Being disrespected. Due mainly to crosstown rival USC being picked, as usual, to easily win the P10.
Lindy's and Sporting News has UCLA picked 5 and 6 in P10, I forgot whick mag in what order.
Goldsheet has them as #8 in the league. Two from the bottom.
Altho I still don't see any book that has yet posted odds on the conf championships. I think UCLA will offer a decent price shot, and is likely going to be the only team I bet in any conference, to upset (I'm not goiing to make a four month long wager on any fave!)
I note that that while the preseasons are all over the Trojans, their pick for second and thrid place is all over the board. Cal. Oregon. Oregon St. Arizona,
Phil Steele picks UCLA to finish third. I'm critical of parts of Steele's magazine (tho not hostile to him personally, as one poster here seems to be) but agree with him that UCLA is undervalued.
Let's look first at USC. 3 starters back on Defense. Yes, one is Taylor Mays, safety and maybe one of the best defensive players in the land (sure 1st rounder in last draft, passed on coming out - must really want to win a c'ship!)
And yes, USC has players on bench who could start for many teams.
BUT STILL - the experience is not there. They may be gangbusters at midseason. But by that time they may have already lost a game or two. Like in most years, with far more expience on the O side.
Trojan offense looks better - except for the key position: QB.
Nothing experienced. Mistain maybe, but I gotta believe the kid, who has seen himself in the NFL since he was 8, may have made a mistake transferring here. Should have went to UCLA!
So, a new qb and raw D. And a team that has stumbled in the past, having swallowed whole their own press clippings.
Ok, the Bruins.
I think the defense of this team is probably the best in the P10. They should carry the team until the O settles (and I think the O will settle and be pretty good!)
They start with SDSU at home- Aztecs will be better than LY, but no match for Bruins. They then face a tough test at Knoxville, with Vols looking for revenge from LYs loss in Westwood. But I can't see that still lame Tenn O scoring much on UCLA (and it looks to be a low-scoring game)
Then they get K St at home, and Stanford away. Both should be wins, with the D carrying the load. The O should be coming along just fine by now (see below).
They then are at home for two toughies: vs Oregon and Cal. They win both!
And are hitting all cylinders by the time they drive over to play USC at the Coliseum!
Neuheisel named a new QB, a reshirt frosh, in the spring practice.
Sounds bad. But one thing gives this kid a big leg up, as far as rapid development.
In two words: NORM CHOW!
The Bruin offensive co-ordinator, and far and away the best tutor of young QBs in these United States.
Carson Palmer probably owes his pro career to Chow. The kid was flopping badly at USC as a highly rated prep star. Then, he got lucky. Chow joined the staff,and turned his college carreer around.
He also was instrumental in getting a Heisman for Matt Leinart, after Palmer
Chargers QB Phil Rivers was his student at NC State, in one of Chow's many moves around the college campuses (he wants to be a head coach, I'm surprised some football forsaken school doesn't give him a chance).
True, he didn't do much with Vince Young at the Titans - but that may be an impossible task for any mere mortal.
New, young Bruin QB Kevin Prince has a leg up. He'll have growing pains for a month, then the Chow magic kicks in.
The OL last year accounted for a lot of UCLA's poor offensive production. It is much better, more seasoned, this year. Steele calls it "one of the nation's most imprvoved O lines." Right.
UCLA also needs a banger at the RB spot. Derrick Coleman, a true frosh last season, and who gained an average of over 5 yds per carry with the raw OL,may be the man this season. Esp with a better O line to open more holes
The odds should be good on the Bruins (anyone see any yet?)
Big enough for me to make one of these long-distance bets, which I generally do not do.