Huskies Get Nod To Win Pac-10

Forecasting the Pacific-10 Conference football champion usually seems easy, but getting it right has been elusive.

USC was the consensus choice in 1996.

The Trojans tied for fifth. Eventual champ Arizona State received casual preseason consideration, and even Bruce Snyder had to be surprised when the Sun Devils made it through the regular season undefeated.

Washington is everyone’s pick this season, a selection we will not dispute.

The Huskies, ranked fourth in The Associated Press preseason poll, return 16 starters from a team that went 7-1 in the conference a year ago.

If any Pac-10 team challenges Washington this season, most believe it will be Stanford. The Cardinal won their final five games last season, punctuated by a 38-0 trouncing of Michigan State in the Sun Bowl.

“Anything is possible,” Stanford coach Tyrone Willingham said. “I think the Pac-10 has proven over the years that teams that have been somewhat darkhorses can come out of the basement and win the championship.”

Which brings us to USC, a most unlikely darkhorse. The Trojans again have talent, and they get Stanford at home.

Following is a team-by-team breakdown of the Pac-10 race, listed in predicted order of finish. Projected overall and conference records in parentheses.

1. Washington (10-1, 8-0)

With an offensive line that would make the Seahawks envious, the Huskies figure to maintain the offensive balance that is critical to their success.

Scheduling note: All bets are off should the Huskies stumble in their Sept. 6 opener at BYU.

2. USC (7-4, 6-2)

John Fox leads three unproven players in the race to replace departed quarterback Brad Otton.

More importantly, though, the Trojans return all five starting offensive linemen, plus 1995 starter Phalen Pounds, who was injured last year.

The defensive line is a concern, but talent abounds in the secondary.

Scheduling note: Expectations were shattered in last year’s season-opener against Penn State; this year, the humbled Trojans open at home vs. Florida State.

3. Stanford (7-4, 6-2)

The Cardinal possess a dominating front seven on defense, led by potential All-America linemen Kailee Wong and Carl Hansen. Linebacker Chris Draft is another playmaker.

On offense, junior quarterback Chad Hutchinson seems destined for a breakthrough season.

Scheduling note: Stanford doesn’t play Washington this year.

4. Arizona (7-4, 5-3)

The Wildcats may have lost defensive guru Larry MacDuff to the New York Giants, but new coordinator Rich Ellerson inherits a talented group.

Joe Salave’a, a wrecking ball of a defensive tackle, returns after being granted another year by the NCAA.

Linebacker Chester Burnett is also among the Pac-10’s best at his posi tion, while the UA secondary is second to none.

And with mercurial quarterback Keith Smith, Arizona’s offense can not be overlooked.

Scheduling note: Stanford and Washington must visit Tucson, where the Wildcats are 46-16-1 under Dick Tomey.

5. UCLA (6-5, 5-3)

Quarterback Cade McNown was the Pac-10’s lowest-rated passer last season, but he enjoyed breakout games in late-season victories over WSU and USC.

Also returning is tailback Skip Hicks, who scored 17 touchdowns in ‘96.

Questions persist on defense, particularly up front, but the Bruins always seem to have quality athletes.

Scheduling note: Could UCLA be looking past the opener at WSU? Tennessee visits the Rose Bowl the next week, followed by a road game with Texas.

6. Arizona State (6-5, 5-3)

The Sun Devils are undoubtedly depleted, having lost 15 starters from their Rose Bowl team. But Snyder has built a winner and may have enough talent to make another bowl run.

Steve Campbell is the favorite to replace quarterback Jake Plummer, but Ryan Kealy is also expected to play.

Scheduling note: Between Sept. 20 and Oct. 18, the Sun Devils play Miami, BYU, Stanford and Washington. Only the BYU game is at home.

7. Washington State (6-5, 3-5)

The Cougars’ once-feared defense may be close to peak form, swagger and all.

“They do have a lot of that in them, and Leon Bender is their ringleader,” said quarterback Ryan Leaf, who faces Bender & Co. every day in practice. “They’ll get the job done.”

Offensively, the Cougars seem set with Leaf, tailback Michael Black and a group of talented receivers that features Nian Taylor, Kevin McKenzie, Shawn Tims, Shawn McWashington and Chris Jackson.

Scheduling note: A critical game figures to be Nov. 1 at Arizona State. A victory there could lift the Cougars to 7-4 and propel them into the postseason.

8. California (2-9, 1-7)

The offense won’t be the same minus coach Steve Mariucci and quarterback Pat Barnes, but receiver Bobby Shaw is a potential All-American.

New coach Tom Holmoe does return nine starters on defense, but last year’s unit ranked worst in the Pac-10. He brought in three JC transfers to help fill the gaps.

9. Oregon (2-9, 1-7)

The Ducks lose quarterbacks Tony Graziani and Ryan Perry-Smith, in addition to 80 percent of their starting offensive line.

And while talented tailback Saladin McCullough returns, there’s no way Oregon will approach the 34-point scoring average of last season.

Defensively, the ‘96 Ducks gave up 437 yards per game, and that was with all-conference cornerback Kenny Wheaton, who has since moved on to the NFL.

Scheduling note: Oregon’s three toughest Pac-10 games are on the road, against Washington, Stanford and USC.

10. Oregon State (2-9, 0-8)

Mike Riley takes over a program in perennial disarray. This week’s lesson: the forward pass.

Scheduling note: The Beavers open with five straight home games and have seven home games in all.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: THE BEST OF THE PAC-10 as chosen by Mike Sando, staff writer OFFENSE WR Bobby Shaw California 6-1 190 Sr. T Chad Overhauser UCLA 6-5 295 Sr. G Benji Olson Washington 6-4 310 Jr. C Olin Kreutz Washington 6-4 290 Jr. G Kyle Murphy Arizona State 6-4 298 Sr. T Grey Ruegamer Arizona State 6-5 287 Jr. TE Cameron Cleeland Washington 6-4 275 Sr. WR Jay Soward Southern Cal 5-11 175 So. QB Ryan Leaf Washington State 6-5 246 Jr. RB Skip Hicks UCLA 6-0 222 Sr. RB Rashaan Shehee Washington 5-11 210 Sr. PK Robert Nycz Arizona State 5-11 194 Sr.

DEFENSE DE Jason Chorak Washington 6-4 255 Sr. DT Kailee Wong Stanford 6-3 260 Sr. DT Joe Salave’a Arizona 6-4 280 Sr. DE Dorian Boose Washington State 6-6 282 Sr. LB Chester Burnett Arizona 5-11 223 Sr. LB Pat Tillman Arizona State 5-11 200 Sr. LB Chris Draft Stanford 6-1 220 Sr. CB Daylon McCutcheon Southern Cal 5-11 175 Jr. CB Chris McAlister Arizona 6-2 185 Jr. SS Rashee Johnson Arizona 5-11 193 Sr. FS Tony Parrish Washington 5-11 205 Sr. P Jim Wren USC 6-0 220 Sr.

Best head coach 1. Tyrone Willingham, Stanford 2. Bruce Snyder, Arizona State 3. John Robinson, USC Best coaching staff 1. USC 2. Stanford 3. Arizona State Best offensive assistant 1. Dan Cozzetto, Arizona State 2. Dirk Koetter, Oregon 3. Hue Jackson, USC Best defensive assistant 1. Bill Doba, Washington State 2. Randy Hart, Washington 3. Bill Harris, Stanford Offensive Player of the Year Rashaan Shehee, Washington Best offensive line 1. Washington 2. Arizona State 3. Southern California. Best wide receivers 1. Washington 2. Washington State 3. California Best backfield 1. Washington 2. Washington State 3. Stanford Best backup quarterback Todd Husak, Stanford Best clutch receiver Bobby Shaw, California Defensive Player of the Year Jason Chorak, Washington Best defensive line 1. Washington State 2. Stanford 3. Washington. Best linebackers 1. UCLA 2. Arizona 3. Stanford Best defensive backs 1. Arizona 2. USC 3. Washington Best kicking game Southern California Hardest hitter Chester Burnett, Arizona