as well. After the embarrassing loss last week, it may be all the coaching staff can do to keep the kids focused on this game and not last week’s. While UCLA is not as good as they were week one, they are not as bad as week two, and Arizona is no BYU. That said, the Wildcats will still have an edge in nearly every aspect of this game (other than home field) and should be the victors in this match-up.

#2 Georgia @ Arizona State
A week ago, Arizona St. was thinking about perhaps beating Georgia and making a statement. While they were doing that, their foot came off the gas and UNLV took advantage. Despite Georgia’s not-exactly-strong win against South Carolina, the Bulldogs come in heavily favored to win while ASU is still trying to figure out what happened last week. The key to this game for both sides comes down to one man – Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter. If the offensive line can keep him from being hammered by the Bulldog defensive line, Carpenter should be able to exploit a secondary that is second to last in the SEC, allowing 236.3 yards per game. Arizona State is putting over 300 passing yards on the board each week. The Sun Devils have allowed just five sacks so far this year – and enormous improvement – and the Dawgs have amassed only six on defense, so keeping Carpenter is a possibility. The senior signal caller attempted 23 passes last week, while the team ran 36 times—the first time this season the team ran more than it passed. But it didn’t get the job done, as the rushing attack was only able to garner 3.6 yards per attempt and couldn’t kill the clock before UNLV got back in the game. In order to win, Carpenter needs to have a big game, and to do that he needs to be standing.

Meanwhile, Georgia will need better production from star running back Knowshon Moreno and quarterback Matthew Stafford. Like ASU’s offensive line, the Bulldog line is under the microscope. They must protect Stafford better after allowing South Carolina to get to him four times last week. The Sun Devils defense will try to repeat South Carolina’s success at stumping Stafford and stuffing Moreno, but the run defense will have to stop the bleeding after allowing 100+ yards in both of the last two games. That will be a tall challenge, with the talented sophomore coming in with something to prove. ASU has been good against the pass in this young season, but Stafford will put that to the test in the first top end challenge the Sun Devils will face.

If Coach Dennis Erickson’s boys upfront can protect Carpenter, they might make a game of this and perhaps bounce back into the rankings. But if Georgia can keep the pressure on and Moreno can rebound from his lackluster game last week, Georgia could make it a long evening in Tempe for the hometown team.

Portland State @ Washington State
I hesitate to say that Washington State should be able to beat Portland given last weekend’s events. Still, this is a bounce-back game for the Cougars and they should be able to win at home. The Cougars will be looking to reboot their season against Portland State, but need the defense to play better after having been manhandled in the first three games. Meanwhile, the offense needs to cut down on turnovers. Six interceptions from the quarterback position is too many, as they have continually put the defense behind the 8-ball and on the field more often than they can handle.

San Jose State @ Stanford
San Jose State comes to Stanford with an offense that moves the ball well, but is not as effective getting into the end zone. Stanford does a better job of scoring, but so do their opponents. This combination could spell disaster for the Cardinal, if the Spartans pick up their game in the red zone. While they looked good beating Oregon State, Stanford has been beaten handily over the last two games. San Jose State dropped their one big test at Nebraska, but otherwise has kept their opponents putting up points. The Cardinal should model their game on Nebraska’s and attack with the pass.

Boise State @ #17 Oregon
After an overtime comeback against Purdue last Saturday, the Ducks host Boise State with starting quarterback Justin Roper sidelined. Tailbacks LeGarrette Blount and Jeremiah Johnson will try to keep the dynamic offense moving on the ground, while Boise State will trot out running back Ian Johnson and wide receiver Titus Young to carry their offense. Oregon will likely turn to Jeremiah Masoli to carry the quarterback load, though true freshman Chris Harper may get some work as well. Regardless, the run game will be pivotal for the Ducks, as they try to limit their inexperienced quarterbacks. Boise State boasts a defense ranked 28th in the nation, giving up just 257 yards a game. They will try to put the Oregon offense in passing situations, turn on the pressure, and try to create turnovers, just as they did last week against Bowling Green. Oregon cannot afford to get behind this week, the way they did against Purdue. Boise State is also capable of explosive offensive play and if they get out in front by a bunch, the game will be in the hands of Oregon’s quarterbacks. Something the Ducks do not want to happen.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

CFI RANKINGS: #16 ARIZONA ST. SUN DEVILS

2007 RECORD: 10-3; PAC-10: 7-2
Lost Holiday Bowl vs. Texas 52-34
LOCATION: Tempe, Arizona
STADIUM: Sun Devil Stadium (71,706)
HEAD COACH: Dennis Erickson
OVERALL: 158-68-1 (19 seasons)
AT ARIZONA ST.: 10-3 (1 season)

Are you a “glass half full” kind of person? The Sun Devils reached double figures in wins for the first time since 1996. They reached No. 6 in late October…the last time ASU was that highly thought of was also in 1996. Their final ranking of No. 16 in the AP Poll was their highest finish since they were ranked No. 14 in 1997’s final poll. And they did all that in Dennis Erickson’s first season! Now, here’s a little something for the “glass half empty” people in the crowd: The Sun Devils allowed 55 sacks last season and they lost to their three toughest opponents—USC, Oregon and Texas. Those were their only opponents that finished the season ranked in the Coaches Poll (Oregon St. did finish No. 25 in the AP Poll).

WHEN THE SUN DEVILS HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Rich Olson (2nd Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 6
KEY LOSSES: Mike Polack, Ryan Torain, Rudy Burgess, Brent Miller, Brandon Rodd

Rudy Carpenter isn’t the perfect quarterback—he doesn’t have prototypical size or arm strength, and he tends to hold on to the football too long. However, he gets the job done. A feisty leader in the huddle, Carpenter makes things happen. In Michael Jones, Carpenter has a weapon to stretch the field with, while Chris McGaha is a sure-handed possession receiver. In the backfield they are deep, led by senior Keegan Herring, whose shiftiness and speed make him dangerous in the open field. Junior Dimitri Nance is the power back, while Shaun DeWitty (also a Jr.) provides a little of both. All the pieces are in place for ASU to have one of the top offenses in the country, as long as the offensive line doesn’t allow Carpenter to get beat up again. The offensive line’s struggles are well-documented and they must improve.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) RB Keegan Herring (SR), 2) QB Rudy Carpenter (SR)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Craig Bray (2nd Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 7
KEY LOSSES: Justin Tryon, Josh Barrett, Robert James

They are set at defensive end with Pac-10 honorees junior Dexter Davis (Second Team) and senior Luis Vazquez (Honorable Mention)—Davis is the better pass rusher, Vazquez is the stouter of the two. In the middle, sophomore Jonathan English could make a difference if he breaks into the starting lineup. The defensive line could be a stronger and deeper unit overall than it was a year ago. At linebacker, Travis Goethel is their leading returning tackler with Mike Nixon ready to step up and play a bigger role in the middle. They lose cover man Justin Tryon and athletic safety Josh Barrett, but with ball hawking free safety Troy Nolan and sensational sophomore corner Omar Bolden back, their secondary is solid.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) CB Omar Bolden (SO), 2) DE Dexter Davis (JR)

THE SCHEDULE

The Sun Devils should start out 3-0, but then they will be put to the test…beginning with their match-up with No. 1 ranked Georgia, who makes the trip to the desert. As if that’s not tough enough, ASU follows that up with a pair of West Coast trips of their own, playing at Cal and at USC. Last season, Dennis Erickson led them to an 8-0 start—this time they’d do well to be 3-2 after five games. They also play host to Oregon and travel to Oregon St. in what could be a defining five-game mid-season stretch.

PIVOTAL POINT

Offensive Line: The big uglies in the desert are probably tired of hearing the number 55. Until they do a better job of protecting their quarterback, they will continue to hear the comments and questions. Even with the loss of C Mike Pollack, their best lineman, there is reason for hope. The key is sophomore left tackle Jon Hargis—the man charged with protecting Carpenter’s blind side. Hargis is athletic and according to reports is looking more comfortable on the offensive side of the ball after making a couple of starts on the defensive line as a freshman. If they were able to average 32.3 points per game last season, who knows how explosive they can be if the line play improves?

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

The Sun Devils will be better…because their offensive line can’t be worse. Carpenter should excel in his second year playing in the system of Coach Erickson and OC Rich Olson. Defensively, expect a more aggressive unit that should feel more comfortable. It’s not common for a team to start out 8-0 with a new headman and that raises expectations in year two. However, asking ASU to post a better record this season seems a rather tall task. A repeat of 10 wins or even nine seem more realistic, but should not be viewed as a lack of progress.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

Booty, No. 11 USC Keep Rose Bid Alive

By ANDREW BAGNATO
AP College Football Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Pete Carroll is an optimist. So even after his Southern California team lost twice, including an unimaginable upset by Stanford, the coach kept insisting the Trojans had a shot at the Rose Bowl. The 11th-ranked Trojans made that clear in a 44-24 rout of No. 7 Arizona State on Thursday night, reviving their bid for an unprecedented sixth straight Pac-10 title and a Rose Bowl berth.

John David Booty threw for 375 yards and matched a career high with four touchdown passes, and the Trojans defense dominated.

``I've been ringing the bell for that in our locker room and our meeting rooms for a while,'' Carroll said. ``It ain't over yet.''

Southern California (9-2, 6-2 Pac-10) will win the Pac-10 if it beats UCLA on Dec. 1 and Oregon loses to UCLA or Oregon State.

The Trojans need help to earn a trip to Pasadena. They needed no help in dismantling the Sun Devils (9-2, 6-2).

``This was a really, really sweet win,'' Carroll said. ``I think it's a great statement for our guys. They know now what we're capable of doing.''

The Rose Bowl seemed an unlikely destination after then-No. 2 USC, a 41-point favorite, lost 24-23 to Stanford on Oct. 6 in one of college football's biggest stunners. But now, the talented Trojans are rolling again.

``People kind of counted us out, especially with the early loss to Stanford,'' said Booty, who also ran for a 1-yard score. ``We know what we're all about.''

USC's defense overwhelmed Arizona State, sacking Rudy Carpenter six times and briefly knocking him out of the game with a cut lip. Defensive end Lawrence Jackson had four sacks, most in a game by a Trojans player since 1989.

``They came to hit tonight,'' Carpenter said. ``I think tonight, we were overmatched.''

Southern California broke open a 17-all game with 10 points in the final 5 minutes of the first half, then pulled away from the Sun Devils with 17 more points in the third quarter.

Booty hit Joe McKnight for a 7-yard touchdown midway through the quarter, then connected with Fred Davis for a 34-yard score on fourth-and-2 to give USC a 44-17 lead entering the fourth.

Booty had missed three games with a broken finger and played inconsistently at times. But he was sharp and confident from the start on Thursday night, completing his first seven passes.

``The individual showing from John David was just perfectly timed,'' Carroll said. ``He's back now. He's ready to go. He comes up with a huge night.''

ASU has staged some stirring rallies this season but the Sun Devils had no chance against USC's defense, which allows 16 points per game - sixth in the nation. The Trojans limited ASU to 16 yards on 35 rushes.

It was USC's eighth straight win over Arizona State.

``We didn't play good,'' ASU coach Dennis Erickson said. ``It's sad.

``We just did not play like I thought we would in a game like this,'' Erickson said. ``No excuses. We just didn't do what we needed to do.''

Arizona State trailed 17-7 midway through the first quarter. It was the sixth time the Sun Devils have faced a double-digit deficit in the opening quarter, and they rallied to win four times.

The Trojans opened the game with a seven-play, 51-yard touchdown drive, scoring on a 4-yard pass from Booty to Vidal Hazelton. Booty was 6-for-6 for 45 yards on the opening drive.

ASU answered with a 98-yard kickoff return by Rudy Burgess to tie it 7-all. It was only the second kickoff return for a touchdown by a Sun Devils player at home in the past 21 years.

The Trojans scored the next 10 points, but then the Sun Devils woke up.

ASU cut it to 17-14 on a 4-yard pass from Carpenter to Michael Jones, and Thomas Weber's 25-yard field goal tied it at 17 early in the second quarter.

But USC reeled off the next 27 points, and the Sun Devils didn't score again until they blocked a punt at USC's 20-yard line midway through the fourth quarter.

``We just happened to catch them when they played like one of the best teams in the country,'' Erickson said.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

CFI: SUN DEVILS HOPE TO SINK DUCKS

BY ARTHUR DiCESARE
PAC-10 INSIDER

The fifth-ranked Ducks and fourth-ranked Sun Devils meet in a pivotal match up at Autzen Stadium on Saturday as each program looks to move closer to a conference title and potential BCS berth. You could make the case that this is the biggest game for each program in ten plus years. The showdown features the top two scoring offenses in the Pac-10. The early edge would have to go towards Oregon due to home field advantage, one of the top-rated offenses in the country, and the fact that they have the best two players in the game in quarterback Dennis Dixon and running back Jonathan Stewart.

The big story all week has been about Rudy Carpenter who was unable to throw in practice Tuesday due to swelling in his sprained right thumb. Carpenter was able to throw on Thursday and Coach Erickson expects the thumb to be no problem come game day. This game has all the makings of an old fashion Texas shootout via Eugene. Oregon with its dynamic spread offense and an Arizona State offense, which relies on balance but has the ability to strike quick with six touchdowns of forty plus yards.

Oregon will rely on their raucous crowd to force Arizona State into some costly penalties, Arizona State averages seven penalties a game. The crowd will help energize the defense that will look to force some key turnovers. Dennis Dixon who will once again be working without two of his top receivers and has only thrown three picks on the season will have to be wary of Arizona States opportunistic secondary that boasts the two top interception leaders in the conference. Arizona State is also limiting opponents to 15.6 points per game best in the Pac-10 and seventh in the nation. I expect Oregon to try and control the game with back Jonathan Stewart, look for him to carry the ball 25 plus times.

Arizona State will use its balance to attack Oregon; quarterback Rudy Carpenter has a two-back system that has both backs on pace for 900 yards. Carpenter also spreads the ball around to his receivers nicely with four receivers having 20 plus catches. Arizona State will have to avoid a trend of getting into early double-digit defects, which they have done three times this year including last week against Cal. Those three games all came at home and eventually turned into wins. Oregon is too talented and their crowd is too strong to allow Arizona State to coast early and come back late.

Arizona State- Oregon is college football’s game of the week, which has BCS implications involved. Many teams around the country will be very interested in the result of this game. I look forward to an exciting game that will feature a little bit of everything and if these are two teams you have not seen you are in for a treat. Both teams are extremely well-coached and have talent and toughness throughout their rosters. The big time playmakers in the back field for Oregon should be the difference and will help the Ducks pull away late, Oregon continues its march towards the Pac-10 crown 31-20.

PHOTO CREDIT: COLLEGIATE IMAGES

ASU QB Carpenter unable to throw during practice due to sprained right thumb

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter was unable to throw in practice Tuesday due to swelling in his sprained right thumb.

But coach Dennis Erickson said Carpenter is almost certain to play when the sixth-ranked Sun Devils visit No. 4 Oregon on Saturday.

Carpenter took snaps and handed off but didn't throw Tuesday, his first practice since he sprained the thumb handing off to tailback Keegan Herring in a 31-20 victory over California last weekend.

``He couldn't throw,'' Erickson said. ``His thumb swelled up. It bothers him a little bit.''

Erickson reacted with disbelief when asked if there was any chance Carpenter would sit out against the Ducks.

``He'll play,'' Erickson said. ``I would be shocked if he didn't come out throwing by Thursday, but I'm not a doctor.''

Carpenter didn't speak to reporters.

If Carpenter can't play, the Sun Devils would turn to sophomore Danny Sullivan, who has completed 11 of 14 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in mop-up duty this season.

SOURCE: NCAAFOOTBALL; PHOTO CREDIT: COLLEGIATE IMAGES

CFI’S CONFERENCE PREVIEW PART V:

THE PAC-10 CONFERENCE
BY DANIEL MOGOLLON
CFI CO-FOUNDER

Conference Champ: Southern Cal vs. UCLA: The Bruins beat the Trojans last season and should be even better this year, as they return ten starters on both sides of the ball. Bruce Davis recorded 12.5 sacks as a junior and returns to lead a stellar defense, putting the ball in the offense’s court. If UCLA is to fulfill their potential, quarterback Ben Olsen will have to reach his. Their biggest problem? The Trojans will be better as well, as USC returns 18 starters from last year’s team. The defense is unquestionably the best in the land. This may sound ridiculous, but the defense could have eight or nine future day one picks, with one of the best linebacker corps I have ever seen. The schedule is tough, so John David Booty will have to be on his game week in and week out.

The Sleeper: Arizona St.: Coach Dennis Erickson is in town and he knows how to win. The Sun Devils underachieved last season and are due to bounce back. With a more consistent Rudy Carpenter and nine starters returning on offense, ASU has the potential to be explosive. The defense is underrated as well and if some of the talented youngsters such as Dexter Davis (6 sacks as a freshman) gel with transfers such as Luis Vasquez (31 sacks in two seasons of JC ball), they could have a Cinderella season in Coach Erickson’s first year back in the Pac-10. They play USC, California, Oregon St. and the rival Wildcats of Arizona all at home.

Offensive Player of the Year: John David Booty (USC) vs. Jonathan Stewart (OU): With predecessors Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart winning the Heisman Trophy before departing Southern California, you would think winning Offensive Player of the Year should be a cinch for Booty. He will need receivers to emerge after losing Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith, a duo that played a big role in Booty’s successful season. If any player can step up and put up the type of numbers that could outshine the Hollywood boy, it is the highly touted Stewart. Built like a NFL back (5’11”/230), with the moves and speed to match, he was among the most acclaimed prospects coming out of high school. Stewart is a workout warrior, a combine star in waiting. Now he must translate that talent to the field on a consistent basis.

Defensive Player of the Year: Lawrence Jackson (USC) vs. Ray Maualuga (USC): Jackson was supposed to win this honor last season on his way to the NFL, but things did not quite work out as planned. Due partly to a groin injury, the defensive end went sackless for the first eight games of the season. Now healthy, the expectation is that Jackson will dominate the line of scrimmage, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks. Playing behind him is the very productive MIKE backer Maualuga, who as a sophomore supplanted a senior starter and become the leader of the Trojans defense. He covers sideline-to-sideline and no one makes a more memorable introduction when they arrive. He was a first team All-Pac 10 performer last season, as was OLB Keith Rivers, with Brian Cushing (OLB) joining Jackson on the second team, two more SC candidates.

Breakout Seasons: Patrick Turner (USC), Reggie Carter (UCLA), Willie Tuitama (ASU): Turner only made 29 grabs as a sophomore and somehow he averaged less than ten yards per reception as USC’s number three receiver. At 6’5”/230 with explosive speed, Turner has more physical ability than the record setting Dwayne Jarrett did. With Jarrett and Steve Smith gone, Turner steps up to the number one spot, which will reflect on his numbers. Carter started at the WILL position last season as a freshman for the Bruins. He was solid and showed some flashes, using his speed to chase down ball carriers and he was more physical than his size would indicate (218 pounds). With a full season under his belt, Carter will flourish as a sophomore, joining Bruce Davis to lead the Bruins defense. Tuitama was ticketed to break out last season, but injuries (concussions) that caused him to miss significant playing time, also contributed to his inconsistency. This season, new coordinator Sonny Dykes brings the spread offense to Tucson from Texas Tech. The wide-open quick strike attack should bring out Tuitama’s talent, as well as help keep him upright.

Best Pro Prospect: Taylor Mays (USC): So many choices, just on USC’s defense alone with Lawrence Jackson, Ray Maualuga, Keith Rivers and the overlooked Brian Cushing…so why go with a sophomore safety? Because he is that good. As a freshman last season, Mays stepped into the starting lineup and excelled, making three interceptions and laying the wood on anyone who dared to lurk near his territory. The former track star has speed with the ideal size (6’4”/220) to flourish in the league where they play for pay.

College Football Insiders Picks:

Conference Champion: Southern Cal Trojans: You didn’t think I was going anywhere else with this pick…did you? Hands-down the most talented team in the land, the Trojans look to win their first National Title since 2004.

Offensive Player of the Year: DeSean Jackson (Cal): Going with an upset here. Jackson is so good he may live up to Ted Ginn’s hype. The Cal receiver is a threat to score on every play, maybe the most feared man with ball in hand.

Defensive Player of the Year: Ray Maualuga (USC): The 6’3”/250 MIKE for USC plays with intensity and uses all of his ability. He may not run the fastest 40-time, but don’t tell that to the players he is chasing.

Check back tomorrow for Part VI: The SEC