It happens every year.
Many critics of college football predict Arizona to finish no higher than fifth-pace out of ten teams. In 2012, there are supposed to be twelve teams, but let’s not change the subject.
USC lost its head coach and program credibility to a scandal, disqualified to play in a bowl game. It has a less-than-spectacular 19-year old quarterback. And it’s predicted league finish?
First.
Did these journalistic morons miss the 21-17 loss to Arizona and several other teams that USC suffered last year…at home?
Despite the internet publishing industry’s access to an endless flow of sports analysis about any sport, in or out of season, the pending college football season doesn’t feel real to me until I visit my local grocery store where a rack filled with magazines, predominantly about non-sports, (what the?), holds the most recent preseason football rankings. These fine printed periodicals advertise themselves as containing the writings of professional sports journalism experts. These writers must have an on-location, on-campus, backstage pass to every Division I college football program’s locker room, weight room and tutoring lab where students become the athletes who make the football season worth tracking.
These writers must really know what they are talking about.
These geniuses have consistently picked Notre Dame, USC, Miami, Boise State, LSU, Alabama, Texas and other ACC, Big Ten, or Big 12 teams.
And been predominantly wrong.
I will agree that Texas has a perennial football team that could be competitive with several NFL teams, given an exhibition environment, and one without the creative license taken by Pete Carroll’s USC teams that have recently been exposed. This axe to grind is with anyone who places Stanford, much less USC, above Arizona in its league standings.
Writers for any sports magazines that have send their worthless and inaccurate products to the Kroger Grocery chain for sale as expert analysis should hang their heads in shame.
The Arizona Wildcat football team is predicted by all the major football magazines to finish no higher than fifth-place, now, of 12 teams, so to speak.
Then, in mid-November, they look on Mike Stoop’s team in awe, as the Wildcats make it clear they are fighting for first place, and perhaps their first BCS bowl birth. ABC Sports and ESPN analysts eat their words over perennial false prophesies of a Pac-10 or national poll that insists in placing a USC team, fresh of a 2009 home loss to Arizona, in the pre-season Top-20.
Are these guys out of their minds?
Apparently.
Here are my picks for the Pac 12, Colorado and Utah notwithstanding yet:
1. Arizona
The day when Mike Stoops’ team would be a BCS contender has come.
2. Cal
Jeff Tedford has become the Lute Olson of Pac 10 football. And when they beat you, they don’t rub it in. Class-act program.
3. Oregon State
OSU has seen the light and become hungry for it.
4. Stanford
They rebuilt. The dark horse of the Pac 10.
5. Oregon
Oregon will stay bow-eligible by toughness alone.
6. Washington
The mighty have fallen…and gotten up again.
7. ASU
ASU has gone from bad to worse.
8. Washington State
The Cougars will not have a winning season, but will get a few wins against (see below).
9. UCLA
The Bruins haven’t had any talent for years.
10. USC
Prove us wrong.
Looking ahead to 2011, that Cal-Utah rivalry looks like a Texas-Oklahoma series waiting to happen.
Cory Parella is a completely biased fan of the Arizona Wildcats, despite attending Colorado State University.
