BtD Pac-10 Pre-Season Poll: Conference Champion
by Jake Bertalotto on Jul 28, 2009 12:32 PM PDT
in Football
6 comments
The season is almost upon us, but much less importantly, Pac-10 Media Day is coming up on Thursday. The annual event features the head coach and a player from each team in the conference. Mike Riley and LB Keaton Kristick will be representing the Beavers.
But there's a certain thing that happens every year at Pac-10 Media Day, and that of course is the Pre-season Media Poll. In case you've forgotten, the Beavers were picked to finish sixth last year in the conference by the media. That was lower than the likes of Arizona State (picked to finish #2) and UCLA (#5). The media has only picked the Beavers higher than they actually finished two times in the past 10 years-- 2001 and 2003. Over the last five years, the Beavers have been underrated by more than two spots.
Over the course of today and tomorrow, we are going to decide our pre-season poll and compare it to what the media comes up with on Thursday.
First we'll vote for who should get the top spot in the conference. I'm saying it's USC. The Trojans look to be down slightly this year-- Mark Sanchez is gone (no big deal, right?) and only three return on defense. That's why you could make an argument for Oregon. But what loyal Beaver is going to or wants to do that?
Happy voting. Be logical. If you're coming over from AtQ, don't automatically pick option #2 for the sake of picking option #2. Don't just pick Oregon State because you bleed black and orange. Be like the media. Show no bias.
Or something like that.
Hopefully I've given you enough options below.
--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)
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At this point in the off season I still feel that it’s USC’s conference to lose. There are so many changes from last season to this season that no one can say for sure what’s going to happen. A constant for several seasons has been USC’s ability to reload and defend its title. I’d bank on them being the top dogs to start the year.
SIGN BRANDON ROY TO A 5 YEAR DEAL NOW!
by ArbyOSU on Jul 28, 2009 12:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You're right... it's hard to justify putting anyone above them.
Sure, they lose Mark Sanchez earlier than expected, but Corp or whoever gets the job could be just as good— all those guys have talent. Plus the Trojans have a whole bunch of RB’s and good enough WR’s to put enough points on the board for the unproven defense to have some breathing room.
But as far as #2 through #4 or #5…. that’s where things get interesting.
--JB--
www.buildingthedam.com
by Jake Bertalotto on Jul 28, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Despite everything, USC is the best bet.
Despite having to play in both Berkley and Eugene, the Trojans are still the best bet.
Cal, and especially Javid Best (who should be known as Javid Beast), is especially scary, but it is just hard for me to envision the Bears as the conference champion. Plus, they have to visit Eugene too, where the Ducks will want very much to erase memories of a rainy day last fall in Berkley.
The Ducks have a legitimate shot, as the last three games of last season reminds us, but only if Jeremiah Masoli stays healthy and LeGarrette Blount is as consistently dominant as he can be. Big ifs, given that the Ducks have been down to the #5 QB a couple times in the last couple campaigns, and that Blount will be the primary focus of every defense. They are an injury away from going from being a 1/2 finish contender in the PAC 10, and a top 10 possibility, to a 7-5 team, if they lose in Boise, and that injury comes early.
The Beavers have a tough schedule, including the trip to the Coliseum (we win when we play at Reser, and then Pete gets them ready for a payback), and too many new faces in the secondary, and at wide out.
No one else appears to have a chance to be consistent enough to get near the top of the conference, which is a lot tougher than pulling off one upset.
And no one can withstand many injuries except USC.
by AndyPanda on Jul 28, 2009 1:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I like our chances to surprise SC again. Of course my reasoning isn’t exactly based in logic but who cares, I still like it.
As far as UO/BSU goes, I see UO winning IF there are a lot of points scored and the defenses do their best impressions of a bull fighter all afternoon. IF the game is close, I think BSU has the better passing game going into the season and should be able to pull it off. Either way, I see it being a very good game that Boise State steals or a very bad game in which the ducks romp from the opening whistle. Nothing in between.
A game I’m curious about is our Cal game. I wonder whether Jahvid Best can overcome what I can only assume will be some poor QB play from whatever dude they throw out there to win. For some reason the Beavs have had their number and I hope it doesn’t stop in Berkeley this year. Best will be a fun back to watch this year… maybe he wants to rest when the Beavs come to town?
SIGN BRANDON ROY TO A 5 YEAR DEAL NOW!
by ArbyOSU on Jul 28, 2009 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Plus, they have to visit Eugene too, where the Ducks will want very much to erase memories of a rainy day last fall in Berkley.
we wouldn’t mind erasing a last-second, heartbreaking loss in 2007 either!
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
by dvieira on Jul 28, 2009 1:34 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Beavers Non-Conference Schedule
I like the Beavers’ chances of going 3-0 in non-conference games. The Beavers have not done that in quite a while. Going 3-0 in non-conference games will improve the Beavers rankings substantially.
Of course, it will help if USC, Oregon, and Cal also go 3-0 in non-conference games. The Ducks have Boise State, Purdue and Utah in non-conference games. If they go 3-0 in those games and USC goes to Ohio State and Notre Dame and wins, then the Pac-10 will be viewed as having a good year.
If those four teams go 3-0 in non-conference games, then the national TV networks will cover more conference games. The conference champion will have a better chance at playing in the National Championship game as well.
by leon0112 on Jul 29, 2009 5:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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