Preview: Notre Dame (4-2) vs. Boston College (5-2)

Where: Notre Dame Stadium; When: Saturday 3:30PM ET; TV: NBC

Overview

Whenever Boston College faces Notre Dame, the Eagles always play one of their best games of the year. Historically, this game has meant more to the Eagles and their fans than it has to Notre Dame. These contrasting viewpoints have been evident on the field as the Eagles have won six consecutive games in the series.

Over the years, Notre Dame always seems to play BC at an inopportune time on its schedule. Whether it be on the heels of a great win (Florida State 1993, 2002) or a tough loss (Pittsburgh 2008, USC 2009) Notre Dame has frequently entered the contest against BC unfocused.

The task of ending the losing streak will be tough as the Irish face BC on the heels of a heartbreaking, eighth consecutive loss to Southern Cal just last week.

It will be important for Notre Dame to regroup quickly as BC is playing some of its best football of the season. New head coach Frank Spaziani leads a team that struggled offensively early in the season (most notably gaining only 54 yards of total offense in a Week 3 loss to Clemson) but has improved of late.

In last week’s 52-20 victory over North Carolina State, sophomore running back Montel Harris set school records with 264 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Not your typical freshman, 25-year-old Dave Shinskie has established himself as the starting quarterback and provided some stability to the offense.

The Eagles will not be lacking for additional motivation this year. They continue to play in honor of linebacker Mark Herzlich, who was diagnosed with cancer before the season began.

Keys for a Notre Dame Victory

1. Forget Southern Cal - In 2008 Notre Dame lost a stunning quadruple overtime game to Pittsburgh, 36-33. Unable to forget the tough loss, Notre Dame was mentally unprepared the following week and fell to Boston College 17-0.

Charlie Weis will need to accomplish what he failed to do against BC last season: get the team to forget about last week’s game and come out of the tunnel ready to win.

For Notre Dame to avoid a hangover from the USC loss, it will be vital to get off to a fast start and play well in the first quarter. Points from the offense and productivity from the defense will be just the tonic to help the Irish forget about last week.

Both of BC’s losses have come on the road this season. In those games, the Eagles have struggled offensively, averaging just 10.5 points and 108.5 yards of offense in losses to Clemson and Virginia Tech. Should Notre Dame get out to an early lead, Boston College will struggle to mount a comeback.

However, if Notre Dame lets BC hang around and puts itself into a position where the Irish yet again need a fourth quarter comeback, there may not be any late-game magic left.

2. Expose BC’s inferior Pass Rush - The biggest weakness to the Eagle defense this season has been their inability to pressure the quarterback. Boston College has been unable to find suitable replacements for star defensive tackles BJ Raji and Ron Brace, both of whom were high picks in last April’s NFL draft.

As a team, the BC defense ranks 86th nationally in sacks with just ten. Their inability to pressure the quarterback has made their pass defense susceptible to big plays.

Jimmy Clausen should have plenty of time to distribute the ball to Golden Tate and the Irish receivers. Tate continues to be a dynamic part of Notre Dame’s offense. Despite continuous double-teams by USC’s vaunted defense last week, Tate was able to catch eight passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

3. Force Boston College to Throw - Boston College has one of the nation’s better running attacks, averaging 155.29 yards per game on the ground. However, they are much less effective through the air. The Eagles are 106th in FBS with 171 passing yards per game.

Notre Dame will employ the same strategy it used against USC: force a good running team to throw the ball. Coming into last week’s game against Notre Dame, USC was averaging over 200 yards per game on the ground. However the Irish defense was able to hold the Trojans to 121.

In doing so, Notre Dame was able to put the game in the hands of USC freshman quarterback Matt Barkley. While Barkley ended up playing great, the Irish were able to take the Trojans’ biggest offensive strength, and force them to win in a different way.

Notre Dame will look to do the same thing to Boston College on Saturday. They will load the box and attempt to eliminate Harris. In doing so, BC will need Shinskie to play great.

Keys for a Boston College Victory

1. Establish the Running Game - The number one priority for BC offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill is to get production from Harris. At 5’8”, 192 pounds, the sophomore from Jacksonville, Florida is not the biggest or the fastest running back. However, Harris has great quickness and is difficult to bring to the ground.

The Boston College running game has been effective against some of the best rush defenses in the country. Going into last week’s game against the Eagles, NC State was giving up just 62.8 yards per game on the ground. Harris torched the Wolfpack for 264 yards and five touchdowns by himself. It will be vital to continue their trend of effective rushing to keep Clausen and the potent Irish offense off the field.

2. Exposes Notre Dame’s Biggest Weakness - The Irish have been terrible defending the pass this season. The Notre Dame defense has continually made other quarterbacks look great, giving up 283 passing yards per game (ranked 117th in FBS). Just last week, Barkley tossed for 380 yards and two touchdowns. Coming into the game, Barkley was averaging 239.5 yards through the air.

Shinskie has had an up and down season, averaging just 116.4 yards passing per game. However he played well last week when the BC running game was at its most effective.

Shinskie’s ability to capitalize on an Irish weakness will be a major factor in the outcome of this game. If he can get the ball to leading receivers Rich Gunnell and Colin Larmond, he will give the Eagles a great chance to steal one from Notre Dame.

Prediction

Boston College will enter Notre Dame Stadium as they always do: fired up and ready to win. Yet for the first time in a while, Notre Dame will have the proper focus necessary to beat the Eagles. The Irish finally understand that this game cannot be a one-way rivalry.

BC’s inability to get a consistent pass rush on Clausen will provide the talented Irish signal caller with too much time to make plays.

The Notre Dame run defense will do a good job limiting Harris’ effectiveness, holding him to less than 100 rushing yards on the day.

Shinskie will have his best passing day of the year. However, Boston College does not have the offensive firepower to keep pace with the Irish scoring attack.

Regardless, the Eagles will play hard and keep the game interesting in the first half. Notre Dame will pull away for good in the third quarter riding another impressive performance from Clausen.

Notre Dame 41, Boston College 24

Photos Courtesy of Notre Dame Sports Information

Big Ten - Game of the Week

By JOHN SEARS - BIG TEN INSIDER

Game of the Week: USC at Ohio State

So last year’s game against the Trojans didn’t work out so well for the Buckeyes as they went down hard, 35-3, and looked overmatched in just about every phase of the game. The difficulty is looking at this year’s game not as the 5th-8th quarters of last year, but as just another chapter in the rivalry. While USC cruised over, through, and around San Jose State with 342 yards rushing (surrendering just nine yards on the ground), last week’s 31-27 escape by the Buckeyes over Navy doesn’t help assuage the feeling for some that Ohio State lacks a chance against the perennial BCS contender.

On paper, the Trojans and Buckeyes share the burden of having to replace playmakers on both sides of the ball, particularly at the linebacker position. The obvious mirror of this game compared to last year’s encounter is that USC will have to roll out a freshman quarterback on the road in a BCS game with Matt Barkley. Although Barkley’s statistics were solid (15-for-19, 233 yards, one touchdown) in his debut, they were obviously inflated against a weak opponent. Likewise, he wasn’t forced to make plays early–his first collegiate touchdown pass came after USC had hit paydirt five consecutive times rushing. My suspicion is that the Trojans will be successful rushing against the Buckeyes; however, Barkley will probably need to make some plays without the luxury of a five-touchdown cushion.

If the Buckeyes have a chance to win at the end of the game, it’s because:
1. Coach Jim Tressel unlocked the playbook and rolled out more option plays for Terrelle Pryor.
2. Pryor didn’t throw the costly interception, Barkley did.
3. The Buckeyes front four got enough gap penetration to close down running lanes for Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson et al.

If the Trojans have a chance to win at the end of the game, it’s because:
1. The running back stable let their horses run wild like they did last week…
2. Which allowed Barkley to assume the “game manager role”, not be relied upon to dig USC out of 3rd-and-longs.
3. Pryor is contained by the front seven, which left free safety Taylor Mays in centerfield to lock down the secondary.

My knee-jerk reaction to predicting this game was that USC would handle the Buckeyes with a double-digit victory. However, after researching how last year played out, I found some interesting intangibles, which could impact how we perceive the balance of power between the two teams.

Call this the “Why you should think twice before handing the game to the Trojans” List:
1. USC, in preparation for their 2008 showdown against the Buckeyes, cashed in on an extra week of practice with a bye. No such luck this year.
2. All of USC’s scoring last year (five touchdowns) came from players now in the NFL (Mark Sanchez threw four touchdown passes, Rey Maualuga returned an interception).
3. Home field swings back to Columbus–at night.
4. A true freshman starts at quarterback for the Trojans this year.
5. Bad luck struck Ohio State early–running back Beanie Wells was out with an injury and a holding penalty nullified a potential Buckeye touchdown.
6. The quarterback shuffle failed Ohio State–sixth-year senior Todd Boeckman threw a pick-six (two total interceptions) and was sacked four times. Pryor, as a freshman, went 7-for-9 (for only 52 yards) and was sacked only once, but was still able to pick up positive rushing yards (40 yards on 11 carries).

Final Prediction: I thought twice about it, and after all that, I still think USC wins, but in a lower scoring game with a smaller margin of victory. If the Midshipmen can put up 186 yards rushing in Columbus, I am uncertain USC will fare worse. And that will be the difference.
USC 24, Ohio State 20

Photos Courtesy of The Ohio State Department of Athletics, College Press Box

Big Ten: The September Start

By JOHN SEARS

Here’s a look at some key early-season matchups and “The Quick Synopsis” of what to look for in each game

September 12th (Redemption Weekend)

Quite simply Michigan and Ohio State need to redeem themselves for their two embarrassing losses last year, on a national stage.

Notre Dame (W) @ Michigan (L): This game is obviously big for the folks from South Bend led by a coaching “intern” as they make a plausible push back in to the BCS and media’s hearts. For Michigan not only is this a chance for them to redeem themselves for last year’s more-turnovers-than-minutes-played fiasco in the mud, it’s a formidable litmus test against a BCS contender.

The Quick Synopsis: 1) Michigan’s youth and inexperience at quarterback versus Jon Tenuta’s zone blitzing scheme and 2) Michigan’s third defensive coordinator, with the newly installed stack defense versus Jimmy Clausen and company. Was the trip to the Hawaii Bowl to end 2008 Clausen’s coming out party (24-28, 413 yards, five touchdowns) or a timely aberration? I am not convinced the maize-and-blue will have the answers to their two questions resolved before week two of the season.

USC (W) @ Ohio State (L): On the Big Ten beat, it is somewhat choking to rehash another Big Time matchup resulting in a Big Ten blunder. 35-3. And no, the Buckeyes didn’t cover the spread (+12). Nonetheless, Ohio State now plays host to the Trojans this go-around and Jim Tressel holds a 54-8 record in Columbus. Redemption is certainly in order to give the Buckeyes (and the conference) an early season lift and to set the stage heading into conference play.

The Quick Synopsis: the quarterback role-reversal – 1) apparently, USC will be going with a freshman signal caller in Matt Barkley, and will do so on the road. Will the Columbus faithful be as welcoming as the Coliseum was for Terrelle Pryor’s freshman start last year? 2) Who is scoring for the Buckeyes? They lost Beanie Wells at running back (team rushing leader), receivers Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie (team leading receivers), and now the weight falls even more heavily on Pryor to be the playmaker on offense. 3) On defense, can they quickly reload after losing their team tackling leaders James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman? It’s a step-up Saturday for the Buckeyes.

September 19th (Big Ten R-E-S-P-E-C-T Weekend)

These non-conference matchups will set the stage for conference play for the Spartans and Gophers. Wins here will boost each, and infuse a competitive lifeline in to their Big Ten conference aspirations.

Michigan State (L) @ Notre Dame (W): No need to rehash Notre Dame’s need for a Big Ten sweep (Purdue follows for the Irish the following week). But this game is absolutely huge. Michigan State needs this game to prove they have made the leap from a very good team to a possibly great team.

The Quick Synopsis: 1) same goes for the Spartans against the Irish as compared to their “brothers” in Ann Arbor–how will inexperience at quarterback (sophomore Kirk Cousins named starter over sophomore Keith Nichol) be affected by the zone-blitz? 2) How does the running-back-by-committee pan out early on? 3) Can the front seven put pressure on the Notre Dame passing game with the installation of more stunts and blitzes?

Cal (W) @ Minnesota (L): After breaking in the new outdoor, on-campus field against Air Force the week prior, hopefully with a win, the Gophers will have to man up for a visit from a PAC-10 conference contender, Cal, who returns 15 starters from last year (on top of a 9-4 record). Minnesota needs revenge for 2006’s drubbing by the then #22 ranked Golden Bears, which took place in Berkeley. A win here will, well, you get the drill here–it’s all about respect.

The Quick Synopsis: The Gophers are doing a 180-degree swing out of the spread and into a power-running, pro-style attack. How do the Gophers respond 1) with physicality at the line of scrimmage, something stressed under their new offensive scheme? Can they get a good push against Cal’s 3-4 defensive front? 2) How does quarterback Adam Weber look as a drop-back passer? 3) With the focus on the running game, can Duane Bennett break through as an impact runner after missing 2008 with injuries?

September 26th (Spoiler Alert Weekend)

Big Ten conference play starts immediately with upset alerts, one of which being Illinois over Ohio State in Columbus. A loss in the first week of conference play could derail chances for the contenders to make it to the top of the mountain.

Illinois (W) @ Ohio State (L): Juice Williams has done it before, in 2007, and I believe he will do it again—upset the Buckeyes in Columbus. Ohio State, with Laurinaitis and Freeman, were unable to get the ball out of Williams’ hands for the last 8:09 of the game. Williams also passed for four touchdowns. This year, Illinois has two weeks to prepare for the matchup, with a bye on the 19th.

The Quick Synopsis: 1) How Juice goes, so does the team. Will the Buckeyes have the speed and discipline to stop Williams and the read-option? 2) How Pryor goes, so does the team. Will the Illini have the speed and discipline to stop Pryor? 3) How does Ohio State’s secondary match up with Arrelious Benn, Jeff Cumberland, and newcomer Jared Fayson?

Iowa (L) @ Penn State (W): No need to bring up the past for the Nittany Lions. Penn State can avenge their tarnished 2008 with a good old fashioned home thumping under the lights and 110,000 of their closest friends.

The Quick Synopsis: 1) Did Penn State correct the drops that plagued their chances last year? Better yet, have they found receivers who can emerge as viable targets for Daryll Clark? For PSU, projected starting receivers are well over six-feet tall as is their returning tight end, Andrew Quarless (6-5). 2) With Jewel Hampton sidelined for the season, who will replace Shonn Greene (who rushed for 117 yards and two scores against the Nittany Lions last year)? 3) Will Iowa be able to plug up the gaping hole left by the loss of Mitch King and Matt Kroul in the interior of the defense? If not, look for a punishing running attack from the home team.

Notre Dame (W) @ Purdue (L): Notre Dame could potentially be looking at a Big Ten sweep when they travel to take on the Boilermakers. I give Purdue a chance because this is a rivalry and Purdue’s strength lies in their secondary.

The Quick Synopsis: 1) CBs Brandon King and David Pender vs. WRs Michael Floyd and Golden Tate. Who wins? 2) How well can running back Jaycen Taylor stay healthy enough to take some pressure off of quarterback Joey Elliott?

Photos Courtesy of Illinois Sports Information, University of Minnesota Athletic Communications, The Ohio State Department of Athletics

CFI Countdown: #7 USC Trojans

2008 Record: 12-1 (Pac-10 8-1)
Bowl Game: Won Rose Bowl vs. Penn St. 38-24
Location: Los Angeles, California
Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Stadium (92,000)
Head Coach: Pete Carroll
Overall: 88-15 (9th season)
@ USC: 88-15 (9th season)
Link to USC Football Page

Since arriving in sunny Southern California, Pete Carroll has been so successful it has become difficult to truly appreciate the high standard of excellence he has established. An average season ensures they will be in the mix for a national championship, and who is better in big games? With only three starters back on defense and a true freshman set to start the season under center, this could be Carroll’s most challenging campaign since taking over as the Man of Troy.

When the Trojans Have the Ball

Offensive Coordinator: John Morton (1st season)
Scheme: Pro Style Offense
Starters Returning: Seven
Key Losses: QB Mark Sanchez, WR Patrick Turner, K David Buehler

Most of their losses from last season come on the defensive side of the ball, but the biggest individual loss is likely that of quarterback Mark Sanchez. The eventual top-five pick surprised many by declaring for the NFL, including Carroll who voiced his concerns over the decision. So instead of getting ready for a Heisman run for the Trojans, Sanchez will be starting in the NFL. This is new territory for Carroll, which is why we are seeing a first under his command—a true freshman starter in Matt Barkley, who beat out other highly-touted signal callers in Aaron Corp, as well as Mitch Mustain. Many rate Barkley as the top freshman coming into this season. Working in his favor is a strong offensive line and a stockpile of skill players. Senior left tackle Charles Brown will protect his blind side and the man snapping him the football, sophomore center Kristofer O’Dowd (may miss opener with knee injury), could be the best in the game. The rest of the line consists of a nice blend of solid veterans, such as sixth-year senior Jeff Byers, and talented youngsters, like tackle Tyron Smith. Their best receiver from a year ago, former Razorback, junior Damian Williams, returns to provide a go-to target and big play option. However, with Ronald Johnson going down (broken collarbone) over the weekend there are some concerns regarding depth at the receiver position. They need junior David Ausberry to start playing up to his high school accolades. Picking up some slack will be tight end Anthony McCoy who is a dangerous weapon in his own right. To say there is depth at tailback is an understatement. Stafon Johnson, C. J. Gable, Joe McKnight, and Allen Bradford are all talented and capable starters. Gable is shifty and a solid pass catcher, Bradford brings power, McKnight is the home run threat, and Johnson may have the best combination of running skills. Not to be forgotten is junior fullback Stanley Havili, who can run, block, and catch—one of the nation’s most underrated players.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) C Kristofer O’Dowd (JR), 2) WR Damian Williams (JR), 3) OT Charles Brown (SR)

When the Other Team Has the Ball

Defensive Coordinator: Rocky Seto (1st season)
Scheme: Multiple 4-3
Starters Returning: Three
Key Losses: LB Rey Maualuga, LB Brian Cushing, LB Clay Matthews Jr., S Kevin Ellison, DT Fili Moala, DE Kyle Moore, CB Cary Harris, LB Kaluka Maiava

Eight Trojan defenders were drafted last April, including four linebackers, with starters Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, and Clay Matthews Jr. going in the first two rounds—that’s a lot of talent to replace, even for a program like USC’s. This might be the toughest challenge to the reloading vs. rebuilding model—normally USC does the former. Stepping in will be juniors Michael Morgan and Malcolm Smith and they’ll flank sophomore MIKE Chris Galippo. They could follow their predecessors into the NFL, but it is hard to believe they will be as good from day one. Up front, senior defensive tackle Averell Spicer and junior end Everson Griffen do have experience, with many expecting an All-American type season from Griffen, a pass-rushing demon. The undisputed leader of the secondary, and the entire defense for that matter, is senior free safety Taylor Mays. The Trojans are happy he decided to return after many assumed he would be headed for the league where they play for pay. Mays looks the part and possesses excellent speed despite the fact he is bigger than many college linebackers. It would be safe to say that no defensive back hits harder than Mr. Mays. Josh Pinkard, who’s had an injury riddled career, looks to slot in next to Mays at strong safety, with corners Kevin Thomas ready to take over full-time as long as he can stay healthy. Shareece Wright was slated to join Thomas until it was announced yesterday that he is academically ineligible to play this season.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) FS Taylor Mays (SR), 2) DE Everson Griffen (JR), 3) LB Chris Galippo (SO)

The Schedule

The Men of Troy have one of the toughest travel schedules of any team in the country. Out of conference they make the trip to the Horseshoe in Columbus to take on a group of Buckeyes smarting to knock off a big time program in week two. The same could be said of Notre Dame, who hopes to use a victory over USC in South Bend to catapult into BCS Bowl territory. In conference, the consensus challengers are California and Oregon, with USC making trips to both Berkeley and Eugene. That’s four road games against pre-season ranked teams. They also travel to Tempe to take on the Sun Devils. They do host rival UCLA and Oregon St. in a revenge game.

Pivotal Point

We can talk about the talent they have to replace at linebacker or the durability and depth concerns at defensive back, but when they a named a true freshman as the starting quarterback, he became the pivotal point of the season. Talk to anyone who has seen Barkley play and they will tell you the talent is there, but the fact he is a true freshman can’t be overlooked until he proves himself on the gridiron. There is legitimate concern that Barkley is playing a year too early, and he could have been red-shirted had Sanchez returned to USC. There are also questions whether or not he would have beaten out talented sophomore Aaron Corp had Corp stayed healthy throughout fall camp. No one doubts Barkley’s bright future, but his present could be a little hazy. We should also mention that the Trojans are breaking in new coordinators on both sides of the ball.

CFI Final Analysis

Everyone knows the Trojans have as much talent as any team in the nation. What they lack is experience. The last time they had to replace this many key players on defense was in 2005, when they allowed 360.9 yards and 22.8 points per game and were lit up by Texas for 41 points in the BCS Championship game. Since 2004, they have not allowed more than 16 points or 295.8 yards per game in any one season (other than 2005). The most points allowed in another BCS game under Carroll? Last year, when Penn St. scored 24 in the Trojans’ 14-point win, which is also the smallest margin of victory in their six BCS wins under Carroll. But, you say, they did make the BCS Championship game. True, but in 2005 they also returned the likes of Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, LenDale White, and Dwayne Jarrett—that was a proven and dynamic offense. Expect the 2009 Trojans to take a step back, which in Pete Carroll land means a fall all the way to number seven.

College Football Insiders Top 25 Countdown:
The Next 25 (26-50) Plus 18 Bowl Teams
#25 West Virginia Mounainteers
#24 Tennessee Volunteers
#23 Clemson Tigers
#22 Pittsburgh Panthers
#21 Michigan St. Spartans
#20 Utah Utes
#19 Oregon Ducks
#18 Florida St. Seminoles
#17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
#16 Boise St. Broncos
#15 North Carolina Tar Heels
#14 Penn St. Nittany Lions
#13 Mississippi Rebels
#12 Oklahoma St. Cowboys
#11 California Golden Bears
#10 Iowa Hawkeyes
#9 Virginia Tech Hokies
#8 Georgia Bulldogs

Photos Courtesy of College Press Box, Illinois Sports Information

College Football Insiders Preview: Pac-10

The Pac-10 conference looks to bounce back after what was an extremely disappointing season as a whole. The lone bright spot, USC, shouldn’t be the only team shining in 2009. Several other teams look poised to having promising years and are looking to be crowned the new Pac-10 champs. This conference is loaded with talent and should be an exciting conference to watch this upcoming season.

The Favorite: USC: No surprise here. USC has been the perennial powerhouse of the Pac-10 for years and has not finished second in the conference standings since 2001. That will likely not change this year even though the Trojans will have a couple of tough conference contests. They play all of the other contending teams, Cal, Oregon, and ASU away from the Coliseum. They also have to travel to Columbus to play the Buckeyes on September 12th and South Bend on October 17th to play Notre Dame. Even though they lost many key players in the draft last season, notably Mark Sanchez, Clay Matthews, Rey Maualuga, and Brian Cushing, they seem to always have a new crop of incredible athletes to replace them. Pete Carroll is the best in the business at recruiting players that will fit nicely into his system. He is always thinking ahead and this season’s group will be the poster child of that concept. He has only nine seniors on offense and defense combined, but just about every position seems to be stacked with talent. Tailback, for example, has Stafon Johnson as the starter. But if he needs to be spelled or replaced due to performance then he can bring in Joe McKnight, who is like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Therefore, injuries shouldn’t be too much of a factor for this Trojan team. The offense will be run by true freshman Matt Barkley, who was the prize quarterback coming out of high school. He has made great strides in learning the intricacies of the offense and was rewarded with the starting job. The fact that a true freshman is running the offense may worry some, especially after Jimmy Clausen came to Notre Dame and had little success in his first season. But one must remember that Notre Dame didn’t have the same talent surrounding Clausen as Barkley now has with the Trojans. He should be able to settle in nicely and utilize the weapons he has on offense. On the other side of the ball, their stout defense shouldn’t miss a step. Taylor Mays, arguably the best defensive back in the country, will control the secondary while defensive linemen Everson Griffen and Averell Spicer will look to control the line of scrimmage. The only way the Trojans don’t win the conference is if they have a collective mental lapse, but with Pete Carroll running the show, that would be a stunner.

The Contender: California: California looks to be the top contender to knock off the mighty Trojans this season. Tailback Jahvid Best may be the top playmaker in the country and will be a vital part of the Golden Bears’ offensive success. The Trojans have had a tough time dealing with smaller tailbacks, shown last season when Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rodgers tore up USC’s defense for 186 yards and two scores in the Beavers’ upset victory. Senior wide out Nyan Boateng will be the primary receiver for quarterback Kevin Riley and that could be the combination needed to slice up the strong Trojan secondary. Cal does have more experience than the Trojans, with seven returning starters on offense and eight on defense. This could play a large role if their October 3rd matchup with USC becomes a tight contest. If Cal truly wants to play the dark horse of the conference and upend USC, they need to get the running game going with the best back in the conference. They would then end the Trojans’ seven-year run as Pac-10 champs.

The Sleepers: ASU & Oregon: ASU is a veteran squad that could be the surprise of the conference. With 14 returning starters on both offense and defense experience runs deep with the Sun Devils. The entire offensive line is back from 2008 and should be able to protect quarterback Danny Sullivan long enough to keep him from forcing the ball and making mistakes. They have good possession receivers in Kyle Williams and Chris McGaha and should be able to control the clock and tempo of the game. But their defense will have to step up for them if they are to make a move in the conference. Having only five seniors on defense and five players getting their first full-time gigs could prove costly, but if they can force turnovers and have their offense hold on to the ball, ASU could be the ones to take the title away from USC. This year’s Oregon squad looks ready for the challenge. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LeGarrette Blount could prove to be the lethal dose that downs the Trojans. Blount is built like Brandon Jacobs, at 6’2” and 229 pounds he can absorb contact and run over just about any defender that gets in his path. Masoli started settling in nicely toward the end of last season, throwing for 572 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in his final two regular season games. The veteran defense knows what is expected of them and they should be one of the most solid units in the conference. If all these pieces come together, this will be a team no one wants to deal with.

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Jahvid Best (California) vs. RB LeGarrette Blount (Oregon): Everyone loves a good running back battle and this conference brings one, featuring two of the best college football has to offer. One back offers speed and finesse, while the other offers brut power and a downhill running style. The different style of these two backs is what makes this matchup so appealing. Fans will get to see which (if either) can take down mighty USC. Jahvid Best is a complete back in a small package. He managed 1,580 yards on just 194 carries—that’s a tremendous 8.1 yards per carry. He also grabbed 27 catches for 246 yards, showing he can be a receiving threat out of the backfield. He will be the player defenses key in on, but may end up leaving them with one mighty headache. LeGarrette Blount played back-up to Jeremiah Johnson last season, but still managed 1,002 yards rushing on just 137 attempts. He also served as the Ducks’ goal line back, scoring 17 touchdowns. He takes over the starting role this season and will showcase his skills as a punishing runner, one who never shies away from contact and requires several players to bring him down. Both backs can get yardage and score with ease, but the question here is—which style is best suited to take down a giant? If one back can have their way with the Trojan defense like Rodgers did a year ago, then they will be the front runner of this matchup.

Honorable Mention: QB Jeremiah Masoli (Oregon), QB Jake Locker (Washington), RB Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State), RB Stafon Johnson (USC)

Defensive Player of the Year: S Taylor Mays (USC) vs. CB Syd’Quan Thompson (California): Two of the most exciting defensive backs in college football will go head to head for this honor. Both have incredible speed, athleticism, and playmaking ability that have opposing quarterbacks aware of their presence on nearly every play. Taylor Mays is considered by many to be the best overall defensive player in the country. He had 53 tackles and eight pass deflections last season, but failed to register an interception. This year, with all of the defensive stars of 2008 gone to the NFL, he should thrive in the secondary and feast on shorter pass plays. Syd'Quan Thompson is considered to be one of the best shut-down corners in football. He totaled 70 tackles to go along with four interceptions and two sacks. If teams get smarter this season, they will stay away from Thompson at all costs. Both players will be stars in the secondary, but total team defense and their head-to-head matchup will be the determining factors on who brings home this award.

Honorable Mention: DE Dexter Davis (Arizona St.), DE Everson Griffen (USC), LB Reggie Carter (UCLA), Alterraun Verner (UCLA), CB Walter Thurmond (Oregon)

Breakout Seasons: RB Jeremiah Masoli (Oregon), RB Joe McKnight (USC), QB Matt Barkley (USC): Jeremiah Masoli will be let loose this season after playing a more conservative role in 2008. He is a dual-threat quarterback with great instincts, gaining 718 yards on the ground last season. His ability to throw an accurate ball or tuck it and run makes Masoli a nightmare for opposing defenses. During the final four games of last season, he totaled 14 touchdowns (rushing and passing), only one interception, and posted a 170.75 efficiency rating. He has the offensive skill set and the smarts to be a top quarterback in the conference and will likely turn the tables on an abysmal 2008 season. Joe McKnight is a speedster with good change of direction. He will play the backup role to Stafon Johnson, but that doesn’t mean he won’t get his touches. Pete Carroll likes a two-back system (think Reggie Bush and LenDale White), especially when he has runners with two different styles. McKnight can be utilized as a third-down back thanks to his pass catching ability. He has totaled 44 receptions for 396 yards and two touchdowns in his short two-year career. He has yet to crack the 100 carry mark in his two seasons with the Trojans, but look for that to change in 2009 and for McKnight take full advantage of the increased workload. Matt Barkley steps in as USC’s starting quarterback after the departure of Mark Sanchez. He is a true freshman running one of the most prestigious programs in football, but the Trojans’ coaching staff is great at turning good quarterbacks into great ones. He also has good wide receivers and a two-headed monster in the backfield to work with so he will not be short of offensive weapons. Barkley will have to become the leader of the group immediately, but should pick up where seemingly all recent USC quarterbacks have left off…leading his team toward a national title.

Best Pro Prospect: S Taylor Mays (USC): At 6’3” and 235 pounds, Mays possesses the size NFL teams would kill for at the safety position. He is one of the best, if not the best, defensive playmakers…and that was said about him in 2008. Now he will have another season to fine tune an already-potent skill set. He has incredible closing speed and hits like a Mack truck. It is his lack of interceptions that worry some, but when you have played on a dominant defense that is so good at getting to the quarterback, there is really not much you can do when the opportunities aren’t there. Those skills will be there when the NFL comes knocking, and if they aren’t then that is why there are coaches and practices. Either way, he was NFL-ready last season so there shouldn’t be many questions remaining about him when he enters the 2010 draft.

College Football Insiders' Picks:

Conference Champion: USC Trojans: (Yawn)…Yes the Trojans will win another Pac-10 title this year to make it eight straight. There is too much talent and athleticism here to go with a different team in a conference that was criticized a year ago for being weak. The fact that a true freshman will be running the show on offense shouldn’t scare you, mainly because Pete Carroll knows what he is doing and if things start to get dicey, he has two very capable quarterbacks waiting in the wings. It may not look as easy for them this year, but the ending is inevitable.

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Jahvid Best, California: Jahvid Best is too quick to defend and always seems to make something out of nothing. This year will be no different, except the size of his workload. He will receive more touches on offense, thus eclipsing his stats from 2008.

Defensive Player of the Year: S Taylor Mays, USC: Whoever didn’t see this one coming must have skipped this entire preview…or been hiding under a rock for the past year.

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