PAC 10 2003
USC TROJANS O:6 D:6 (11-2)
It can be argued that the Trojans of 2002 were the best team in the nation considering the way they rolled up their opposition to close out the season. Their annihilation of Iowa in the Orange Bowl was impressive to say the least, and HC Pete Carroll has Southern Cal stoked for the 2003 campaign. They do lose the best football player in the nation at the most important position on the field, but they still return loads of talent on both sides of the ball. A new field general must be found, and it looks like the big southpaw Matt Leinart is the frontrunner. OC Norm Chow plans on going back to his short pass quick strike package that should allow whomever?s throwing the rock to adapt faster to the offense. The RB position will be taken over by sophomore Hershel Dennis who?s perfect for rushing and catching the ball out of the backfield. The WR core is loaded with talent, and Mike Williams is back for his sophomore season as well as sure handed Keary Colbert. The O-line is gigantic & returns a plethora of kids with starting experience. This is by far the best O-line USC has had in quite some time. The offense will take some time to adapt to the new faces, but it will become a force later in the season. The D-line is definitely the strongest link of the team, and ?The Wild Bunch II? will definitely have opposing QB?s running for their lives. They?re complemented by a very solid LB core headed by JR All PAC 10 LB Matt Grootegoed. The secondary loses a stud in Troy Polamalu, but has plenty of talent to step right in and make a difference. I expect their number?s to drop a bit, but it definitely won?t prohibit the defense from being one of the best stop unit?s in the nation. The Trojans special team?s were god awful in 2002, and can only get better with everyone back. I expect HC Carroll to turn this facet of the game from a glaring weakness into a strength in ?03. USC clearly has the talent on hand to make another run at a national Championship this season. Last season was no fluke, and it looks as if Pete Carroll & his coaching staff have revitalized the program. This team will only get better as the season progresses, and I?ll bet my bottom dollar they go undefeated in the Coliseum this year. The road cost them a shot at the whole enchilada last season, so I expect them to come out extremely focused in every one of their roadies. Their October 25th date in Seattle has PAC 10 Championship written all over it. They might be another year away from winning it all, but they definitely have an excellent shot of doing it in ?03.
-- The Trojans are 5-2 ATS as a road chalk, and 3-1 ATS as a road pup under HC Carroll
UCLA BRUINS O:7 D:7 (8-5)
The Bruins come into the 2003 campaign with a fresh perspective, and look to carry over the momentum from their bowl victory. New HC Karl Dorrell comes over from the NFL to take over the reigns for fired coach Bob Toledo, and he expects to get his alma mater?s football program back in high gear. He inherits a very gifted core of player?s, and only has a few causes for concern. His main concern will be to find a QB that can run his explosive offense. It looks as if QB?s Drew Olsen and Matt Moore will have to battle it out once again. It will be rocky with either of the two since neither is very experienced. The RB position will be filled by shifty little man Tyler Ebell who almost hit the 1000- yard mark in his freshman campaign, and change of pace big man Manuel White. The WR core boasts a solid duo in Tab Perry & Craig Bragg, and they?ll most definitely provide their new QB with some sizeable targets. The O-line is experienced in the middle, but they?ll have to find capable replacements at both of the tackle positions. This will be a very formidable unit once the QB settles in. The D-line is very experienced, and loaded with talent. The Ball brother?s anchor the line while DT?s Boscchetti & Leisle look to pounce on the run. The LB core is solid, but looking for someone to step up in the middle with the loss of Marcus Reese. He was the leading tackler & defensive MVP from a year ago. The secondary looks like one big clamp. CB Matt Ware returns for his junior season, and he?s the shut down corner with the departure of Ricky Manning. Both safeties return and combined for 6 picks a year ago. It will be tough for opposing QB?s to take advantage of this glove of a unit. The special team?s gets 2 very highly touted recruits to punt and kick, and both returnmen are back from a year ago. UCLA clearly has the talent on hand to win the PAC 10, but it usually takes time for a new coaching staff?s schemes to settle in. They have a very manageable conference road schedule with the only toughy at USC the last game of the season. Opening up in Boulder, and a home date vs. Illinois will give these guys a true barometer test before they invade Norman September 20th. Winning 2 of those 3 games will definitely have them on the right track, and a win over the Huskies at home on October 4th will only help solidify their chances of taking the left coast championship this year.
-- UCLA is 4-0 ATS at home vs. the Big 10, and a solid 24-9 ATS their L/33 non-conf games.
WASHINGTON HUSKIES O:8 D:8 (7-6)
I had these guys pegged as the outright winners of the PAC 10 this season before HC Rick Neuheisel got busted for throwing thousands of dollars down on March Madness tournaments. Now, I just have no idea how the team will react to losing their vocal leader. Ultimately, I think it was a poor decision by the University & it?ll most likely prevent them from going BCS bowling in ?03. Keith Gilbertson, Neuheisel?s OC the L/4 season?s, takes over the reigns. His main concern on offense is to find a running game. The Huskies had their worst ever output on the ground last season, but the O-line returns 4 of 5 from last season?s squad and looks to open up more holes for the Husky backs. QB Cody Pickett returns for his senior season, and will look to be the 2nd Heisman winner in as many years from the PAC 10. He threw for a conference record 4,458 yards last season, and he?s got one of the best WR?s in the country to throw to. WR Reggie Williams is back for his junior season as well as Charles Frederick who gave the team a major boost in production to close out the season. The defense got torched early on last year, but started to come around later in the season. The D-line is loaded with depth and experience, and should improve on last season?s numbers. The LB core returns 4 of the top 6 from a year ago, and is led by ILB Marquise Cooper. The front 7 returns 6 guys that started on last season?s defense, and should have no problem putting more pressure on opposing offenses. The secondary is loaded with depth and talent, and has a pair of giant speedy shut down corners in Roc Alexander & Derrick Johnson. The safeties are more than adequate, and the Husky secondary is one of the best in the country. The special teams won?t be as good this season with a pair of freshman taking over the kicking duties. The PAC 10 really looked like the Huskies for the taking until Maverick got pegged, and it?s hard for me to believe HC Gilbertson will be able to motivate this squad the way Neuheisel could. They have loads of talent on both sides of the ball, so their athleticism could have me eating my words when it?s all said and done. They have 2 tough conference road games, and I?m willing to bet they lose them both SU thus crushing their PAC 10 championship aspirations.
- Washington is 10-4-1 SU their L/15 season openers (lost last season at Michigan).
USC TROJANS O:6 D:6 (11-2)
It can be argued that the Trojans of 2002 were the best team in the nation considering the way they rolled up their opposition to close out the season. Their annihilation of Iowa in the Orange Bowl was impressive to say the least, and HC Pete Carroll has Southern Cal stoked for the 2003 campaign. They do lose the best football player in the nation at the most important position on the field, but they still return loads of talent on both sides of the ball. A new field general must be found, and it looks like the big southpaw Matt Leinart is the frontrunner. OC Norm Chow plans on going back to his short pass quick strike package that should allow whomever?s throwing the rock to adapt faster to the offense. The RB position will be taken over by sophomore Hershel Dennis who?s perfect for rushing and catching the ball out of the backfield. The WR core is loaded with talent, and Mike Williams is back for his sophomore season as well as sure handed Keary Colbert. The O-line is gigantic & returns a plethora of kids with starting experience. This is by far the best O-line USC has had in quite some time. The offense will take some time to adapt to the new faces, but it will become a force later in the season. The D-line is definitely the strongest link of the team, and ?The Wild Bunch II? will definitely have opposing QB?s running for their lives. They?re complemented by a very solid LB core headed by JR All PAC 10 LB Matt Grootegoed. The secondary loses a stud in Troy Polamalu, but has plenty of talent to step right in and make a difference. I expect their number?s to drop a bit, but it definitely won?t prohibit the defense from being one of the best stop unit?s in the nation. The Trojans special team?s were god awful in 2002, and can only get better with everyone back. I expect HC Carroll to turn this facet of the game from a glaring weakness into a strength in ?03. USC clearly has the talent on hand to make another run at a national Championship this season. Last season was no fluke, and it looks as if Pete Carroll & his coaching staff have revitalized the program. This team will only get better as the season progresses, and I?ll bet my bottom dollar they go undefeated in the Coliseum this year. The road cost them a shot at the whole enchilada last season, so I expect them to come out extremely focused in every one of their roadies. Their October 25th date in Seattle has PAC 10 Championship written all over it. They might be another year away from winning it all, but they definitely have an excellent shot of doing it in ?03.
-- The Trojans are 5-2 ATS as a road chalk, and 3-1 ATS as a road pup under HC Carroll
UCLA BRUINS O:7 D:7 (8-5)
The Bruins come into the 2003 campaign with a fresh perspective, and look to carry over the momentum from their bowl victory. New HC Karl Dorrell comes over from the NFL to take over the reigns for fired coach Bob Toledo, and he expects to get his alma mater?s football program back in high gear. He inherits a very gifted core of player?s, and only has a few causes for concern. His main concern will be to find a QB that can run his explosive offense. It looks as if QB?s Drew Olsen and Matt Moore will have to battle it out once again. It will be rocky with either of the two since neither is very experienced. The RB position will be filled by shifty little man Tyler Ebell who almost hit the 1000- yard mark in his freshman campaign, and change of pace big man Manuel White. The WR core boasts a solid duo in Tab Perry & Craig Bragg, and they?ll most definitely provide their new QB with some sizeable targets. The O-line is experienced in the middle, but they?ll have to find capable replacements at both of the tackle positions. This will be a very formidable unit once the QB settles in. The D-line is very experienced, and loaded with talent. The Ball brother?s anchor the line while DT?s Boscchetti & Leisle look to pounce on the run. The LB core is solid, but looking for someone to step up in the middle with the loss of Marcus Reese. He was the leading tackler & defensive MVP from a year ago. The secondary looks like one big clamp. CB Matt Ware returns for his junior season, and he?s the shut down corner with the departure of Ricky Manning. Both safeties return and combined for 6 picks a year ago. It will be tough for opposing QB?s to take advantage of this glove of a unit. The special team?s gets 2 very highly touted recruits to punt and kick, and both returnmen are back from a year ago. UCLA clearly has the talent on hand to win the PAC 10, but it usually takes time for a new coaching staff?s schemes to settle in. They have a very manageable conference road schedule with the only toughy at USC the last game of the season. Opening up in Boulder, and a home date vs. Illinois will give these guys a true barometer test before they invade Norman September 20th. Winning 2 of those 3 games will definitely have them on the right track, and a win over the Huskies at home on October 4th will only help solidify their chances of taking the left coast championship this year.
-- UCLA is 4-0 ATS at home vs. the Big 10, and a solid 24-9 ATS their L/33 non-conf games.
WASHINGTON HUSKIES O:8 D:8 (7-6)
I had these guys pegged as the outright winners of the PAC 10 this season before HC Rick Neuheisel got busted for throwing thousands of dollars down on March Madness tournaments. Now, I just have no idea how the team will react to losing their vocal leader. Ultimately, I think it was a poor decision by the University & it?ll most likely prevent them from going BCS bowling in ?03. Keith Gilbertson, Neuheisel?s OC the L/4 season?s, takes over the reigns. His main concern on offense is to find a running game. The Huskies had their worst ever output on the ground last season, but the O-line returns 4 of 5 from last season?s squad and looks to open up more holes for the Husky backs. QB Cody Pickett returns for his senior season, and will look to be the 2nd Heisman winner in as many years from the PAC 10. He threw for a conference record 4,458 yards last season, and he?s got one of the best WR?s in the country to throw to. WR Reggie Williams is back for his junior season as well as Charles Frederick who gave the team a major boost in production to close out the season. The defense got torched early on last year, but started to come around later in the season. The D-line is loaded with depth and experience, and should improve on last season?s numbers. The LB core returns 4 of the top 6 from a year ago, and is led by ILB Marquise Cooper. The front 7 returns 6 guys that started on last season?s defense, and should have no problem putting more pressure on opposing offenses. The secondary is loaded with depth and talent, and has a pair of giant speedy shut down corners in Roc Alexander & Derrick Johnson. The safeties are more than adequate, and the Husky secondary is one of the best in the country. The special teams won?t be as good this season with a pair of freshman taking over the kicking duties. The PAC 10 really looked like the Huskies for the taking until Maverick got pegged, and it?s hard for me to believe HC Gilbertson will be able to motivate this squad the way Neuheisel could. They have loads of talent on both sides of the ball, so their athleticism could have me eating my words when it?s all said and done. They have 2 tough conference road games, and I?m willing to bet they lose them both SU thus crushing their PAC 10 championship aspirations.
- Washington is 10-4-1 SU their L/15 season openers (lost last season at Michigan).