Preseason: Pac-10 rankings

Yes. Way too early, but what the hey. I really, really wanted to pick someone other than USC. But, in reality, I just can't.

1. USC
Key players: QB Aaron Corp, RB Joe McKnight, RB C.J. Gable, FS Taylor Mays, DE Everson Griffen, WR Ronald Johnson
Predicted Record: 10-2
Yeah, I said it. Two losses. At Ohio State and at Oregon. Wishful thinking? Probably. Trojans will still win the Pac-10 though. Too much depth, too much talent, too much everything. All they need is solid play out of Corp and the offensive line to hold up.

2. Oregon
Key players: RB LeGarrette Blount, QB Jeremiah Masoli
Predicted record: 9-3
Chip Kelly takes over and the Ducks will score lots of points and I think they'll knock off USC at home. But somewhere along the way they'll just be too inconsistent on defense.

3. California
Key players: RB Jahvid Best, CB Syd'Quan Thompson, DE Tyson Alualu, DE Cameron Jordan, LB Mike Mohamed.
Predicted Record: 8-4
The Bears may actually have a functional defense this season with a lot of returning talent. Best is a great RB, but questions will still persist at QB.

4. Oregon State
Key players: RB Jacquizz Rodgers, WR James Rodgers, QB Lyle Moevau, QB Sean Canfield.
Predicted Record: 8-4
The Beavers have a lot coming back on offense and with the healthy Rodgers brothers coming back, should be able to move the ball. Defensively, OSU loses a lot from last year, but is traditionally solid, if inconsistent.

5. Arizona
Key players:RB Nic Grigsby, RB Keola Antolin, QB Matt Foles, QB Nick Scott, DT Earl Mitchell, LB Xavier Kelly.
Predicted record: 7-5
An interesting year for the 'Cats as Mike Stoops finally reached a bowl game last year, now real expectations follow and there's a QB battle. But the defense should be solid and the running game improved.

6. Stanford
Key players: QB Andrew Luck, QB Tavita Pritchard, RB Toby Gerhart, S Bo McNally.
Predicted record: 6-6
It could be a big year for Jim Harbaugh and the Cardinal if they can stop somebody, anybody. With Gerhart, Stanford has a nice big back and the competition between the talented Luck and experienced Pritchard will be interesting. But Harbaugh seems to have Stanford headed in the right direction, they're just a year away from being a nine-win team.

7. Arizona State
Key players: QBs - any of them, LB Mike Nixon, DT Jonathan English, DE Zach Brown
Predicted record: 5-7
Nobody's sure what to make of the Sun Devils, who disappointed last season after an initial high ranking. The defense returns some very good players, but a huge hole at quarterback and on the offensive line might relegate ASU to another second-division finish.

8. UCLA
Key players: QB Kevin Prince, QB Kevin Craft, OL Micah Kia
Predicted record: 5-7
While Rick Neuheisel had a nice recruiting haul and seems to have people excited about UCLA again, the Bruins have major problems at QB and OL. Not a good combination. At QB Kevin Craft is back, but is untalented. Patrick Cowan is back and is slight less untalented. Kevin Prince has some talent but no experience. UCLA will be improved simply because they'll have better depth to keep some games close.

9. Washington
Key players: QB Jake Locker, CB Quinton Richardson, S Nate Williams
Predicted record: 3-9
Not sure if Steve Sarkisian was aware what he'd bitten off when he took the UDub job. The Huskies are in disarray with questionable commitment from the athletic department. Jake Locker's back, but that doesn't mean much. Three wins would be a nice showing this year.

10. Washington State
Key players: QB Whoever it is, any DBs, anybody really.
Predicted record: 2-10
Wazzu might have been the worst BCS team in history last year, unless it's this year's team. Two wins might be a stretch.