2008 Pac-10 Predictions

Jeff Alexander picks the Pac in his 2008 Pac-10 predictions. He ranks the league from top to bottom and provides each teams odds of winning according to sportsbook leader BetUS.com.

1st Place – USC Trojans: -300 to win Pac-10 at BetUS.com

The Trojans are the huge favorite to win the Pac and who can argue. The team will once again put one of the best defenses in the country on the field and Pete Carroll has proved time and time again that he keeps his cupboards stocked with talent. An early season game with Ohio State could be the only thing standing in the way of an undefeated season, but the Trojans get to play that game at home.

2nd Place – Arizona State Sun Devils: +400 to win Pac-10 at BetUS.com

If the Devils can keep Rudy Carpenter from running for his life, ASU will be the best of the rest in the Pac-10. The Devils succeeded last season despite a shaky offensive line and could be even better is it gets things in gear in 2008.

3rd Place – Oregon Ducks: +600 to win Pac-10 at BetUS.com

Oregon doesn’t have another Dennis Dixon, but it does have lots of solid candidates capable of getting the job done so we shouldn’t see much of any drop off from the Ducks. The defense and the offensive line set a solid foundation for another successful season.

4th Place – California Golden Bears: +800 to win Pac-10 at BetUS.com

The Bears had plenty of talent at the skill positions a year ago, but they could not avoid a terrible collapse which saw them lose six of their last seven regular season games. The team will learn from that and its strong defense, featuring some of the best linebackers in the conference, will ensure that it doesn’t happen again in 2008.

5th Place – UCLA Bruins: +800 to win Pac-10 at BetUS.com

Rick Neuheisel, Norm Chow, and DeWayne Walker form an All-star coaching staff, but the Bruins don’t yet have the all-star horses wearing the uniform. The future seems bright with this kind of a coaching staff, but their will be struggles before the recruits start rolling in.

6th Place – Oregon State Beavers: +5000 to win Pac-10 at BetUS.com

The Beavers have found ways to win with 19 victories the past two seasons, but there is no question that they’ll be rebuilding in 2008. Mike Riley find ways to surprise, but it’s going to be tough to pull off another 9-win campaign with a defense which returns just three starters.

7th Place – Arizona Wildcats: +2000 to win Pac-10 at BetUS.com

Mike Stoops has not had the success he and the school thought he would have, at least yet. The best the Cats can hope for is a minor bowl and hopefully that will be enough to save his job. QB Willie Tuitama and wide receiver Mike Thomas lead an explosive passing attack, but a leaky defense will keep this team in the bottom half of the Pac.

8th Place – Washington Huskies: +2000 to win Pac-10 at BetUS.com

Jake Locker is arguably the most talented player to ever step on the field for the Huskies. He is a leading Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year candidate, but he can’t do it all on his own. With few proven running backs and receivers to divert attention from Lockers, defenses will be able to zero in. Like Stoops, Tyrone Willingham appears to be on the hot seat.

9th Place – Stanford Cardinal: +3000 to win Pac-10 at BetUS.com

A bowl is likely still a year or two away for Jim Harbaugh and the Cardinal, but he has this team heading in the right direction and last year’s shocking upset of USC was evidence. 10 of Stanford’s top 11 defensive players return and should have this team pulling off a couple more upsets in 2008.

10th Place – Washington State Cougars: +5000 to win Pac-10 at BetUS.com

Wide receiver Brandon Gibson is arguably the best in the conference, but there is no proven QB in place to run Paul Wulff’s no-huddle offense. Without much depth anywhere, last place is likely.

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Check out these additional 2008 Pac-10 predictions according to Collegefootballpoll.com.

2008 Pac-10 Predictions

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