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Odds Favor USC to win the PAC-10 Football in 2009
Let’s face it folks, when picking a PAC 10 Champion, there’s not much point in going out on a limb. The USC Trojans have won 8 straight PAC 10 titles and the odds favor them to do it again. This year will likely be 9 straight. They are simply the most talented team in the PAC 10 and one of the most talented in the entire country. They return 9 on offense which is scary, and even though they return just 3 on defense it hardly matters. No one does a better job of recruiting than Pete Carroll. Of course he has the USC brand name helping him out, but still, talent through and through. One potential problem for USC is that they have to play California, Oregon State and Arizona Stat eon the road this year.
Let’s take a look at the PAC 10 for the 2009 season complete with the current odds to win the PAC-10 for each team in the conference. The odds listed below are a compilation of odds from the Top Offshore Sportsbooks.
USC Trojans – Odds to win PAC-10 1/3 – The reigning Rose Bowl champs lost QB Mark SaNChez to the NFL Draft. Coach Pete Carroll was vocally disappointed, but life will go on for a team that is ALWAYS a BCS title threat. Aaron Corp and Matt Barkley will compete for the QB position on an offense that brings back 9 starters. It looks like the Trojans will continue to run the ball by committee with Stafon Johnson, Joe McKnight and C.J. GAble. The defense returns only 3 starters but should still be very deadly. Shareece Wright returns to play CB after missing last year with a neck injury. All American Safety Taylor Mays also returns to a secondary that could be the nations best. The Trojans were arguably the best team in football last year, but they must avoid dropping a Game to a team like Oregon State again. They will have to go to Columbus, OH for a Game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Rest assured, the Bucks will have blood in their eyes after last years thrashing at USCs hands. This team is loaded as usual and should compete for the BCS title.
California Bears – Odds to win PAC-10 3/1 – After a successful 9-4 season in 2008, the Bears find themselves at a crossroad. They have the talent and the depth to win the Pacific 10, but they must answer questions at the QB position. Kevin Riley and Brock Mansion are competing for the starter role. Mansion is the better physical specimen of the two, but Riley is currently leading. Whoever wins will have proven receivers in Nyan Boateng and Verran Tucker. Coach Tedford has a great RB combo with Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen. They combined to GAin 187 yards per Game last year. The defense looks very solid. Cameron Jordan and Tyson Alualu will aNChor the line. The Bears start the year with a home Game against the Maryland Terrapins. If they are able to get off to a fast start it could help to them to topple the giant that is USC.
Oregon Ducks – Odds to win PAC-10 3/1 – New coach Chip Kelly takes over for a team that finished 10-3 last year and won the Holiday Bowl by a score of 42-31 over the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Ducks will play seven home Game and expectations are very high. They open the year on the road against Boise State. Jeremiah Masoli is a bit undersized at 5-11 but he will lead the team at QB. He is a versatile player who can throw and rush the ball. HE had 13 passing TDs and 10 rushing 10 TDs last season. LeGArrette Blount is a brute at 6-2, 214 lbs. and he can really pound the ball. He ran for 1,002 yards in 2008. The defense is weak overall, but does have a strong secondary. The skill is there and the Ducks should have no problems making it back to bowl play and perhaps challenging for the Pac 10 title.
Oregon State Beavers – Odds to win PAC-10 8/1 – Last year resulted in a 9-4 record and a win over Pittsburgh in the Sun Bowl. The Beavers were the only team to take down the juggernaut that is USC last year. They should do a great job of getting points on the board thanks to QBs Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao. Both are experieNCed and have many starts under their belts. Jacquizz Rodgers will pound the ball at RB. His older brother James Rodgers is a WR for the Beavers. He had 10 TDs and 1,833 yards last season. The defense returns just three starters and should regress. The secondary will be weak. Look for the Beavers to stay ahead of most teams in the Pac 10.
UCLA Bruins – Odds to win PAC-10 10/1 – Neuheisel did an OK job in his first year at UCLA. This team is slowly coming back from the dead and could contend for a bowl this year. The Bruins are inexperieNCed on offense. Redshirt freshman Kevin PriNCe will be playing QB. His offensive line will struggle to find an identity early on in the season. RB Christian Ramirez will be returning after missing Games due to academic ineligibility. Defense will have to carry the Bruins. The linebacker corp. is very strong. The defense will need to keep pressure on the QB in order to keep the spotlight off an inexperieNCed secondary. UCLA has done a great job recruiting in recent years but they must make it back to bowl Game this year if they wish to continually take down big name recruits.
Arizona Wildcats – Odds to win PAC-10 30/1 – This team looks poised for another good season after finishing 8-5 and winning the Las Vegas Bowl in 2008. Matt SCott will take over at QB. The sophomore is inexperieNCed and much of the Wildcats success will depend on his play. He likes to scramble, and he has a great weapon in 6-6 TE Rob Gronkowski, a future NFL draft pick. Terrell Turner and Delashaun Dean are also homerun threats at WR. Arizonas defense is as good as its been in Mike Stoops 5 years. DE Brooks Reed will aNChor the line after coming up with 8 sacks in 2008. The Wildcats must be careful not to stumble out of the GAte against Central Michigan. This team has plenty of talent and should move forward.
Stanford Cardinal – Odds to win PAC-10 30/1 – This team looks like it is better than it has been in recent years. If they play their cards right and win two road Games to start the year, there is no reason they cant begin the season 5-0. The Cardinal return a total of 15 starters from last year. RB Toby Gerhart is considering entering the baseball draft. He will be sorely missed if he goes. The QB play is an unknown. The defense is led by FS Bo McNally. Stanford looks ready to return to bowl play if Gerhart doesnt leave the team.
Arizona State Sun Devils – Odds to win PAC-10 18/1 – Dennis Ericksons team put together a poor 5-7 record last season. The offense returns 7 starters but lacks a reliable QB. The offensive line GAve up 38 sacks last year and must replace players at RG and RT. The defense must carry the team. Dexter Davis will aNChor the line at DE. The senior is an excellent pass rusher. Ryan McFoy should pick up a few INTs at SS. The offense has to come together for the Sun Devils to succeed.
Washington Huskies – Odds to win PAC-10 75/1 – What can I say about a team that finished 2008 with a record of 0-12? They were blown out by several teams iNCluding a 56-0 loss to USC. It would probably be wise to lay the points and go against these guys while wagering.
Washington State CouGArs – Odds to win PAC-10 100/1 – Although they werent winless like their instate rival Washington, the CouGArs GAined just two wins. On the bright side, they have a few good RBs this year. They were held to 3 or less points 5 times last year. CouGAr fans shouldnt expect too much.
The odds listed above are a compilation of odds from the Top Offshore Sportsbooks
Check out all of Our 2009 College Football Conference Previews!
SEC Conference Preview and Predictions
ACC Conference Preview and Predictions
Big East Conference Preview and Predictions
Big 12 Conference Preview and Predictions
Big 10 Conference Preview and Predictions
MAC Conference Preview and Predictions
MWC Conference Preview and Predictions
Conference USA Preview and Predictions
Sun Belt Conference Preview and Predictions
WAC Conference Preview and Predictions
Independents – Notre Dame Army Navy